Hunting Dogs Top 15 Breeds
Hunting dogs have existed since ancient times. Scientists believe that these four-legged helpers appeared in areas where hunting was the only means of obtaining food. Gradually, dogs were bred that specialized in different types of hunting. Some were used exclusively for baiting animals, others – for hunting birds.
Nowadays, there are a wide variety of hunting dog breeds. Among them, there are large, medium and small sized animals.
The main distinguishing features of such breeds include endurance and assistance in finding and catching prey. These dogs are active and cheerful. Aggression is not typical for them, since they see humans exclusively as friends.
Types of hunting dogs
There are the following varieties of hunting dogs:
Hunting pointers are animals with special habits. When the dog senses game, it freezes. After the shot, it grabs the prey and brings it to the owner. This group includes: Irish setter , pointer , Hungarian vizsla and others.
Sighthounds are a group that is one of the most ancient. They are used to hunt animals: hares, foxes and wolves. The main task of such dogs is to chase the prey until it gets tired. The Russian Borzoi was bred in Russia, and the Irish Wolfhound was bred in Ireland . The Spanish use the Galgo for hunting , and in the Middle East there are Salukis . Also among the long list of representatives of this group are the Greyhound , Italian Greyhound and Azawakh .
Hounds are the most numerous group of hunting dogs. Just like greyhounds, their main task is to exhaust the animal by chasing it. Such dog breeds include: beagle , basset hound , bloodhound , Russian hound and others.
Burrowing dogs are bred to hunt animals that live underground. The task of these miniature dogs is to reach the animal and drive it out. These breeds include various types of terriers and dachshunds. Fox terrier , German Jagdterrier , Jack Russell terrier – also belong to this group.
Laikas are suitable for hunting a wide range of game – from bears to birds. When hunting, having found the animal, they use barking as a means of distracting it until the hunter appears. In our country, there are several types of Laikas: Russian-European , West Siberian and East Siberian .
Spaniels are bred to hunt forest, field and waterfowl. They have excellent eyesight and sense of smell. These dogs are usually used to retrieve killed game. Spaniels are also capable of hunting running and crouching game. This group includes, among others, the American Water Spaniel , the English Cocker Spaniel , the Boykin Spaniel , and the Irish Water Spaniel .
Retrievers are dogs whose main function is to find and bring the owner undamaged shot game. For this reason, these animals have an excellent sense of smell and a jaw with a particularly soft grip. The following breeds are considered retrievers: golden retriever , labrador , chesapeake bay .
15 Best Dog Breeds for Hunting
It is impossible to say unequivocally which of these breeds are the best. Everyone chooses a pet based on their own needs and preferences.
This article presents a list of the most common hunting dogs with breed names and photos. Such animals are suitable for a person who loves, if not hunting, then active recreation in nature, fishing or traveling.
Bloodhound
Country of origin: Belgium
Group: Hounds and related breeds
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: any animal
Height: 58–69 cm
Weight: 40–56 kg
Age: 8-10 years
The Bloodhound is a dog that is distinguished by its balance and calmness. This dog is considered one of the best hunting dog breeds due to its perfect sense of smell.
Such a pet cannot be left on a walk without supervision for a long time, since, carried away by some smell, it can go very far from the owner.
Italian Greyhound
Country of origin: Italy
Group: Greyhounds
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: hares
Height: 33–38 cm
Weight: 2.7–3.6 kg
Age: about 14 years
The Italian Greyhound is one of the smallest dogs. It is distinguished by its curiosity and playfulness.
Provided that the pet is well-bred, it will grow up obedient and friendly. The Italian Greyhound is cautious with other animals and will only live in the same house with those it grew up with.
Russian Borzoi
Country of origin: Russia
Group: Greyhounds
Coat: long
Suitable for hunting: hares, foxes and wolves
Height: 65–80 cm
Weight: 35–48 kg
Age: 10-12 years
The Russian Borzoi is a majestic and willful dog.
In the family, it behaves friendly, rarely shows aggression towards strangers. Such dogs treat small children rather negatively, since they see them as a threat. A middle-aged child will be able to get along with a dog of this breed.
Basset Hound
Country of origin: England
Group: Hounds and related breeds
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: any animal
Height: 33–38 cm
Weight: 18–25 kg
Age: 10-12 years
The Basset Hound is a friendly and obedient dog. The main feature of the pet is its constant desire to explore the surrounding area. It has a well-developed sense of smell.
Very attached to the owner. Tolerant towards children. Despite apparent passivity, can support any kind of active games.
Beagle
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Group: Hounds and related breeds
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: hares
Height: 33–40 cm
Weight: 10-15 kg
Age: 13-16 years
Beagle is a breed of dog for hunting hares. It is distinguished by its increased activity and mobility. It will happily go with its owner not only on a hunt, but also for mushrooms, fishing or a picnic.
Attaches to the owner and cannot be alone for long. Gets along well with all family members, including small children and other animals.
