10 Best Hunting Dog Breeds

Every avid hunter needs a companion to help him find game, retrieve game, and keep his hunter company. There are many AKC registered dog breeds for hunting. If you are looking for a hunting dog, consider one of these best hunting dog breeds.

Brittany

The Brittany is a bird hunting dog. It is both a pointer and a retriever. Males and females both grow to between 30 and 40 pounds. The Brittany requires a great deal of exercise. It is a highly social dog that needs a lot of attention from its owner. They require very little grooming.

Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are popular family dogs, but they are also an excellent hunting dog breed. They are water retrievers and are experts at duck hunting. Male labs grow to between 65 and 80 pounds. Females grow to between 55 and 70 pounds. Labs are devoted and obedient, making them easy to train and one of the best hunting dog breeds. Labs need weekly grooming.

Vizsula

Vizsulas are fairly rare in the United States. Vizsulas are bird dogs that originated in Hungary. They are pointers and are used in pointing field trials. Males and females both grow to between 45 and 65 pounds. The Vizsula is an energetic hunting dog breed that requires a great deal of exercise. They are runners and must be allowed to run every day. Grooming is minimal for Vizsulas.

German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer is another bird hunting dog breed. As their name implies, they are bred to be pointers. Males are between 55 and 70 pounds. Females are between 45 and 60 pounds. As with other breeds of bird dogs, the German Shorthaired Pointer needs plenty of exercise. An occasional brushing is all the German Shorthaired Pointer needs to be well groomed.

Golden Retriever

Another highly popular dog breed is the Golden Retriever. Like Labrador Retrievers, they are great dogs to have along on a duck hunt. Males are between 65 and 75 pounds. Females are between 55 and 65 pounds. They are obedient and easy to train. Both the mind and body of a Golden Retriever needs exercise, as they are highly intelligent dogs. The Golden Retriever’s coat should be brushed twice a week.

Black and Tan Coonhound

The Black and Tan Coonhound is used to hunt raccoons. They are members of the hound group. Males and females are both between 55 and 75 pounds. The Black and Tan Coonhound is a mellow hunting dog breed. Once its nose picks up a scent, it can be hard to get it to leave the trail. They drool a bit, so their faces will need to be wiped. The Black and Tan Coonhound’s coat requires only basic brushing.

Beagle

Beagles are used for rabbit hunting. Their noses can pick up the scent of a rabbit and trail it for the hunter. Males and females grow to between 18 and 30 pounds. Beagles are loving and good family dogs. They tend to wander off if they are outside and pick up a scent, so they need to be in a yard with a fence. A beagles coat does not require much maintenance.

Weimaraner

The beautiful gray Weimeraner is a pointer. Weimeraners love to run and need plenty of exercise. They grow to between 55 and 90 pounds. Weimaraners are a highly social hunting dog breed. The only grooming this hunting dog breed requires is an occasional brushing.

Pointer

Pointers are, obviously, pointers. This is a bird hunting dog breed. Males are between 55 and 75 pounds. Females range from 45 to 65 pounds. Pointers have a great deal of stamina, which will keep them hunting for hours. This means they need a lot of exercise. Like most bird dogs, Pointers only require minimal grooming.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a water retriever. Thanks to its coat, this hunting dog breed can dive into icy waters to retrieve game. These hunting dogs grow to between 65 and 80 pounds for males and 55 to 70 pounds for females. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever, or “Chessie”, needs daily exercise. A simple weekly brushing will keep this breed well groomed.

Information about Hunting Dogs

Hunting dogs were bred primarily to work with people to hunt animals, fish and birds. Hunting dogs have been bred to suit varying environments and climates. Some Hunting dogs were bred specifically to work in water whilst other dogs are more suited to work on land and many of the dogs are comfortable and capable of working in either land or water environments. The evolution of the many breeds of Hunting dogs were dictated by the changing requirements of man. Hunting Dogs have been bred specifically to enhance their skills in helping man to hunt. Hunting dogs have been used by man dating back to Antiquity when their very survival was dependent on their hunting skills. The quarry sought provided man with food, clothing and even the hides were used for shelter. The advent of new agricultural methods, animal husbandry, manufacturing and new weapons saw the diminished need for Hunting dogs in modern times. The evolution and History of the Hunting Dogs was inextricably linked with man’s own evolution.

The Evolution of Hunting Dogs – The Sight Hounds

The Hunting dogs in the category of Sighthounds specialise in hunting their quarry by sight rather than scent. Sighthounds have distinctive characteristics, features and traits which are perfect for hunting. The Afghan Hound is a good example of this with its padded paws and powerful legs which gave them the equal abilities to skim across sands or snow and to climb rocky mountains. Sighthounds, as their very name indicates, have extremely good vision. They also have a long jaw and lengthy neck which assists them in sighting their quarry. Their lean muscular body, deep chest and long powerful legs essential assets when following any fast and agile prey.

