We all know that golden retrievers are commonly known today as family pets or therapy dogs due to their friendly and gentle nature, but they still retain their instinctual hunting abilities.
With proper training, golden retrievers can excel in hunting activities like retrieving game birds, participating in field trials, or tracking activities. Many characteristics such as their breeding history, athletic build-up, soft mouth, love of water, strong sense of smell, high intelligence and energy levels, and loyalty make them good hunting dogs.
You have come to the right place to learn more about golden retrievers as hunting dogs, as we will cover all of their hunting aspects in this article.
Table of Contents
What Is A Hunting Dog?
A hunting dog is a canine that helps humans in hunting.
They are specifically bred and trained to assist hunters in tracking, locating, and retrieving game animals.
There are various types of hunting dogs, each bred for specific tasks and purposes.
The major hunting dog categories include hounds, cur-type dogs, terriers, gun dogs, and dachshunds.
Are Golden Retrievers Good Hunting Dogs?
Golden retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs though presently they have become perfect family dogs.
Although they are known to be good companions these days, they still make great companions out in the fields because of their instinct to accompany hunters across vast terrains.
So, yes, golden retrievers are good hunting dogs for upland bird hunting, waterfowl hunting, and small game hunting.
What Makes Golden Retrievers Good Hunting Dogs?
Golden retrievers possess several characteristics that make them well-suited for hunting.
The following are qualities that make them good hunting dogs.
1. Breeding History
Golden retrievers’ effectiveness as hunting dogs is partly attributed to their breeding history.
They were brought up through the deliberate crossing of different dog breeds known for their qualities as gun dogs.
During hunting expeditions, they were specifically bred for retrieving game, particularly waterfowl.
Their breeding aimed to create a dog with traits essential for successful hunting companions.
2. Soft Mouth
Golden retrievers have a gentle grip, known as a “soft mouth”, which allows them to carry the game without causing damage to the bird’s body.
3. Love of Water
Golden retrievers’ fondness for water contributes to their effectiveness as hunting dogs, originating from their breeding history where they were developed to retrieve waterfowl.
Their water-repellent coat, webbed feet, and enthusiasm for swimming make them well-suited for retrieving game from lakes and rivers, enhancing their value as hunting companions.
RECOMMENDED READING: Do Golden Retrievers Like Water?
4. Athletic Build
Field-bred golden retrievers are athletes. As they are bred specifically to hunt all day, they have high energy levels suited for extended periods of hunting activity.
Their bodies are shorter and slimmer which helps them jump, run, and swim all day.
They have denser, shorter, darker coats in gold to red shades.
Their coats consist of an undercoat for warmth in cold weather and a water-resistant topcoat.
These multilayered coats enable them to easily run and swim, enhancing their versatility in various field conditions.
Their darker coats benefit them by blending in when hunting while the shorter coat is easier to maintain and also decreases the chances of leaves and debris becoming entangled in the fur.
5. Strong Sense of Smell
Golden retrievers have highly sensitive noses and an incredible sense of smell which makes it easier for them to detect scents from far away.
They can detect smells in the air and not only on the ground.
This helps them track down birds in the distance and water during hunting.
6. Trainability
Golden retrievers are easy to train as they quickly learn how to complete various tasks.
They are intelligent and eager to please their owner which makes them responsive to hunting commands even as they age.
7. Intelligence
Golden retrievers can easily pick up commands because of their high level of intelligence.
Their problem-solving skills enable them to overcome any obstacles and challenges that may arise during hunting expeditions.
They are even smart enough to know how hard to grab the bird without putting too much pressure on it.
Besides working as hunting dogs, they are also commonly trained as assistance and guide dogs due to their intelligence.
8. Loyalty
As golden retrievers love attention from their owners, they will be pleased just by coming along with you for hunting.
Being loyal to their owners is the trait that makes them preferred and favorable dogs as hunting companions.
They are eager to please their masters by happily obeying their commands, to make their owners even more proud of them.
9. Energy
Golden retrievers have high-energy levels with lots of stamina which helps them to keep up with their hunting masters throughout the day.
