bird-dogs

Scent-tracking hunting dogs

Bird-dogs are hunting dogs trained to locate game birds and point or retrieve them.

The term extends to people who scout or search on someone's behalf—finding sales leads, locating talent, or tracking down information.

To bird-dog is to watch closely or pursue persistently: He bird-dogged the legislation through committee.

The hyphen distinguishes this from the noun phrase "bird dogs."

hunting

pointer

Reference to memory location

setterOne who establishes
retrieverDog trained to fetch game
flushSame suit, five cards

scent · trail · quarry · gamebird · upland · wildfowl · beagle · spaniel · hound · bloodhound

surveillance

monitor

Display or supervisor

shadowLight blocked by object
tailRear animal appendage
watchPortable timekeeping device

track · follow · observe · informant · scout · spy · lookout · report · tip-off · insider

sales

prospect

Potential client or opportunity

canvassSeek opinions systematically
solicitRequest with persistence
recruitNew member sought

pitch · hustle · scout · pursue · follow-up · networking · referral · commission · territory · pipeline

Opposites

hunting dog function

bird-dogsretrievers

Dogs bred for returning

gun dogs · water dogs · hounds · lap dogs · house dogs

surveillance/pursuit behavior

bird-dogsignores

Refuses to acknowledge

avoids · neglects · overlooks · disregards · evades

sales/recruitment role

bird-dogsclosers

Those who complete transactions

account managers · qualifiers · converters

Family

bird, dog, birds, birded, birding, birder, birders, dogs, dogged

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G