Gun Dog

The Curly Coated Retriever may be the most graceful and elegant of the retrievers, appearing longer legged and more agile than the others. They are an active land retriever and a hardy water retriever, able to withstand the rigors of repeated retrieves into heavy thickets or cold waters. Their distinctive coat provides protection from cold and briars and is made up of a dense mass of tight curls.

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The Clumber Spaniel is a long, low dog, rectangular in shape and with massive bone. This build, in combination with a deep chest, heavy brow, and powerful hindquarters, once enabled the dog to move through thick underbrush when hunting. The coat is straight, flat, soft, and dense, imparting resistance to weather. The white color helped the hunter locate the dog.

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The animated and personality-filled Labradoodle is a crossbreed between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. This sociable dog was originally intended as an hypoallergenic guide dog (although it’s important to keep in mind that no dog is truly hypoallergenic). Often called a “designer breed” the Labradoodle is not an actual breed.

The Cockapoo is one of the very first non-purebred “designer breed” dogs, with an origin that dates all the way back to the 1960s. The Cockapoo is a mix of a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle, and depending on the size of the parental Poodle, can vary in size. Most tend to land on the smaller end (less than 20 pounds).

The Pointer combines athletic grace and power with a lean, muscular body, noble head, alert expression, and noble carriage. The gait is smooth and powerful, with head held high and nostrils wide, enabling them to cover a lot of ground while searching for airborne scent. The tail lashes from side to side when the dog gaits. The Pointer’s close coat is short and dense, giving a clean streamlined appearance. Field type pointers tend to hold their tails upright when on point.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was developed to hunt waterfowl under adverse conditions, facing strong tides in rough water, high winds, and sometimes even having to break through ice. They are extraordinary swimmers, with a strong, yet tender, bite enabling them to carry birds. They have powerful limbs and webbed feet. The Chessie is slightly longer than tall, with hindquarters as high, or higher, than its forequarters. The coat is rendered virtually waterproof by virtue of their oily, harsh outer coat and dense wooly undercoat.

The English Cocker was bred to find, flush, and retrieve upland game birds during a full day of hunting. The dog is slightly taller than long, compactly built, and short coupled. The English Cocker has a driving, powerful gait that covers ground effortlessly. The coat is of medium length, silky in texture, and either flat or slightly wavy. The feathering should not be so profuse that it becomes a hindrance in the field, but it should be long enough to protect the underside of the dog. The expression is soft and melting, yet dignified.

The heaviest of the setters, the Gordon is sturdily built and capable of withstanding a long, active day. He needs plenty of rigorous exercise every day to be happy and healthy. The Gordon Setter thrives in a lively, active household.

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Goldens are athletic, strong and capable of carrying heavy game over land and water, using a broad, powerful head with strong neck and well-developed fore and hindquarters. The breed is slightly longer than tall, with a smooth, powerful, ground-covering gait, and dense, straight or wavy outer water-repellent coat.

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The Goldendoodle is an attractive and energetic mixed breed dog with Golden Retriever and  Poodle parents. Goldendoodles are often referred to as a “designer breed,”  which is not an actual breed, but refers to a dog bred in hopes that they’ll exhibit the desirable attributes of their purebred parents.