Hunting Dogs History

Scientists have found evidence that man and dog have been working together as early as 12,000 years ago. Prior to domestication, canines, in the form of wolves, helped man hunt for food. Through the process of selective breeding, man has created hundreds of breeds that perform diverse functions, from hunting to herding to guarding to simply being a companion.

  1. Saluki

    • The Saluki is the oldest known breed of dog domesticated by man. A sight hound originally bred to hunt down gazelles, it was bred by Arabs and later used by Ancient Egyptian pharaohs. Images of dogs bearing striking similarities to the Saluki have been found in tombs of the Sumerian empire as far back as 7000 B.C.

    Ibizan Hounds

    • Dogs that bear a striking resemblance to what we now know as Ibizan hounds have been found depicted in the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen. It is believed that they were used as hunting dogs by the pharaohs around 3000 B.C., and through Phoenician sea traders, found their way to Ibiza in Spain, where they were used to hunt rabbits. Ibizan hounds share a similar history with the Pharaoh hounds, which flourished in Malta and were also used for rabbit-hunting.

    Laconian and Molossian Breeds

    • Ancient Roman texts from 430 B.C. tell of "canis venaticus," which refers to hunting dogs from Greece. Best known among these were the Laconian hounds and the Molossians used to chase deer, gazelles, and hares. Laconians were used as scent hounds, while Molossians were praised for their bravery in attacking even bulls and boar. The Vertragus, used as a sight hound to chase hares, allowed hunters to follow it on horseback as it chased the prey.

    Middle Ages

    • Hunting was a sport enjoyed by the English nobility in the Middle Ages. It was at this time when different hunting dog breeds proliferated as dogs began to be customized to perform specialized functions. Among them were the beagle, used to hunt rabbits and hare; spaniels to hunt birds; terriers to hunt rats; and the Irish wolfhound to hunt deer. Medieval hunting was classified into two types. "At Force" hunting involved teams of huntsmen accompanied by their dogs, and would chase the prey on foot until the point of exhaustion or corner it before moving in for the kill. "Bow and Stable" hunting involved men on horseback, using bows as weapons. Dogs were used to drive the prey into an enclosure, at which point the huntsmen would move in to kill the prey at close range. These practices continued into the Renaissance.

    Victorian Era

    • The breeding of dogs to perform specialized functions continued to flourish in the Victorian Era. Unlike in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, when hunting was reserved for the nobility, the Victorian Era was when even the middle class could afford to participate in hunting as a sport. Many sporting breeds were developed at this time, with the goal of producing dogs that could serve multiple functions. The middle class could not afford to keep different dogs for different purposes. Among them were the vizsla, the German shorthaired pointer and the Weimaraner.

    Today

    • Today, hunting dogs maintain their popularity. In fact, more than half of the top 10 dog breeds in the United States are hunting dog breeds, with the Labrador retriever claiming the top spot for 19 consecutive years since 1990. Although many hunting dogs are no longer used for their main function, they have become beloved family pets who are valued for their loyalty and companionship.