sporting dog

American  

noun

1. one of any of several breeds of usually large dogs especially suited by size and training for hunting by pointing, flushing, and retrieving game and including the pointers, setters, retrievers, and spaniels.

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Etymology

Origin of sporting dog

First recorded in 1780–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sporting dog

He makes an excellent sporting dog, and can be taught to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter, as well as that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever.

From Dogs and All about Them by Robert Leighton

The brain can be trained, as the hand and eye can be trained; it can be made as obedient as a sporting dog, and by similar methods.

From The Human Machine by Arnold Bennett

Yes, he certainly is not happy with him; and for this reason--the Duke had a beautiful Danish sporting dog, which had run a thorn deep into its foot.

From The Banished A Swabian Historical Tale. In Three Volumes. by Wilhelm Hauff

You have many qualities, old friend," I said, "but I don't think you are a sporting dog.

From Scally The Story of a Perfect Gentleman by Ian Hay

Why the sporting dog should have declined to join the hunt is, perhaps, a greater mystery than the fact of his returning home without any other guidance than his sagacious instinct.

From Dog Stories from the "Spectator" being anecdotes of the intelligence, reasoning power, affection and sympathy of dogs, selected from the correspondence columns of "The Spectator" by Various

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