Drever
Country of origin: Sweden
Group: Hounds and related breeds
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: hares, foxes
Height: 28–40 cm
Weight: 14-16 kg
Age: 12-14 years
Drever is a pet that is perfect for living in a city apartment. Regular training is essential for the dog.
In the family, he behaves friendly, but demands respect. Children must be taught how to behave correctly with such a dog.
Dachshund
Country of origin: Germany
Group: Dachshunds
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: foxes, badgers
Height: 15–35 cm
Weight: up to 12 kg
Age: up to 15 years
The dachshund is one of the most popular breeds. It constantly strives to be the center of attention.
In the family, she is active and friendly. She can remember a grievance for a long time, so it is not recommended to beat or scold pets. The level of intelligence is high.
West Country Harrier
Country of origin: France
Group: hounds and related breeds
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: foxes, hares
Height: 50 cm
Weight: 12–20 kg
Age: 10-14 years
West Country Harrier is an easy to train hunting breed. Gets along well with other pets. Very rare breed these days.
Behaves in a friendly manner with people. Does not show aggression towards strangers.
These pets absolutely need active walks, as they need to regularly release accumulated energy.
Irish Setter
Country of origin: Ireland
Group: Pointers
Coat: long
Suitable for hunting: birds
Height: 58–70 cm
Weight: 14–32 kg
Age: 10-14 years
The Irish Setter is a dog suitable for hunting birds. It can be kept by both large families and single people.
Main character traits: courage, confidence and energy. Setters love children very much and are ready to play any games with them. They will support hide-and-seek, tag, and obstacle course running.
Italian Bracco
Country of origin: Italy
Group: Pointers
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: mainly feathered game
Height: 55–67 cm
Weight: 25–40 kg
Age: 11-13 years
The Italian Bracco is a pointer. It loves long physical exercises. Its character is distinguished by stubbornness. Such a dog will not want to perform a task that seems boring to it.
He is very attached to his family and experiences separation from his owner with pain.
Pointer
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Group: Pointers
Coat: short, smooth
Suitable for hunting: birds and small animals
Height: 63–70 cm
Weight: 18–25 kg
Age: up to 15 years
The pointer is a hunting dog with a calm disposition. It is perfect for life in a country house.
In the family, it behaves affectionately. It becomes very attached to its owner. It is not recommended to leave such pets alone. Physical exercise is extremely necessary for the pointer.
Wetterhoun
Country of origin: Netherlands
Group: Retrievers, Spaniels and Water Dogs
Coat: medium length, hard, curly
Suitable for hunting: otter
Height: up to 59 cm
Weight: up to 32 kg
Age: 10-12 years
The Wetterhoun is a very smart dog. It learns new commands quickly. It will always respond to rudeness in kind. It is a fairly rare breed.
Suitable for families with children. He gets along well with all household members. He is calm with other pets, but only if they grew up together.
Labrador Retriever
Country of Origin: Canada
Group: retrievers, spaniels, water dogs
Coat: medium length
Suitable for hunting: mainly birds
Height: 55–57 cm
Weight: 30–45 kg
Age: 12-15 years
The Labrador Retriever is a large and active dog. Today, the breed is considered universal. These animals can be guide dogs, rescuers, and also work at customs.
They get along very well with other pets. They love children. They become very attached to their owner.
Russian Spaniel
Country of origin: Russia
Group: retrievers, spaniels, water dogs
Coat: long
Suitable for hunting: birds, hares
Height: 36–44 cm
Weight: 15-18 kg
Age: 12-14 years
The Russian Spaniel is an active and lively dog. This pet is classified as a hunting dog breed, which is best suited for hunting birds. It becomes very attached to its owner. It behaves affectionately and friendly in the family. It loves to swim. It prefers active games, and will happily run after a ball or a stick. It is calm towards other pets.
Fox terrier
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Group: Terriers
Coat: medium length
Suitable for hunting: foxes, badgers and other burrowing game
Height: 38.5–39.5 cm
Weight: 7-8 kg
Age: 13-14 years
The Fox Terrier is an ideal hunter. Character – cheerful and happy.
Perfect for a city apartment. Loyal to the owner and ready to carry out any of his orders. Intelligence level is high. Trainability is good.
It gets along with other pets with difficulty and constantly strives to take a leadership position.
Tips for Choosing Hunting Dog Breeds
When choosing a dog of this breed, you need to consider the following points:
- the purpose of getting an animal;
- the conditions of his detention (city apartment or country house);
- existing experience in communicating with pets.
It should be understood that there is no universal dog for this activity. Therefore, before getting a pet, you need to study in detail the information about what groups there are and what type of hunting they are intended for.
Such a pet needs regular training. You should not buy such a pet for a person who cannot devote enough time to it. These breeds are unlikely to suit novice dog owners, since some types of dogs are difficult to train .
You should not buy an adult animal. It is better if the pet is purchased at the age of 2-3 months. Hunting dogs are very attached to the owner, they experience a change of owner very hard.
