1. The Sporting Group
Disclaimer: Just like no two humans are alike, no two dogs, even of the same breed are alike! Just because the “typical sporting dog” is high energy, doesn’t mean that all members of this breed are! All characteristics given are generalizations ONLY and non meant to say that they are absolutes.
Each breed group, the stronger the pure breed of the dog, the stronger the traits are going to be. Surroundings also play a part. A Sporting dog that is raised in the city may not have same natural instincts as his/her cousin raised on acres and acres of land in the country

2. History Descendants of dogs bred to work WITH human hunters.
Specific breeds were originally designed to do specific tasks. Today, they may do something totally different or combinations thereof.
Locate
Flush
Retrieve
Called SPORTING, not KILLING
Wolf killing instincts bred out gradually over time to condition the breeds to stop just short of the kill.

3. The Locaters Pointers and Setters
Locate the game and indicate to the hunter where it may be found.
Can become bored very easily if not given a job.
May become “obsessed” with objects in yard
Work WITH this breed, not against it!
Hide the t-shirt you wore yesterday and encourage the dog when they locate it! Do not reward if they “kill” it, just when they find it!

4. The “Flushers”
The Spaniels (Cocker, Brittany, Irish Water, Clumber, Springers, etc…)
Designed to find the game and flush it out of hiding so hunter can kill it.

5. The Retrievers The Retrievers 
Golden, Labrador, Chessie, Nova Scotia, Flat Coated, Curly Coated, etc…
Designed to play the ultimate game of fetch!
Usually love water games.

6. Sporting Special Requests
Sporting dogs are usually high energy breeds.
If not used as hunting companion, needs LOTS of exercise
Sporting dogs are very focused
These breeds generally need a job to do to keep them occupied
Can become destructive or OCD if allowed to get bored
Sporting dogs are very intelligent
Are very quick learners but can be stubborn.
Base training techniques on what your dog responds to best

7. Brittany: Locater Minimal coat maintenance
Colors = Orange/white, liver/white or tri
Health: Hip Dysplasia, Epilepsy, Hypothyroidism

9. Canine Hip Dysplasia

10. FHO

11. Pointer: LOCATOR May be too rowdy for small children
Colors: Liver, lemon, black, orange. Either solid or mixed with white
Health: Entropion, CHD, Hypothyroid

13. Entropion

14. German Shorthaired Pointer: LOCATOR Short tail, short coat = low maint.
Colors : Liver or combo of liver/white
Health: Lymphedema, CHD, Entropion, Bloat, OCD, Hypothyroid, vWD

15. Distal limb swelling from lymphedema

16. Germ Wirehaired Pointer: LOCATOR Harsh coat = hand stripping of undercoat
Colors = Liver w/ white with ALL LIVER head/ears and white blaze
Health: CHD, Hypothyroid, Epilepsy, Entropion, Elbow dysplasia, bloat

18. Sedge color
Chesapeake Bay Retreiver: RETRIEVER One of oldest breeds in AKC and one of only created in USA
Oily, waxy coat = daily brushing but not bathing unless VERY dirty (Hard to get wet)
Any shade of brown, sedge, or deadgrass.
Health: CHD, Bloat, PRA, hypothroid, entropion, OCD, Elbow Dysplasia, cerebellar abiotrophy

19. Brown color
Notice that coat is much shorter than the curly coated retriever.

20. Mary with Chessies. Two brown (middle) and two sedge (ends)

21. Bloat (Abnormal accumulation of gas, food, liquid, etc… USUALLY leads to GDV (torsion)

22. GDV (Gastric Dilitation Volvulus) May occur without Bloat and can become chronic without gastropexy. Only 5% of dogs torse again after having gastropexy.

23. Video of mix breed dog with Cerebellar Abiotrophy

24. Curly-Coated Retriever: RETRIEVER Brushing can loosen curls, only comb occasionally, prior to getting wet!
Colors: Solid black or liver
Health: CHD

25. Flat-Coated Retriever: RETRIEVER Daily brushing if spending time outdoors. (Not as much as golden ret.)
Colors: Solid black or liver
Health: None major. Minor = CHD, Glaucoma, Osteosarcoma, Lymphosarcoma, bloat

26. Lymposarcoma

27. Golden Retriever: RETRIEVER. Loves everyone
Golden Retriever: RETRIEVER. Loves everyone! Coat usually doesn’t mat easily but still needs bi-weekly brushing.
Colors: Various shades of gold
Health: CHD, Skin issues, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumors, hip and elbow dysplasia

28. Recently breeders have started trying to get a darker, red coat instead of traditional golden color. This red seems to be attached to an aggressive and unpredictable demeanor. USE EXTREME CAUTION!

