DOGS ON THE HUNT

The domestication of dogs took place in ancient times, about 35,000 years ago.
Helping people hunt was one of the main purposes of the first dogs.
Hunting dog breeding in Russia has developed over centuries.

In Russia, hound hunting was almost a mandatory pastime for noble landowners.
Hunting dogs are a group of specialized dog breeds designed for hunting wild animals. There are over 100 breeds of hunting dogs worldwide.
Pointers are the most numerous group of hunting dogs. Pointers are dogs that freeze motionless in front of a bird they've scented, that is, they can point. They received the name "pointers" because many of them lie down, stopping in front of a bird they smell.

Hounds are one of the oldest groups of hunting dogs, used to drive game into nets even before the invention of firearms. Hounds have a well-developed hunting instinct and sense of direction. They have a distinctive, "trumpet-like" call that can be heard from afar by hunters. Unlike pointers, hounds are usually kept in a kennel in flocks.
Borzois are another group of hunting dogs. When hunting, the borzoi relies primarily on its keen eyesight rather than its sense of smell, as it can reach incredible speeds, up to 60 km/h, at which point scents are undetectable. The name itself comes from the word "borzoi," meaning "fast and agile." Borzois were typically used in packs of hounds.

Spaniels are a group of small gundogs used to locate and retrieve game. These dogs have an excellent sense of smell, are intelligent, and are easily trained. By exploiting their innate qualities, spaniels can be trained to replace pointers on the hunt. Most existing spaniel breeds were developed in England: the Springer Spaniel, the Clumber Spaniel (the largest of the spaniels), the Irish Water Spaniel, and others. In Russia, Russian Spaniels are bred for hunting; these dogs are slightly larger than the Cocker Spaniel, lighter in weight, and more resilient.

Laikas are another group of hunting dogs. There are four main breeds of hunting Laikas in Russia: the Karelo-Finnish, the Russo-European, the West Siberian, and the East Siberian. The hunting Laika has an exceptional sense of smell, excellent hearing, and keen eyesight. Their fluffy, dense coat provides excellent protection from the cold. Laikas are used in Russia to hunt both small and large game.

Burrowing dogs are a large group of dogs, encompassing approximately 30 breeds. These are large-chested, strong animals with powerful paws, known for their fearless attacks on game in burrows. Burrow dogs are also used to flush game out of thickets (by barking).