Gun dogs
Spaniels, setters, pointers, and retrievers all fall within the category of dogs called "gun dogs" in Britain and "sporting dogs" in North America. The breeds are not usually aggressive, having been originally bred to live together in kennels. Gun dogs are today mostly used for shooting game birds. They are trained to "point" and "set" (pp. 16-17). They must scent the air for the birds and then stay still and silent in a crouching position, to make the presence of the birds known to the hunters, without chasing them. Gun dogs must also have soft mouths so that they can retrieve the dead or wounded prey undamaged by their teeth(pp. 40-41). Gun dogs respond very well to training - for this reason they are bred not only for sport but also as house dogs and companions. The Labrador retriever is probably the most popular animal companion and helper dos (pp.44-45) worldwide.