Cuba's mixed-breed dogs: the unexpected heroes of hunting
Who knows if, someday, all Cuban hunters will have access to purebred dogs? In my opinion, many things would have to change for that to happen. What is certain is that they have dogs that, despite living with a great mix of breeds, are capable of sharing the most memorable hunting adventures, and that is already part of our history.
Arguing about which is the ideal breed for the different hunting modalities practiced by Cuban hunters would be pointless, given the current lack of experience in the country with most of them.
Many breeds have characteristics that could make them excellent companions for long hunting days in our Antillean fields. For example, we can point to the pachón navarro or the Auvernia braque (present in our country at the beginning of the last century), the maneto podenco for rabbit hunting, or the wide range of retrievers or spaniels for retrieval and flushing.
That's why I prefer to talk about our mixed-breed dogs, those that have made our hunters happy for years, the product of an evolution I compare to the elements that form our Cuban identity, so wisely defined by Don Fernando Ortiz when he said: "(…) it is not just the result, but the process of its formation, the elements that come into play, the environment in which it operates, and the vicissitudes of its development." Without referring to tracking dogs, although there is no fixed type, they generally descend from the pointer, and many hunters define them as such, showing a preference for this breed.
They are characterized by their great resistance and versatility, being able to meet all the needs of our hunters, from a firm point to excellent retrieval during the hottest hours of the day.
Logically, mixed breeding means that not all dogs will have these characteristics to the same degree, but they do have qualities that have developed and become fixed according to the hunter's needs, based on certain famous dogs known for their 'hunting feats' in a specific area. They tend to be medium-sized, with smooth fur that reveals their strong muscles, characteristics that favor working in our climate.
We cannot doubt their hunting qualities; raised and selected for years based on the existing game species in the country, this is one of the reasons our mixed-breeds demonstrate efficiency in the field, without underestimating the value of purebred dogs, with recognized qualities, despite the disadvantages of mixed breeding. Additionally, to this day, no one has managed to create a breed in our country that adapts to the climate conditions and the type of hunting practiced in Cuba.
Personally, I believe that our mixed-breeds have earned a significant place in the history of hunting on the island, and I also emphasize the importance of Cuban hunters knowing the different breeds of hunting dogs. This is the work being done by the Cuban Pointer Club, but that's another story…
Este artículo está también disponible en español: Los perros de caza en Cuba
