Hunting with dogs has been an age-old tradition and practice in many parts of the world. Hunting dogs have been a part of human history for centuries.
These dogs have been selectively bred over time to help hunters track, flush, point, chase, and retrieve game. Each breed of hunting dog has its own unique abilities and strengths, which makes it essential to choose the right breed that fits your hunting style.
In this article, we will discuss 21 of the best hunting dog breeds, including the Siberian Laika, Central Asian Shepherd dog, Labs, and spaniels and their unique hunting capabilities.
1. Labrador Retrievers
The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds among hunters and families worldwide. They are known for their excellent retrieving abilities, friendly temperament, and adaptability to various hunting scenarios.
The Labrador Retriever is particularly well-suited for waterfowl hunting, where their swimming and retrieving skills come in handy. The Labrador Retreiver has a double coat and also webbed feet to swim better.
They also have one of the softest mouths, which is important in order not to ruin a waterfowl catch. They are also known as one of the friendliest and lovable dog breeds in the world holding the #1 spot for the most popular dog breed.
2. Borzois
The Borzoi is a Russian aristocrat hunting dog, originally breed for Russian nobles to hunt wolf/s in packs of at least a hundred or more. They were a sign of aristocrats and so when the revolution came were put down.
This breed survived the hunt by being shipped out to America and England when dog lovers heard from both countries heard what was happening to them. To this day Borzois are still used to hunt fox’s and coyotes, they are extremely fast and sleek with powerful jaws.
3. German Shorthaired Pointers
The German Shorthaired Pointer, or the GSP, is a highly versatile hunting dog breed. They were originally developed in Germany in the 19th century to be an all-purpose hunting dog that could retrieve game on both land and water.
To this day, they are still used for hunting, when not hunting they make for great family pets due to their friendly and affectionate nature. The GSP is a medium-sized dog with a sleek and muscular body that allows for quick and agile movements.
They are highly intelligent and trainable, making them ideal for hunters who want a dog that can learn complex tasks quickly. They have a strong prey drive and are able to locate, point, and retrieve game birds with ease.
4. English Springer Spaniels
The English Springer Spaniel or the Springer, is a medium-sized dog breed that is known for their versatility, intelligence, and athleticism. They were originally bred in England for flushing out game birds and retrieving them on land and water.
Today, they are still used for hunting, but they are also popular as family pets due to their friendly and outgoing personality. The Springer has a muscular and sturdy body that allows for quick and agile movements, making them an excellent choice for hunting in a variety of terrains.
5. Beagles
The Beagle is a small to medium-sized hound breed that is known for their keen sense of smell, determination, and affectionate personality.
Originally bred in England for hunting hare and rabbit, they are now commonly used for a variety of hunting tasks, including upland bird hunting and even deer tracking.
The Beagle has a muscular and athletic body that allows them to cover a lot of ground quickly. They have a highly sensitive sense of smell, which allows them to track game over long distances.
Their compact size makes them well-suited for hunting in dense cover. Combine their stubbiness and determination/persistence it make them ideal for pursuing game that has gone to ground.
6. Vizslas
The Vizsla is a medium-sized hunting breed that is known for their energy, athleticism, and loyal personality. Originally bred in Hungary as a versatile hunting dog, they are now popular as both hunting and companion animals.
They have a sleek and muscular body that allows for quick movements and endurance, making them ideal for hunting in a variety of terrains.
The Vizsla has a keen sense of smell and an eagerness to please. This makes them well-suited for upland bird hunting, tracking, and retrieving game.
7. Weimaraners
The Weimaraners are a large sized dog breed, that were originally bred in Germany for hunting large game such as deer and wild boar.
Their appearance is very distinctive, they have sleek and athletic bodies with short silver or grey coats and piercing blue-grey eyes.
Weimaraners are extremely intelligent and energetic dogs, they require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.
The Weimaraners excel at various activities such as agility, obedience, and tracking. They are also known for their excellent sense of smell. They can often be used for hunting birds and small game as well.
8. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, also known as Chessies are a breed of dog that were originally developed in the United States in the 19th century.
They were specifically bred for hunting waterfowl in the Chesapeake Bay region. With their thick, waterproof coats and webbed feet made them well-suited to this task.
Chessies have a powerful body they also are extremely intelligent dogs. They are a strong and muscular breed with a deep chest and powerful hindquarters.
This allows them to swim and retrieve game from the water with ease. They have a thick, wavy coat that is water-resistant and comes in a range of colors from brown to reddish-brown.
9. Brittany
The Brittany is a medium-sized breed with long legs and a muscular build. Their coat colors are typically a mixture of white and orange or liver.
Brittanys are a breed of dog that originated in France, where they were used for hunting birds.
Brittanys are known for their friendly and energetic personalities. They require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.
10. Bloodhounds
The Bloodhound is a breed of dog that was originally bred in Belgium for hunting. They are a large dog breed with long, droopy ears to help them find a scent.
Bloodhounds are known for their excellent sense of smell. Which by the way is second only to the Basset Hound. They are often used for tracking missing persons and fugitives, as well as for hunting big game such as deer and wild boar.
Their long ears help direct scents to their noses they can track a scent for well over 130 miles in length. Also did you know Bloodhounds can follow a scent that can be up to 300 hours old!
11. The Basset Hound
Basset hounds are known to have the seconded best nose for scents. Basset Hounds are a breed of dog that originated in France and is known for its long ears, short legs, and droopy eyes.