This physical trait makes them run and retrieve for hours without getting tired, making them a perfect breed to accompany hunters in their hunting expeditions.
How to Train a Golden Retriever as a Hunting Dog?
Training a golden retriever as a hunting dog involves the following steps.
1. Start Early
From an early age start training your golden retriever for hunting to establish a strong foundation.
Puppies as young as 8-10 weeks can be started on basic obedience commands.
2. Basic Training
Teach basic commands like sit, stay, come, and heel.
Awareness of these fundamental commands serves as the foundation for more advanced hunting training.
This basic training also helps your dog appreciate you as the leader in the pack, making them more loyal and respectful to you.
3. Play Fetch
Once your golden retriever masters basic commands, you can play indoor fetch games with plush toys or ball launchers.
Once your dog understands the concept of fetching and retrieving you can then take them to open fields and introduce tougher challenges using a dummy launcher.
Fetch games help develop your dog’s instincts for chasing and retrieving prey.
4. Introduce Odor Sensitivity
Once your golden retriever is good at fetching, you can add scented toys to the training.
Hide them around your home for your dog to find and bring back to you.
Reward your dog each time they find the toy.
Increase the difficulty gradually by hiding the toy in harder spots and using less scent.
This helps your dog learn to track minimal scent trails effectively in challenging situations.
5. Gunfire Exposure
Gradually introduce your golden retriever to gunfire sounds in a controlled and positive manner.
Start with distant sounds and gradually increase the proximity while ensuring your dog remains calm and comfortable.
6. Water Introduction
Since golden retrievers are natural swimmers, introduce them to water gradually and positively.
Encourage them to swim and retrieve objects in shallow water before progressing to deeper areas.
7. Retrieving Drills
Practice retrieving drills using training dummies or game birds.
Start with short distances and gradually increase the distance and difficulty level.
Use positive reinforcement to reward successful retrieves.
8. Field Training
Take your golden to hunting areas to familiarize them with the sights, sounds, and scents of the environment.
Practice hunting scenarios such as flushing birds, following scent trails, and retrieving game.
9. Consistent Training
Consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement are key elements in training your golden retriever as a hunting dog.
10. Hunt Test or Field Trials
You should participate in hunt tests or field trials to evaluate your dog’s hunting skills and abilities in a competitive setting.
Participating in these tests can offer helpful feedback and improve your dog’s training.
11. Make the Challenge Harder
Repeating the same training for too long can become boring for the dog and slow their progress.
Gradually make the challenges tougher than before by using less scent and introducing new distractions along the path until your retriever successfully sniffs out the prey like a decoy duck on its own no matter where it is.
When Should You Train Your Golden Retriever?
Have training sessions for about fifteen minutes every day with your golden retriever.
The more you train, the quicker you’ll see results.
It doesn’t matter when you train, but make sure your dog is well-rested so they can pay attention to your commands.
Where Should You Train Your Golden Retriever To Hunt?
You should train your golden retriever to hunt in the actual environment they will be hunting in.
This could include fields, forests, wetlands, or any other terrain where you’ll be hunting game.
Make sure to train your dog in different environments to ensure that they get used to the different types of terrain.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do Golden Retrievers Hunt Rabbits?
Golden retrievers’ inclination to hunt rabbits varies from one dog to another. While some may naturally pursue small animals like rabbits, others may not show interest in hunting at all.
2. Can golden retrievers hunt pheasant?
Yes, golden retrievers can be trained to hunt pheasant. While they may not be as specialized as some other breeds, their retrieving abilities and versatility make them effective hunting companions for pheasant hunting with the right training.
3. Do golden retrievers hunt dogs?
Golden retrievers are not typically bred or trained to hunt other dogs. Their instincts and training are geared towards retrieving the game. They are social dogs that get along well with other animals, including dogs.
Conclusion
Golden retrievers were originally bred to be hunting dogs but now they are known as family dogs. However, due to their instinct and retrieving ability, they can be trained as hunting dogs.
So if you are considering training a golden for hunting purposes, field-bred golden retrievers are the best choice as they are bred to hunt.
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