There are various types of hunting dogs, each one bred to offer unique advantages for hunting game. For example, hunting dogs are bred to hunt and kill game, help track game, are to retrieve game.
As a result, hunting dogs require sharp senses, great discipline, and plenty of energy for their hunting tasks. Unsurprisingly, most hunting dogs develop a strong bond with their owner, so they’re also great companions as well as hunters!
If you’re looking for a dog that’s a great companion and skilled hunter, there are many great breeds worth consideration. Let’s take a look at some of the best hunting dog breeds!
Do Hunting Dogs Make Good Pets?
Absolutely! Hunting dogs are fantastic pets thanks to their breeding habits over many centuries. For example, hunting dogs were bred to be exceptionally disciplined and loyal to their owners, making them ideal companions.
Furthermore, hunting dogs benefited from years of socialization, as hunting parties typically consisted of lots of people and dogs. So, by working in large groups, hunting dogs are now incredibly social, so are great around people and dogs.
Hunting dogs are fantastic companions for all types of owners, being especially great around children. They have boundless energy, so love lots of playtimes, while showing love and affection to their owners. Nothing makes a hunting dog happier than pleasing its owner!
Plus, hunting dogs are intelligent, taking well to training and following commands. While you do need to put some work into training them, it only strengthens your bond and results in a disciplined pet.
Here are 15 of the best hunting dogs:
Labrador Retriever
As its name suggests, the Labrador retriever is a hunting dog that helps to retrieve prey. They’re also skilled hunters, with the ability to hunt waterbirds with great efficiency. As a result of this, they also adore playing in the water!
Labs are exceptionally popular pets, known for their high intelligence, loyalty, and loving nature. They’re great around kids, loving nothing more to play around for hours on end. Their intelligence makes them great learners too, allowing owners to teach various commands to keep them disciplined.
Golden Retriever
The golden retriever is like the Labrador retriever in many ways. For example, they’re bred to retrieve game, typically birds, while also being effective hunters. Their bite is generally very soft due to their retrieval nature.
As a companion, golden retrievers are incredible. They are loyal and loving, caring greatly for their entire family. From lazing around on the couch to playing outdoors, goldies love spending time with their owners.
Like a Labrador, they’re smart and easy to train, although they do have a longer coat that requires more maintenance
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a crossbreed created from a Newfoundland and water retriever breed native to the Chesapeake Bay. Due to their water retriever heritage, these hunting dogs absolutely love being around water, hunting and retrieving waterfowl.
They’re larger and more muscular than Labradors, with a beautiful coat that offers excellent protection from water. Like other retrievers, they’re intelligent and receptive to training.
As a companion, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a wonderful pet, caring greatly for its family. Take them to some water and you’re guaranteed one happy pup!
Mountain Cur
The Mountain Cur traces its origins to the days of the pioneers. These early settlers brought over working dogs to help with hunting, farming, and protecting livestock. A highly intelligent breed, the Mountain Cur remains a popular hunting dog for farmers, thanks to its diverse skillsets.
However, there is not the easiest hunting dog to train. They often have a stubborn attitude, so require a skilled owner to effectively train them. Therefore, it’s best to avoid a Mountain Cur unless you’re an experienced dog owner.
Vizsla
With an exceptional tracking scent, the Vizsla is brilliant at hunting various types of game, namely waterfowl. It’s though their long snout and droopy ears help increase their sense of smell, allowing them to effectively track and hunt game on land and water.
Vizsla is also fantastic family pet, being kind and affectionate, if somewhat excitable. They’re quite stubborn if they don’t get enough exercise, so are best suited for active owners that enjoy long walks
Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is a robust breed with a gorgeous shiny gray coat that loves nothing more than to hunt game. They’re strong and fearless, with stories of them hunting large animals such as deer. Today, a Weimaraner is at their happiest when hunting fowl and being around their family.
Because they’re so strong and athletic, they do require a lot of exercises to keep content. Also, their prey drive is strong for a hunting dog, so caution is required around smaller animals.
