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Top 10 Best Hunting Dog Breeds: Ultimate Guide for Hunters
Discover the top 10 best hunting dog breeds for every hunter! From Labrador Retrievers to Norwegian Elkhounds, learn which breed matches your hunting style and environment.
Hunting dogs have been indispensable companions to hunters for centuries, combining sharp instincts, unwavering loyalty, and specialized skills to track, retrieve, and flush game. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or a novice, choosing the right breed can make or break your outdoor adventures. In this guide, we’ll explore the **top 10 best hunting dogs**, their unique traits, and why they excel in the field.
1. Labrador Retriever
**Best For:** Waterfowl, upland bird hunting
The Labrador Retriever reigns as America’s most popular dog breed—and for good reason. Labs are natural swimmers with a “soft mouth” that gently retrieves game without damaging it. Their high intelligence, trainability, and friendly demeanor make them ideal for duck hunting and family life.
- **Key Traits:** Strong retrieving instinct, endurance, adaptability to cold water.
- **Pro Tip:** Labs thrive with consistent training and plenty of exercise.
2. German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP)
**Best For:** Versatile hunting (birds, rabbits, even deer)
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a **jack-of-all-trades** in the hunting world. Known for their speed, agility, and keen nose, GSPs excel at pointing, flushing, and retrieving. They’re equally comfortable in fields, forests, or water.
- **Key Traits:** High energy, loyalty, and a natural “pointing” stance.
- **Pro Tip:** Keep them mentally stimulated—bored GSPs can become destructive.
3. English Springer Spaniel
**Best For:** Flushing birds (pheasants, quail)
This compact, energetic breed specializes in **flushing game** from dense brush. English Springer Spaniels work closely with hunters, using their keen sense of smell to locate birds and spring them into the air.
- **Key Traits:** Agile, affectionate, and excellent in thick cover.
- **Pro Tip:** Their long ears require regular cleaning to prevent infections.
4. Beagle
**Best For:** Small game (rabbits, hares)
Beagles are scent hounds with a legendary nose for tracking. Their compact size allows them to navigate tight spaces, and their persistent barking (“baying”) helps hunters locate prey.
- **Key Traits:** Stamina, curiosity, and pack-friendly nature.
- **Pro Tip:** Beagles can be stubborn—patience is key during training.
5. Bloodhound
**Best For:** Tracking wounded game
With a sense of smell **1,000 times stronger** than humans, Bloodhounds are unmatched trackers. They’re often used to locate wounded deer or missing persons over long distances.
- **Key Traits:** Tenacity, droopy ears that trap scents, calm temperament.
- **Pro Tip:** Early socialization is critical for this strong-willed breed.
6. Brittany Spaniel
**Best For:** Upland bird hunting
Brittanys are agile, medium-sized dogs that combine pointing and retrieving skills. They’re lighter and faster than many spaniels, making them perfect for open-field hunts.
- **Key Traits:** Eager to please, high energy, and gentle with children.
- **Pro Tip:** Avoid harsh training methods—they respond best to positive reinforcement.
7. Vizsla
**Best For:** All-around hunting (birds, rabbits)
The Vizsla’s sleek build and athleticism make it a favorite among upland hunters. Originating in Hungary, this breed forms deep bonds with owners and thrives on companionship.
- **Key Traits:** Affectionate, low-shedding coat, and exceptional endurance.
- **Pro Tip:** Vizslas are prone to separation anxiety—keep them close!
8. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
**Best For:** Cold-water duck hunting
Built for harsh conditions, the “Chessie” has a waterproof coat, webbed feet, and unmatched determination. They’re tougher and more independent than Labradors, ideal for rugged retrieves.
- **Key Traits:** Protective instincts, strong work ethic, and resilience.
- **Pro Tip:** Early socialization prevents overprotectiveness.
9. Weimaraner
**Best For:** Big game (deer, boar) and birds
Weimaraners are versatile hunters with striking silver-gray coats. Their speed and stamina make them excellent for tracking large game, while their intelligence aids in complex tasks.
- **Key Traits:** Fearless, loyal, and highly trainable.
- **Pro Tip:** Provide plenty of exercise to curb hyperactivity.
10. Norwegian Elkhound
**Best For:** Elk, moose, and bear hunting
This ancient Nordic breed is built for endurance in harsh climates. Norwegian Elkhounds use their loud bark to corner large game until hunters arrive.
- **Key Traits:** Thick double coat, independence, and bravery.
- **Pro Tip:** Regular grooming is essential for their dense fur.
Choosing the Right Hunting Dog: Key Considerations
1. **Hunting Style:** Match the breed to your prey (e.g., retrievers for waterfowl, hounds for tracking).
2. **Climate Tolerance:** Consider coat type (e.g., Chessies for cold water, Vizslas for moderate climates).
3. **Trainability:** High-energy breeds like GSPs need experienced handlers.
4. **Family Compatibility:** Labs and Brittanys are great for homes with kids.
Training Tips for Hunting Dogs
- Start obedience training early (8–12 weeks old).