29. Red Golden = aggression

30. Skin issues. May be hot-spots, environmental allergies, or food allergies

32. Labrador Retriever: RETRIEVER (#1 AKC in popularity) Low maint coat
Labrador Retriever: RETRIEVER (#1 AKC in popularity) Low maint coat. Brush weekly
Colors: Solid black, yellow, chocolate
Health: OBESITY, CHD, elbow/hip dysplasia, torn ACL, entropion or disticiasis (Hairs grow from meibomian glad of eye and into the eye)

34. Elbow Dysplasia. UAP (Un-united anconeal process) Bones don’t connect properly

35. Osteochondritis dessicans (Bone and cartilage both involved)

36. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: RETRIEVER = Bi-weekly brushing unless they get dirty. Sometimes called “LITTLE RIVER DOG”
Colors : any shade of red usually with white on tail tip, chest or blaze
Health: No major. MINOR = CHD, PRA

37. English Setter: LOCATOR Brushing q 2-3 d
Colors: White base with Orange, liver, lemon, or black flecks
Health: Deafess, CHD, Elbow/hip dysplasia, hypothyroid, OCD, PRA

38. Gordon Setter : LOCATER. Heaviest and slowest of setters
Gordon Setter : LOCATER. Heaviest and slowest of setters. More protective than other setters and can be aggressive w/ other dogs or strangers
Colors = Black and tan
Health: CHD, Bloat, Hip and elbow dysplasia, cerebellar abiotrophy (Neurons in brain start to die off causing incoordination) No prevention other than selective breeding and NO CURE.

39. Irish Red and white Setter

40. Irish Setter: LOCATER. Very energetic. Needs an outlet
Irish Setter: LOCATER. Very energetic. Needs an outlet. Can be too energetic for small children. Regular brushing to keep coat from matting.
Colors: Mahogony, Chestnut or red.
Health: PRA, CHD, bloat, megaesophagus, panosteitis, Osteosarcoma, hypothyroid, OCD, epilepsy

42. PRA

43. Megaesophagus

44. Feeder demo for megaesophagus dogs

45. Even little dogs can get megaesophagus

46. American Water Spaniel: FLUSHER. LOVES water, BIG barker/whiner
American Water Spaniel: FLUSHER. LOVES water, BIG barker/whiner. Oily, curly coat should be brushed weekly. Floppy ears checked on regular basis esp. if smell is noticed.
Colors: Solid liver, brown or dark chocolate
Health: Mitral valve disease, PDA (Patent ductus arteriosis) Pulmonic stenosis, CHD

47. PDA. Second most common birth defect in puppies
PDA. Second most common birth defect in puppies. (7 in 1000) Ductus arteriosis is normal in puppies, but should close shortly after birth. Connects AORTA to PULMONARY ARTERY. If this doesn’t close shortly after birth, can be detected as significant heart murmur. Can cause CHF if not diagnosed and treated w/ surgical closure. If there are already complications prior to SX, dog may need medications for rest of life. If untreated, 60% of dogs die w/in 6 months of being diagnosed.

48. Boykin Spaniel

49. Clumber Spaniel: FLUSHER. Stockiest of spaniels
Clumber Spaniel: FLUSHER. Stockiest of spaniels. Very mellow dog, may need to be enticed to exercise. Drool and snore!
Colors: White with lemon or orange markings
Health: IVDD, Entropion, ectropion, otitis externa

51. IVDD

53. (American) Cocker Spaniel. FLUSHER
(American) Cocker Spaniel. FLUSHER. Coat originally bred to prevent burs and thorns from penetrating to skin of dog. Very playful and unfortunately, hasn’t retained many of original hunting instincts. May be fear biters or urinate submissively.
Colors: Solid black, black and tan, Brown w/ tan points, party color or ASCOB including cream, red, brown.
Health: Cataracts, glaucoma, PRA, patellar luxation, entropion, ectropion, allergies, otitis externa, cherry eye

54. Drainage from otitis externa

55. Accumulation of excess tissue that may need to be surgically removed in aural ablasion.

57. English Cocker Spaniel: FLUSHER
English Cocker Spaniel: FLUSHER. Other than USA, this is the more popular Cocker. Retained more of hunting instincts. Brush 2-3x/week. Ears cleaned weekly.
Colors: Solid black, liver, red, black and tan, any of these colors on white backround, either party or ticked.
Health: PRA, patellar luxation, cataract, CHD, kidney dz, hypothyroid.

