Hunting Dogs and Kids

Do not believe people who tell you that hunting dogs should be kept outdoors. This simply is not true. This is especially the case when it comes to gun dogs such as retrievers, spaniels and pointers. These dogs are not only excellent hunters, but they are also excellent pets.

Not all people get hunting dogs because they want to go hunting, although these dogs have a natural instinct for the hunt. Some people get these breeds because they are good family pets. Retrievers, for example, have very soft mouths as they have to pick up prey and bring it back to the hunter. For this reason, many people find that they are great pets for kids.

The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. Not only is an avid hunter who loves to swim, the Golden Retriever is an attractive dog with a docile personality. This is an excellent breed for a house with children.

How will the hunting dog treat the children? Most hunting dogs are pretty tough and can take a lot of manhandling that young kids are likely to dish out. Teach your children early on to treat the dog with respect and play gently with it as a puppy. Chances are that the dog will think of you as the top dog and the kids as his litter mates. The dog will have to be trained well to be a member of the family. This means that he should not be sitting at the table begging for food at dinner time or hopping on the furniture.

In order to keep your dog from begging at dinner, teach your kids not to feed him from the table. Smaller children often will be more than willing to share their food with the family dog. This gives the dog the indication that he is more than welcome to eat at the table and will induce begging. This may be cute at first, but will be very annoying if you have dinner guests. Larger dogs, such as Labs, can actually jump up and grab food from the plate while you are eating - that is anything but cute.

By teaching your kids respect for the dog and also instilling a love for animals, you will not only be doing a service to the dog, but to your own children as well. Few pets make as much of a lasting impression than a dog on a child. And while the hunting dog may be considered your dog, your hunting buddy - to the kids he is a pet.

Never leave your dog outside on his own and away from the family - this is a punishment to a dog. Dogs are social creatures. Hunting dogs should be more than welcome to be part of the family. And because they have been trained to be hunting dogs and have learned some discipline on the hunt, they make even better bets than dogs who are not trained at all. You will get valuable hunting time with your canine buddy - but your kids will learn life lessons from these gentle, yet hard working creatures.

Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet's premiere online magazine dedicated to bird dogs. Visit their site for more information on training bird dogs and hunting dog supplies including a wide variety of dog leads, shooting glasses, and hearing protection.

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