Online House Hunting

do you think dogs are happier as a house dog or a hunting dog?

think about this one for a sec...cause hunting dogs are free and that's in their blood. But house dogs can be just as happy can't they? PLEASE ANSWER tu!

Public Comments

1. depends on the individual dog...if the dog seems content being at home, than its fine being at home...if your dog is restless AND gets plenty of exercise, then give it a job.
2. hunting dog. because it is in there blood and thats there natural instinct. just if your mother loved to go shopping alot most likely her daughter would like to go shopping alot to instead of sitting in the house all day
3. hunting dogs so that they can do what they were born to do
4. well it depends on the breed...some dogs like grey hounds are racing dogs and some dogs LOVE water...small dogs like to be kept around home usually because they sopmetimes are afraid of bigger things. Then...big dogs like to be at home too because it makes them feel more secure but as a hunting dog...its only certain breeds
5. Ummm, why can't a house dog also be a hunting dog? I think most are both. I used to do open field coursing with my Whippets which is hunting jackrabbits. They were house dogs when they were not out hunting. I know people who hunt with their Labs, but the dogs are house dogs too. I think dogs ARE happier when they have a job to do.
6. I also think it depends on the individual dog. But Most dogs do love having some kind of job. Whether it is hunting, herding, or agility. They Love all of these activities. My dog is a house pet, and she is a very happy dog. Her job is to keep an eye on everything, be a companion, and to bring me stuff. Well, that is what she thinks her job is. She LOVES to retrieve, and she is a Pit Bull...
7. I have 2 hunting dogs and a house dog and they all seem happy, but they all have times that they are not so happy. The hunting dogs need to be kenneled up to keep them focused and that could be depressing.
8. It really depends on the personality of the dog. They are so different compared to each other, just like humans. When you think about it, all original dog breeds had some sort of hunting or protecting reason for being. Now that humans don't so much depend on hunting as a way of survival, our dogs have changed with us. Some people like to hunt, some like to watch the shows. True for their dogs.
9. They are not mutually exclusive situations. A dog can be properly trained to be a hunting dog as well as be a companion animal in your home. Problems come with breeding dogs that are not also kept in their owners homes -- you eventually lose the characteristics that are desireable for a companion animal. I know a number of breeds that have segments that people keep kenneled and then participate in some sport with and the dogs essentaily end up having to be kenneled and are lacking in companion dog characteristics - it happens in my breed, the Doberman - there are people who like to participate with them in various sports and the dogs themselves are so lacking that in order to get sufficient drive and training, they have to be kenneled - after several generations of this, the dogs become great sport dogs but are wholey incapable of being good companions - and given the breed's 'job' is to be a personal companion protection dog, that is a disservice to the future of the breed -- who is protected by a dog in a kennel! haha Anyway, with the hunting dogs a lot of the same thing has or can occur. There is no reason a dog has to be kenneled to make it a good hunting dog -- hunting dogs in the past have been huge parts of their owner's lives and a member of their family and still been capable of being excellent hunters. If a hunting dog can't be trained to hunt unless it is kenneled away from its people, then it is a poor hunting dog and shouldn't be perpetuated through breeding. You need to be able to have the dog do what it is bred to do, hunt, while still being able to be a good companion. Being 'free' is not what is in a hunting dog's blood -- or genetics if that is what you mean... the dogs are bred to actually not run too big so that they are capable of going out, doing their job and returning quickly and efficiently to their master with whatever they were hunting, if a retriever, or stand steady waiting for their master until otherwise directed, in the case of a pointer or flusher. So 'running free' isn't necessarily what a good hunting dog is about and even so, it isn't a one way or another situation.
10. house dog
11. Depends entirely on the type of dog. Dogs that are closer genetically to wolves will be happier doing more "natural" things (hunting, burying, etc) than being kept in the house 100% of the time. Dogs that aren't as closely related have been bred to appreciate human support and companionship more. I doubt that any Chihuahua or Pomeranian would last that long in the wild, even if they had been raised there. For better or worse, those instincts have been bred out of them. We have two poodles who are total cupcakes...they hate getting their feet wet (sucks for them when the grass is wet after a rain), won't pee at night without either the light on or you standing there with them, and who prefer to sit in our laps (which is not exactly encouraged, but after a while you get tired of pushing them off). I also have 3 Cairn Terriers, and one is English (who are bigger and more "working dogs" than cuddly pets like their American counterparts)...two of my Cairns love cuddles and don't like to stay outside that long, but the English one (our big boy!) isn't happy unless he's outside all day, "guarding" against squirrels, or out on walks. He definitely loves cuddles as well, but he's not happy not being allowed to do his Dog Duties. A German Shepherd will not be happy only cuddling and staying at your feet inside the whole time, and a Corgi will not be happy left outside to fend for themselves. Besides, dogs have been "man's best friends" since Ancient Egypt...unless you're dealing with a wolf or a very wild dog, almost all dogs (barring personality/trust issues) like to have SOME degree of human contact.
12. My dogs are both. I have two Golden Retrievers, an English Setter, and a Toy Poodle. All are house dogs, none have been kept outdoors. It's a total myth that hunting dogs should be kept outdoors...my husband believed that, too, before our first Golden. I told him that no dog of mine would live outside (I don't know a single outdoor dog that is not neglected in some way), and that if he wanted a hunting dog, it would have to be in the house. He believed that hunters need to live outdoors, as all of his previous dogs have, and now he often tells his friends with outside dogs to bring them in the house. He swears our 3 hunting dogs are the best he's ever had, and they really are hard working dogs, very eager to do their job, and to please their owners. We know that our dogs will be healthier, live longer, and be happier when they are inside with us (their "pack"). In this day and age, it's sad that some people still believe that dogs should be kept outside in a 4 x 8 foot kennel. It's not natural for dogs to be confined all day, it's not healthy, and it causes behavior problems. My dogs get the outdoor time they need with backyard play and regular walks, but none has any desire to stay out there...when they are ready to come indoors, they let us know. All of my dogs are well behaved, well trained, and good workers, but most importantly, they are valued and loved members of my family...the way all dogs should be.
13. it depends one the type of dog...Working dogs definitely need to be worked whether they are a herding, tracking, or hunting dog if some breeds do not have enough to keep them busy, they will be destructive, and "unhappy"