The best hunting dogs are those that were bred to perform as good partners for their humans when outdoors. These dogs are instinctive about retrieving, pointing, or tracking out the prey of choice. This means that as hunting companions, they have to be intelligent, energetic and persistent in the field.
While these hunting dog breeds are great hunting companions, they are also good house dogs and adjust well to an alternative lifestyle as family dogs. When they are not out bird hunting or tracking deer, these athletic dogs can be well-suited for life in an active family.
We have listed some of the best hunting dog breeds, which include gun dogs and other breeds that were originally bred for various hunting tasks. They are easily trained and will do well with mental and physical training to cater to their natural instincts when not in the fields with you.
Low-Maintenance Hunting Dog Breeds
1. Pudelpointer
German in origin, the Pudelpointer was bred by crossing a poodle with a pointer to get a working dog that is good on both water and land, intelligent, and easy to train. After a few hits, the breed was officially listed.
This is a natural hunter with a strong instinct, and is a strudy dog with an almost waterproof coat. The dogs make for great hunting partners as it works well in all terrains and all hunting forms. It makes for a good bird dog.
What makes this working dog a winner is his lovable personality at home. If socialized early, the breed is excellent around family, young children, and even other dogs. They are high energy and will prefer the outdoors, chasing after birds and small animals, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).
They are fairly low maintenance and will do fine with a weekly groom and a bath when they get dirty or if they start to smell.
2. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
They may look unkempt, but this breed is a versatile hunting dog and will adapt well to life as a family pet. They do well in upland bird hunting. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a medium-sized dog with an unruly coat that is designed to handle all forms of weather. The undercoat is surprisingly soft and insulates the animal.
The breed makes for a loving family dog and can be an ideal pet for you. They have a calm and patient energy and will do well around younger children and smaller pets provided that they are not handled roughly according to PetMD.
As an active breed, they are highly adaptable and respond well to positive reinforcement based on short and simple commands and rewards. They do require a lot of mental as well as physical exercise and will need extensive games to keep them happy.
3. Black and Tan Coonhound
A member of the hound family, the Coonhound is a larger dog that is adept at hunting raccoons and even bears. They are phenomenal scenthounds and do well with tracking scents for hunters. They have a strong prey drive once they scent a prey.
You need to keep them on a leash when walking and in a yard with a high fence with lattice or trellis toppers to keep them from chasing after prey.
Like most hounds, these dogs make for mellow companions at home and will take over your sofa on their lazy days. They are prone to baying when alone or bored. They have silky, floppy ears and sweet temperaments that hounds are known for.
They do well as family dogs and can make for great companions. They are easy to maintain, with minimal grooming needs (about 1-2 times a month), needing the occasional bath to avoid a doggy smell.
4. Cirneco dell’Etna
This is one of the most ancient breeds on this list. They are sleek, and swift hunters and according to the American Kennel Club are more intelligent compared to other hunting dog breeds. They are also less energetic and will do fine with moderate exercise.
As a sighthounds, they are affectionate and independent, and make for good house pets. They will be happy with playtime in a fenced yard, and should not be off leash in the open as they will tend to chase after perceived prey.
They are truly low maintenance, doing fine with a gentle brushing every week to maintain the health of their short coats. As a rare breed, it is uncommon to see one out of Italy, where the breed is primarily based.
5. Hamiltonstovare
This breed is another hound bred for hare and fox hunting in Sweden. They are a versatile hunting breed as they make for good show dogs due to their adaptable nature. Being highly food motivated, they can be easily trained for hunting almost anything.
As hounds bred for hunters, the breed can be loud when it wants to chase after its prey. Similar in looks to the English foxhounds, the Hamiltonstovare has a light frame and is medium is size. They make for easy pets as they have a double coat that need little grooming. They tend to shed slightly but only in spring and fall.
They can make a good pet if you have the time to exercise them frequently and intensely. They also need skillful handling.
6. Border Terrier
These small dogs are one of the smallest breeds on this list. These sturdy dogs are great for any form of hunting. They do well in waterfowl hunting and can double as a good family pup for serious hunters. Their double coat is easy to maintain.
These are energetic dogs and need intensive time from their owners for mental and physical stimulation. They do well as family pets but will need a firm hand and patient training as puppies to get them to behave well.
They are an intelligent breed and can get carrried away by their strong hunting instincts. They can get bored easily and will bark and act up if left alone for too long.
7. Dogo Argentino
These are large and loyal hunting dogs bred in Argentina. According to the AKC, these were bred to chase down large prey for hunters. They are usually white, with a thick coat that requires minimal grooming.
Like most dogs on this list, the Dogo Argentino needs extensive exercise to use up their energy. Walks, runs, and long sessions of fetch and other agility games will do well to keep the dog happy. With proper training, the Dogo does well, but it is independent and can be a challenge for more inexperienced owners.
Conclusion
We have mentioned some of the more common, easy to maintain hunting dog breeds, but there are many other breeds that did not make the list as they have more intensive maintenance needs. This includes most of the retriever breeds, as well as some pointing breeds and water spaniels.
They are good hunters but need a little more maintenance than the breeds on this list. Some breeds are less suited for a family set up, and will suit a single-owner set up better.
At the end of the day, you need to decide for yourself which dog would suit you and your lifestyle more.