- Use scent games to sharpen tracking instincts.
- Expose puppies to gunfire gradually to avoid fear.
- Reward-based methods yield the best results.
Final Thoughts
The **best hunting dog** depends on your specific needs, environment, and hunting goals. Whether you prioritize versatility, endurance, or family-friendly traits, there’s a breed on this list that’s perfect for you. Invest time in training, build a strong bond, and your hunting dog will become an irreplaceable partner in the field.
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Best Dog Breeds for Shed Hunters
A pro trainer weighs in on the traits you should look for in an antler-finding dog
At the beginning of every shed hunting season, I always imagine the treasure trove of deer antlers I will find. Then, reality sets in. I end up with a few good antlers, a bunch of dinks, and some weird stuff. This year, I found a ram’s horn. Last year, it was a toilet seat. At the end of it all, I always think about what a good year it would’ve been if I’d just gotten a dang antler dog.
That sparked a conversation with Dog Bone’s Jeremy Moore about the best dog breeds for shed hunters. “I don’t know if there is such a thing,” Moore says. “I think it depends completely on matching you with the right dog. It’s a stylistic and preference thing more than anything.”
So, if you were hoping for a definitive list of the top 10 shed hunting breeds, this isn’t it. The good news is, you have a real chance of getting the dog you already have – or the one you want – to start finding antlers. Here’s what to think about.
Nature vs. Nurture
All dogs have noses good enough to smell antlers. The number of olfactory receptors that a certain breed has isn’t as important as its other qualities – like retrieving. That’s not to say sniffing, pointing and flushing dogs can’t make good shed dogs, but the specific traits bred into them aren’t as necessary for this activity. Therefore, dogs that naturally retrieve have a considerable advantage.
“Natural retrieval is really desirable,” Moore says. “I’m a fan of minimizing what has to happen there. I hate having to train stuff into a dog that I shouldn’t have to. Any sporting dog has the tools to do it.”
If you end up with a dog breed that doesn’t naturally retrieve, Moore encourages using tennis balls to teach this discipline. He says he can get almost any dog to chase one. Just pour a little of Dog Bone’s Liquid Scent on it and get after it. Once they take to bringing back the ball, graduate to a soft (not hard) synthetic antler.
The Best Breeds
While we don’t have an official ranked list for you, Moore does have a list of his favorite breeds for the job. He says the best dogs aren’t trained to use their nose, or to retrieve. “We bring it out of them. It’s in them naturally,” Moore says. “We shape it to match what we want.”
If you don’t already have a dog and want a shed-specific pup, consider these breeds. Moore’s list includes Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherds, Malinois (Belgium shepherds), English setters, beagles, German wirehaired pointers and bloodhounds. According to him, they exhibit the best natural traits, trainability, personality and intelligence.
Retrievers: Labrador retrievers are solid choices. “Labs are obviously the most common, but it’s because there are more of them,” Moore says. “They’re very versatile – perhaps the most of all.” Moore also likes golden retrievers and describes them as long-haired labs. They have great retrieving skills, good noses and awesome personalities.
Setters and Pointers: Commonly used as bird dogs, English setters and German wirehaired pointers both do well as antler dogs. Even if their pointing and flushing skills aren’t applicable, they have adequate noses and excel at retrieving.
Trailers: The last grouping of his favorite dogs are search animals with some of the best noses in the canine world. Beagles have 225 million olfactory receptors. German shepherds and Malinois (Belgium shepherds) have 250 million, and the bloodhound is the king sniffer with 300 million. (Compare that to a human’s paltry 5 million.) These dogs excel at finding sheds, but aren’t innate retrievers.
Other Breeds: American foxhounds, Chesapeake Bay retrievers, German shorthair pointers, Weimaraners and other breeds can make good antler dogs, and are commonly touted as such. But Moore doesn’t get as excited about those. He says Chesapeakes are more independent and harder to handle, and GSPs and Weimaraners don’t fit his own personality. Some other breeds – such as American foxhounds – he just doesn’t have experience with. While these breeds aren’t his favorites, Moore says they likely still have the tools to get the job done.
Any Dog Will Do
Breeds aside, Moore believes the best dog for shed hunting is probably the one you already have.
“I don’t think it makes sense to go get a new dog to do this,” he says. “If you have a hunting dog of any sort, and you’re thinking about shed hunting, one-hundred percent start with the dog you have. The question is how successful you are with it, and that comes back to the skillsets the dog already has.”
Don’t worry about ruining that prize-winning upland bird, waterfowl, rabbit or field-trial dog. Training them to shed hunt only creates more value, and it won’t detract from what they already do. It’s not the same as teaching a coon dog to run deer or a rabbit dog to tree a squirrel. If taught properly, your dog will learn to find white gold.
“I think it has to do with matching the right style of dog to the right style of training,” Moore says. For shed hunting, “retrieving and trainability are the most valuable traits in dogs. You want a dog with a willingness to please, and intelligence is more important than anything.”
While we aren’t going to cover how to train a dog in this article, you should make sure your dog has a good obedience foundation first.
