Hunting and dogs go back thousands and thousands of years forming a partnership that is strong and vibrant to this very day in the hunting community. For many dog breeds, especially coming from Europe, it is in their blood and natural born instinct to hunt, flush, retrieve, tree, and track.
While most breeds can be trained to assist in a hunt, there are certain types of dog breeds that excel above all others. The AKC calls this the Sporting Group and is comprised mainly of pointers, setters, hounds, retrievers, and spaniels. Qualifying breeds need to be brave to wild animals, obedient to the master’s command, diligent to focus on a trail, possess keen eyesight, tuned ears, with an uncanny sense of smell.