page_title: Retriever
section_title: Other dogs with retrieving skill
hierarchical_section_title: Retriever / Retriever Breeds / Other dogs with retrieving skill
context_page_description: A retriever is a type of gun dog that retrieves game for a hunter. Generally gun dogs are divided into three major classifications: retrievers, flushing spaniels, and pointing breeds. Retrievers were bred primarily to retrieve birds or other prey and return them to the hunter without damage; retrievers are distinguished in that nonslip retrieval is their primary function. As a result, retriever breeds are bred for soft mouths and a great willingness to please, learn, and obey. A soft mouth refers to the willingness of the dog to carry game in its mouth without biting into it. "Hard mouth" is a serious fault in a hunting dog and is very difficult to correct. A hard-mouthed dog renders game unpresentable or at worst inedible.
  The retriever's willingness to please, patient nature and trainability have made breeds such as the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever popular as a disability assistance dog. The outstanding reputation of the retriever has landed both the Labrador and the Golden retriever among the top 10 best dogs for children and families across the world.
context_section_description: American Cocker Spaniel
  American Water Spaniel
  Barbet
  Boykin Spaniel
  Blackmouth Cur
  Blue Lacy
  Brittany
  Clumber Spaniel
  Dutch Partridge Dog
  English Cocker Spaniel
  English Setter
  English Springer Spaniel
  Épagneul Bleu de Picardie
  Epagneul Pont-Audemer
  Frisian Pointer (stabyhoun/stabij)
  German Longhaired Pointer
  German Shorthaired Pointer
  German Wirehaired Pointer
  German Water Spaniel
  Gordon Setter
  Hungarian Vizsla
  Italian Spinone
  Irish Setter
  Irish Water Spaniel
  Newfoundland
  Pointer
  Poodle
  Portuguese Water Dog
  Spanish Water Dog
  Sussex Spaniel
  Tibetan Terrier
  Weimaraner
  Welsh Springer Spaniel
  Wire-haired Pointing Griffon
  Typically, any dog breed can be used as a retriever if trained to do so, but a retrieving dog usually has a natural obsession with birds that manifests itself from puppyhood. 
  The Boykin Spaniel is most often worked as a nonslip retriever, though it originated as a mutt bred to flush turkeys and ducks from the blind: today it is still used to hunt wild turkey but it also is odd in how it performs its retrieve, usually tossed from a rowboat or canoe.  Many would classify it as a flushing spaniel rather than as a retriever, even if it can do both.  Similarly, the American Water Spaniel could be listed in either category.  Dogs such as the Poodle are tricky to classify in part because of their history: The poodle is a very old breed that originally was a gundog, but then was bred down in size and ultimately became the epitome of the spoiled prissy lap dog of a well-to-do woman, complete with over the top grooming styles and dyes that turned their fur pink.  In the past 25 years, however, the  Standards and Miniatures have been put back to work for their original purpose in North America and occasionally even beat the common Labrador in competitions; on top of that they also work in spaniel hunts on pheasants, chukar, and a few others. The trend, however, is not recognized by the FCI or the Kennel Club at this time as of 2019 and neither allows the breed to participate in trials or hunt tests.
caption: A black Standard Poodle retrieving a Mallard. Poodles are one of the oldest breeds of retrievers, originally bred to retrieve ducks in Germany and France.
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