Some of North America’s top hunting dogs and their handlers are competing this week at Lake Murray for the AKC Gun Dog Championship.

DULUTH (AP) -- Good sounds float through the home of Bob and Evan Devlin these days. Micro-barks. Mini-growls. Soprano yips. The place is full of pups. Pudgy little 7-week-old pups. Ten of them.

Setters are types of dogs that hunters often use to hunt birds that live mostly on the ground, such as quail, which is why they’re also called bird dogs. The dogs don’t catch the birds themselves, but ...

Hunters know the bond with a good dog relies on teamwork with instincts, grit, and tireless drive. Some breeds were practically built for the chase, tracking scent through thick brush or flushing ...