On the origin of gundogs

The product of selective breeding over decades or even centuries, Britain's native sporting dogs reflect the rich variety of shooting these isles have to offer

- David Tomlinson

IT'S AN interesting but often forgotten fact that Charles Darwin's theories on evolution were based just as much on his studies of domestic pigeons as by the finches of the Galapagos. Darwin was fascinated with pigeons – from tumblers to fantails – because they all had the same ancestor: the rock dove. On the Origin of Species was published in 1859, at a time when our various breeds of gundogs were rapidly evolving into the sporting dogs of today.

I'm sure that Darwin, were he alive today, would be equally captivated by gundog evolution. Here in Britain we have three distinct types of gundogs. The oldest are spaniels, followed by the pointers and setters, with the retrievers the most recent additions. All are descended from the same canine ancestors but selective breeding has enabled them to establish their own special niches. That they have done so reflects the broad range of shooting we have here in the British Isles.

This contrasts sharply with the near continent where the numerous breeds of gundogs all do the same thing, which is hunting and (hopefully) pointing. Yes, most of them can and will retrieve but, as anyone who has been shooting in France will confirm, the great majority of French shooting dogs are much better at hunting than retrieving. A powerful hunting dog is much more highly valued than one that retrieves.