“Regardless if it’s a puppy or older dog, just don’t go straight into shed training. You’ll fall flat on your face,” Moore says. “It takes a really solid foundation first, then shed training. I use the same method to teach the foundation, regardless of the breed. Then my shed hunting training programs vary based on breed.”
My Shed Dog Plans
Personally, I plan to purchase a shed hunting dog by the end of the year. My goal is to teach it to shed hunt and, in time, maybe even recover deer. Of course, I’ll have to educate myself before I can do either.
And I still haven’t decided on a breed. It will likely be a Lab, but I haven’t ruled out a golden retriever, German shepherd or bloodhound. I’m not an expert dog trainer, so the Lab and golden retriever’s innate retrieving skills are attractive to me. The noses of shepherds and bloodhounds are unmatched, however, and likely better at sniffing out both antlers and dead deer.
But as Moore says, even little dogs like Yorkies have a nose for sheds. So, while I’ll have to remove the hair bows and dog sweaters before we head afield, maybe there’s hope for my wife’s cat-sized Maltipoo after all. Her name? Buttercup.
The German Wirehaired Pointer: A Hunter’s Best Companion
When it comes to hunting, having the right canine companion can make all the difference. The German Wirehaired Pointer (GWP) stands out as an exceptional hunting dog, celebrated for its versatility, intelligence, and loyalty. If you’re considering bringing a GWP into your hunting adventures, understanding its characteristics, care requirements, and training techniques is essential.
Characteristics of the German Wirehaired Pointer
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a medium to large-sized breed known for its distinctive wiry coat, which serves as protection against harsh weather conditions and rough terrains. Here are some key characteristics that make the GWP a stellar hunting partner:
Physical Attributes: Typically weighing between 50 to 70 pounds, this breed possesses a strong and athletic build, allowing for endurance during long hunts. Their coat, characterized by a dense undercoat and a harsh topcoat, provides insulation and ruggedness.
Temperament: GWPs are known for their intelligence, curiosity, and eagerness to please. They are energetic dogs that thrive on regular activity and require a strong bond with their human companions. This breed is also known to be friendly, loyal, and protective of its family.
Versatility: As a versatile hunting dog, the GWP excels in various roles – whether it’s upland game hunting, waterfowl retrieval, or tracking wounded game. Their keen sense of smell and stamina make them ideal for different hunting environments.
How to Care for Your German Wirehaired Pointer
Proper care is crucial for maintaining the health and happiness of your GWP. Here are some guidelines to ensure your hunting companion thrives:
Diet: A balanced diet is fundamental. Look for high-quality dog food that meets their nutritional needs, focusing on protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Be mindful of their caloric intake, especially during intensive hunting seasons.
Grooming: The wiry coat requires regular grooming to prevent matting and reduce shedding. Brush your GWP at least once a week and more frequently during shedding seasons. Bathing should be done as needed, but too frequent baths can strip their coat of natural oils.
Exercise: GWPs are energetic and require plenty of exercise. Daily walks, playtime in secure, open areas, and structured activities like runs or agility training will help keep them physically fit and mentally stimulated.
Health Care: Regular veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, and preventative care such as flea and tick treatments are essential. Be aware of common health concerns, including hip dysplasia and eye conditions, and consult your vet for routine health screenings.
Training Your German Wirehaired Pointer for Hunting
Training a GWP for hunting is an engaging and rewarding experience. Here’s how to effectively prepare your dog for the field:
Initial Training Steps
Bonding: Establish a strong relationship with your GWP through positive reinforcement, consistent commands, and patience. Building trust is essential before introducing any hunting skills.
Basic Commands: Start with foundational obedience training. Commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “heel” should be second nature to your dog. This foundation is crucial for effective hunting training.
Introducing Hunting Skills
Exposure to Game: Gradually introduce your GWP to the scent and sounds of birds and other game. Use faux training products to simulate hunting scenarios and create excitement around the activity.
Live Game Training: Once they are comfortable, gradually transition to training with live birds under controlled conditions. This could include phased introductions to flushing and retrieving.
Exercises for Tracking and Retrieving
Scent Tracking: Use toys or treated objects with scents that mimic game animals. Hide these objects, allowing your GWP to utilize its keen sense of smell. Gradually increase the difficulty of the hides.
Water Retrieving: Waterfowl hunting is a GWP specialty. Teach your dog to retrieve from water by tossing a dummy or a soft toy in shallow water. Encourage them with praise and treats to reinforce positive behavior.
Field Trials: As your GWP becomes more proficient, consider entering them in field trials. This not only provides excellent training opportunities but also helps to socialize your dog with other hunting breeds.
Conclusion
The German Wirehaired Pointer is more than just a hunting dog; they're a loyal companion, a skilled worker, and a beloved member of the family. By understanding their unique characteristics, providing proper care, and employing effective training techniques, you’ll forge a bond that will enhance your hunting adventures for years to come. Embrace the journey of training your GWP, and you’ll find an unparalleled partner in the great outdoors.