German Shorthair Pointer
The German Shorthair Pointer is one of the quickest, most energetic hunting dog breeds around. They love sprinting after birds, using their speed to effectively hunt much smaller fowl, easily navigating through rough terrain.
However, all this energy requires a similarly energetic owner! A German Shorthair Pointer requires lots of long walks, so expect to spend plenty of time outdoors with this dog.
Beagle
With its droopy ears and big eyes, it’s easy to see why the beagle is a popular hunting dog. The breed is a bit shorter than your average hunting dog, using its low base to sniff out game.
As with most hunting dogs, the beagle is trainable and loyal but does require plenty of exercise. They are curious, playful and love attention, so are also great around kids, making them a popular family pet.
American Fox Hound
The American Fox Hound is a skilled hunter of foxes, using its incredible scent for tracking them. They slightly resemble beagles, although aren’t as short, with a taller, more slender build.
Beyond some regular exercise and attention, the American Fox Hound is a relatively low-maintenance dog. Their coat doesn’t need much care, while they love being around people and other pets.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has a slim physique and long, oily coat that offers great protection from water. This breed loves hunting water game, pointing towards prey, and working tirelessly to catch game with their owners.
A loyal and gentle breed, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon enjoys playing around with its family – preferably around some water! They’re great house pets, showing great obedience when properly trained.
Jack Russel Terrier
Despite its smaller size, the Jack Russel Terrier has a big personality, being a loud and lively hunting dog. Originally bred to hunt foxes, the Jack Russel Terrier is exceptionally brave, easily taking on prey much larger than itself.
However, they’re great hunters of smaller game, especially rodents and small mammals. As terrier breed, they also love digging and jumping, while retaining a strong prey drive.
A vocal breed, expect plenty of noise from these cheeky hunting dogs! Their noisy tendencies are better managed with regular exercise.
Wire Fox Terrier
Originally bred to hunt foxes, the Wire Fox Terrier is now commonly found in family homes and at dog shows. They’re a fun and loving breed, although do have a mischievous streak in them too!
As an energetic and intelligent hunting dog breed, a Wire Fox Terrier requires lots of exercise and attention. Providing you give them enough mental and physical stimulation, they’re not too mischievous!
Bluetick Coonhound
Part of the coonhound breed that includes Black and Tan coonhounds, the Bluetick coonhound is a fantastic hunter. Bred to hunt racoon, Blueticks are a fearless breed that won’t shy away from larger game and predators. There are reports of them fighting off mountain lions and bears on the frontiers!
Today, the Bluetick is an affectionate dog that makes for a great pet. It does retain a strong prey drive, so is likely to sprint after anything it catches sight or scent of. Training from an early age does offset their prey drive, making them easier to manage.
Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is unique for a hunting dog, being docile, even amid a large and raucous hunting group. However, their tracking scent is almost unrivalled, making them one of the most effective hunting dogs, despite their laid-back manner.
Moreover, a Bloodhound is the perfect companion dog. They’re at their happiest when curled up next to their family, easily relaxing in one spot for several hours! That said, they do still need regular exercise, although they’re certainly less loud and energetic than other dog hunting breeds.
Norwegian Elkhound
Bred to hunt elk alongside the Vikings, the Norwegian Elkhound is one of the strongest, most powerful hunting breeds around.
Norwegian Elkhounds have incredible hearing, using it to track game in busy woodlands. However, this hearing also transfers to their homelife – especially when rustling up some food!
They’re loyal dogs, yet they are a somewhat stubborn breed, so an experienced owner is best suited for the Norwegian Elkhound.
Conclusion
As the above list shows, there are various types of hunting dog breeds, coming in all shapes and sizes. Some have a great sense of smell, while others use their sight or hearing to track prey. Given their working nature, these dogs do require exercise and attention, so are most suitable for active families.
Above all else, hunting dogs are loving, loyal, and affectionate to their owners, making them amazing pets!