Hunting Dogs History & Evolution – The Scent Hounds

The Hunting Dogs categorised as Scent Hounds specialise in following the scent or the smell of its quarry. It was not necessary for Scent Hounds to be as fast and agile as Sighthounds – they do not need to keep their quarry in sight. Scent hounds as Hunting Dogs are built for endurance. They can follow a scent for long distances and even across running water. Scent Hounds have distinctive characteristics, features and traits which are perfect for their purpose as Hunting Dogs. They have large noses which have deep, open nostrils and their lips are loose and moist, designed to pick up scent particles and follow the trail of an animal. Their ears are long which concentrates the scent on the nose. Their bodies are designed for endurance, an essential asset when following any scent trail – a major asset for one of the Hunting Dogs. The Bloodhound, as pictured above, was bred originally to hunt wolves, deer and large game. Man’s requirements changed with new hunting technology and the dogs role changed to that of a police dog to track missing people, fleeing suspects, or escaped prisoners.

Hunting Dogs Evolution & History – The Hound Dog Breeds

Hunting Dogs in the Hound Dog Group have been bred to chase (or hound) a quarry by sight or smell, or a combination of both senses. The Sight hound Hunting Dogs have exceptional eyesight, combined with the speed and stamina necessary to catch the intended prey once seen, typical examples being the Greyhound and the Whippet. Hunting Dogs which rely strongly on the sense of smell to follow the trail of a prey, such as the Bloodhound, quite literally follow their noses, speed and eyesight is of less importance.

Hunting Dogs Evolution – Sporting Dog Breeds – Retrievers, Pointers and Setters

Hunting dogs categorised in the Sporting Dog group hunt by air scent, as opposed to ground scent. The Retriever, Pointer and Setter dogs were bred selectively which resulted in them fulfilling the needs of man. Hunting Retriever dogs find and return killed game to the hunter. Some Retrievers are especially equipped, for instance with a water-repellent coat and webbed feet, for retrieving downed waterfowl. Hunting Pointer dogs stand in front of their quarry, with their nose and body rigidly still , thus directing (or pointing) the hunter to its location. Hunting Setter dogs were originally trained to set, or crouch, in front of game preventing the escape of the quarry. The hunter would make the capture with a net. The picture above demonstrates how other breeds of Hunting Dogs actually chased their quarry into a waiting net. The African Basenji Dog was used for such hunting. They chased their prey, such as small antelopes, into hunting nets or out into the open where their quarry could be shot with a gun or a bow and arrow. Man’s own evolution and development in technology moved the traditional hunting methods away from primitive tools and nets – the Hunting Sporting Dogs were then called the Hunting Gundogs.

Hunting Dogs History and Evolution – The Terrier Dog Breeds

Hunting Dogs categorised in the Terrier group were developed to hunt and kill vermin. The vermin included rats, mice and other predatory animals such as foxes which might raid a farmer’s produce and livestock. The very nature of these tasks required an energetic, tenacious, brave and determined Hunting dog and the Terrior breed was perfect for such work.

Evolution Hunting Dogs – The Otterhound

The Otter Hound – Otterhound and is a dog of considerable size and was bred originally to hunt the otter in order to ensure the trout supply in rivers. It’s origins can be dated back for thousands of years and it is classified as one of the Hound Dog Group of Hunting Dogs. The above picture shows an Otter hound looking on at the hunters who have speared the luckless otter and have raised the animal out of the reach of the dogs. The picture also illustrates how the Otterhounds hunted in packs. The history and evolution of the various breeds of Hunting dogs continues today. The Otterhound, a scent hound, is a perfect example of this evolution process. The Otter Hound ( Otterhound ) verged close on extinction when its targeted quarry, the otter, was made a protected species.

The Hunting Dogs and their quarry
The Quarry of Hunting Dogs varied considerably from Fox Hunting to Coon Hunting and from Wolf Hunting to Deer Hunting. Listed below are some Hunting Breeds and their particular quarry:

Fox hunting dogs – American and English Foxhounds
Deer Hunting dogs – the Irish Wolfhound
Hog Hunting dogs – the American Staffordshire Terrier – see Bay Dogs
Wolf Hunting dogs – the Borzoi
Badger Hunting Dogs – the Basset Hound
Bird Hunting Dogs – the Sussex Spaniel
Rat Hunting dogs – the Cairn Terrier
Coon Hunting Dogs – the Black and Tan Coonhound
Bear Hunting dogs – the Neapolitan Mastiff
Elk (moose) Hunting dogs – the Norwegian Elkhound
Duck Hunting dogs – Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Rabbit and Hare Hunting dogs – the Beagle
Big Game Hunting dogs – the Rhodesian Ridgeback