A hunting dog trained to find, flush out, or retrieve game birds and small animals for hunters.
From 'gun' (firearm) plus 'dog' (canine animal). The term developed in the 17th-18th centuries as firearms became the primary hunting tool, replacing falconry and requiring specialized retriever breeds.
Gundogs represent one of the earliest examples of humans intentionally breeding dogs for a specific job—retrievers, pointers, and setters were all developed because hunters with guns needed dogs that could find game and bring it back unharmed!
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