They were originally bred for hunting small game, such as rabbits and hares, using their exceptional sense of smell. Basset Hounds are laid-back, gentle dogs that make great family pets due to their friendly and affectionate nature.
However, they can be stubborn and independent, which can make training a challenge.
12. Golden Retrievers
The Golden Retriever or the Golden is the second best beloved dog in the world! They are smart, kind, loving even to strangers, loyal, and always ready to play ball with someone.
The Golden Retriever was developed in the 1800s as a retrieving, and gun-dog. In Scotland, they became on the best companion and sports dog anyone could wish for.
Therefor Golden Retrievers make for great hunting dogs, tracking dogs, law enforcement dogs, and they are also great therapeutic dogs.
One of the reasons why they make for such great dogs is because you can train them to do almost anything!
13. American Foxhounds
The American Foxhound is a breed of dog that was originally bred in the United States for hunting foxes. They are large dogs with a muscular build and long, floppy ears.
While they are extremely great at fox hunting, they can also be excellent scent hounds. They have great stamina, making them ideal for long journeyed hunts their powerful nose makes them a great long distance scent hound as well.
14. Irish Setters
The Irish Setter is a breed of dog that originated in Ireland. There they were used for hunting game birds. Their small bodies are perfectly fitted for running through dense brush to find their fallen game.
Irish Setters are renown for their beautiful, silky red coats and their friendly, outgoing personalities.
Setters extremely affectionate and loyal towards their owners. They make excellent family pets for those who have the time and space to meet their needs.
15. English Foxhounds
The English Foxhound is a larger breed known for its great stamina and sense of smell. They are ideal for fox hunting and have a strong pack instinct, making them great hunting companions.
English Foxhounds are highly energetic and require plenty of exercise to stay healthy and happy. They make for fantastic family pets, but just know that the Foxhound can be stubborn and requires lots of training through out its lifespan.
16. German Wire-haired Pointers
The German Wire-haired Pointer is a versatile hunting breed that is excellent at tracking, pointing, and retrieving game. They are particularly well-suited for upland bird hunting and are known for their excellent water retrieving skills.
They are also excellent family dogs, who love spending time being next to you and the family when not hunting!
17. Siberian Laika’s
The Siberian Laika has hunted with humans since pre-history, they are an extremely effective hunting dogs who think out of the box when hunting. They are an aboriginal dog breed, which means they still keep to their wild ways.
The Siberian Laika dig dins for their babies, and even throwing up their meal much like wolves and coyotes do for their pups. They are excellent at hunting big game such as moose, elk, and deer. They are also predator aggressive hunters which means they excel at treeing bears, mountain lions, lynx’s, and bobcats.
18. Central Asian Shepherd Dogs
The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is a large and powerful breed. They have been around for over 7,000 years, they have were developed by tribes in countries that end with Stan along with Russia.
Tribes used them to hunt big game/predatory game, guarding livestock, dog fights, and finally to repel raids from different tribes.
The Central Asian Shepherd is one of the bad boy on the block, they have been banned in multiple countries including several of their hometown countries. Which is saying something when your own town kicks you out for being to aggressive.
19. Black and Tan Coonhound
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog that was originally bred in the United States for hunting raccoons. They are large dog breed with a muscular build and a distinctive Black and Tan coat.
Black and Tan Coonhounds have a strong sense of smell and a persistent nature, which makes them excellent hunting dogs. They also have a gentle and loyal personality, and they make great family pets for those who have plenty of space and time for exercise.
20. Catahoula Leopard Dog
Catahoula Leopard Dog origins are from Louisiana, they were bred for herding cattle, hunting wild pigs & protecting the farm from bandits and highwaymen. They are renowned for their various patterns and color on their fur coats.
The Catahoula’s need good training constantly and a firm but loving handling to keep them from becoming aggressive to other dogs or humans.
Catahoula’s need constant training through out their life, they tend to want to run their own show. So constant training is expected in order to make sure they follow your commands.
21. Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound is a breed of dog that originated in the United States and is known for its distinct blue and black ticked coat. They were bred as hunting dogs and are particularly skilled at tracking raccoons and other small game.
Bluetick Coonhounds are intelligent, loyal, and energetic dogs that require plenty of exercise and socialization to thrive. They make great companions for active families who enjoy spending time outdoors.
Conclusion of The Best Hunting Dog Breeds to Own
In conclusion of best hunting dogs, the right hunting dog breed can make all the difference in your hunting experience. Each of the 21 hunting dog breeds mentioned above have their own unique strengths and weakness.
So choosing the right hunting dog breed can make a significant difference in your hunting experience. Hopefully this article on best hunting dogs let you find the perfect hunting dog for you!
If how ever you did not see a hunting dog that you think should be on here please email us the breed.
Do You Have a Hunting Dog and Want To Share S/he with the LR Nation?
Have a puppy or dog/s and want to share photos with the labrottie nation? If so send us an email with photo/s name/s and finally description of your dog and what s/he loves to do and how you met!
Looking For Another Type of Dog Breed but Don’t Know Which One?
If your looking for a awesome dog but didn’t see one on this list don’t worry! We have several other articles that you may be interested in:
- Best Guard Dog Breeds
- Rottweiler American Bulldog Mix
- Boxer Rottweiler Mix
- Labrador Rottweiler Mix
- Doberman Rottweiler Mix