58. English Springer Spaniel: FLUSHER. Playful but can be destructive
English Springer Spaniel: FLUSHER. Playful but can be destructive. Can be a bit bi-polar. “Springer rage”. Switch is flipped and the “see red” and nothing brings them back. (Max)
Colors: Black or liver w/ white, liver roan, tricolored
Health: Otitis externa, CHD, Elbow dysplasia, PRA, retinal dysplasia.

59. Springer rage

60. Field Spaniel: FLUSHER. Independent but devoted. Needs exercise
Field Spaniel: FLUSHER. Independent but devoted. Needs exercise. Brushing 1-2x/wk and clip hair in ears and between toes. Check ears weekly.
Colors: Black, liver, golden liver, solid, bi-colored, roan or ticked, tan points, white on throat, chest or brisket
Health: CHD, otitis externa, hypothyroid.

61. Irish Water Spaniel: FLUSHER
Irish Water Spaniel: FLUSHER. Loves to entertain but can be very stubborn. Must have patience when training. Lots of coat maint. NO HAIR ON TAIL! Needs brushing and combing 2-3x/wk. Will mat.
Colors: Solid liver
Health: CHD, otitis externa, distichiasis, megaesophagus, seizures, nail bed dz (If not dried properly after swimming.

62. Hairless tail.

63. Sussex Spaniel: FLUSHER. Slow worker, but GREAT nose
Sussex Spaniel: FLUSHER. Slow worker, but GREAT nose! Have been so rare that inbreeding was a must!! Very laid back. May bark or howl when left alone. Brush 2-3x/wk
Colors: Golden liver
Health: CHD, IVDD, Otitis externa

64. Sussex spaniel

65. Welsh Springer Spaniel: FLUSHER. Not as rowdy as English Springer
Welsh Springer Spaniel: FLUSHER. Not as rowdy as English Springer. Need extra socialization from young age. Brush 1-2x/wk.
Colors: Rich red and white
Health; CHD, Glaucoma, otitis externa, epilepsy

66. Spinone Italiano: LOCATER, FLUSHER and RETRIEVER
Spinone Italiano: LOCATER, FLUSHER and RETRIEVER! Very gentle, calmer than other pointers. Weekly brushing.
Colors: All white or white with orange or chestnut markings, orange roan or brown roan
Health: CHD, ectropion, bloat, otitis externa, cerebellar ataxia

67. Brown Roan Spinone Italiano

68. Vizsla: LOCATOR. Bred to work closely with hunters and their guns
Vizsla: LOCATOR. Bred to work closely with hunters and their guns. Very stubborn and destructive if not given proper strenuous exercise. Minimal grooming.
Colors: Solid golden rust
Health: Epilepsy, CHD, lymphosarcoma

70. Status Epilepticus

71. Weimaraner: LOCATER originally. VERY Hyper
Weimaraner: LOCATER originally. VERY Hyper. Very destructive if not exercised. May also chase small pets like rabbits, etc… very low coat maint.
Colors: Mouse to silver gray (blue)
Helath: Bloat, spinal dysraphism. (Malformation of spine visible by ~ 6 wks.) No TX, won’t get worse. Is inherited condition.

72. Students silver (right) and Grey/blue (left) weimies. from a student.

73. Silver striping that disappears within days

74. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: LOCATER
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: LOCATER. Great at taking direction from handler. Harsh coat = brushing 2-3x/wk.
Colors: Steel gray with brown markings, chestnut brown, roan, white and brown.
Less desirable colors: Solid brown, solid white or white and orange.
Health = no major

75. Wirehaired Vizsla

76. REFERENCES: www.merckvetmanual.com www.petplace.com www.wikipedia.com
Be the Pack Leader, Cesar Millan with Melissa Jo Peltier, 2007