Did you know that some hunting dogs can run many miles in a single day and still beg to keep going? If you love long walks in open fields, upland game hunting with the right dog can turn a simple trip outside into something unforgettable.
A good dog does more than find birds. It becomes your partner, reading the wind, the cover, and even you. Studies show that regular time outdoors with a dog can lower stress and improve mood, which makes each hunt good for the mind as well as the freezer.
In this blog, we will talk about what makes certain dogs so special for this kind of work, how they help you find more birds, and how to choose a partner that fits your style and your land.
Amazing Dog Breeds for Upland Game Hunting
1. English Setter
If you picture classic upland bird hunting in old paintings, you probably see an English setter flowing through golden grass. This bird dog breed was originally bred to range ahead, find upland game birds, and “set” so hunters could move in close.
In modern fields, the English setter still makes a calm, classy hunting buddy for upland hunters who love long walks and wild birds.
Out there, this sporting breed likes to hunt at a comfortable gun range, using a keen sense of bird scent to hold birds without rushing in. Its easy gait and soft style shine on ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and other game birds in tough cover and dense woods.
Sounds crazy, right? But watching that tail freeze and the whole dog melt into the grass never gets old.
Back home, the English setter flips into sweet family pet mode. You still get strong hunting skills and natural instincts, but wrapped in a gentle, people-focused temperament.
According to AKC, give this dog time with you, fair training, and room to stretch its legs, and you get one of the best dog breeds and most loyal companions in the dog world.
Remember: English Setter in the Grouse Woods
Great choice for grouse hunting in thick brush and mixed cover
Smooth, efficient hunting style that suits patient upland bird hunters
Field lines tend to make exceptional hunters for ruffed grouse and upland game birds
2. German Shorthaired Pointer
For many upland bird dog fans, the German shorthaired pointer feels like the dream teammate. This bird dog lives for upland hunting days that start at dawn and roll straight through lunch.
Athletic and eager, the German shorthaired pointer was developed as a versatile hunting dog for both upland game and waterfowl work.
In the field, this pointing dog covers country with smooth strides and a sharp nose that seems to find game birds everywhere. Classic pointing breeds like this one learn to slam into a steady point, hold birds, and then help with retrieving game after the shot.
Their strong retrieving instinct and keen sense of scent make them exceptional hunters when the hunting season gets busy.
At home, a German shorthaired pointer is goofy, people-loving, and anything but a couch potato. This hunting dog breed needs serious exercise and mental work, or it will invent its own hobbies.
Give it miles to run, kind guidance, and a job, and it becomes one of the best bird dog options for hunters who want a full-time hunting buddy and part-time shadow.
Remember: GSP As Your Everyday Bird Dog
Great fit for upland bird hunting, plus backup waterfowl retrieves
High-energy worker for prairie grouse, pheasant hunting, and other upland game
A versatile hunting dog that rewards active owners with a huge heart and effort
3. Brittany
If you like a smaller, lively bird dog that hunts close and checks in often, the Brittany is an easy dog to love. This breed was originally bred in France for hunting pheasants, partridge, and other upland game birds in hedgerows and farmland.
Many upland hunters still call it the Brittany spaniel out of habit and adore its compact size and big drive.
In the field, the Brittany is a quick, snappy pointing dog that loves staying in gun range. It uses a sharp nose and natural instincts to find upland birds in food plots, edges, and light timber.
This dog can shift from hunting prairie grouse to hunting ruffed grouse with the same cheerful bounce, weaving through thick cover without losing contact.
Back home, the Brittany is playful, sensitive, and happiest when it feels like part of the crew. It is rarely a total couch potato, but it settles nicely after a good run or training session.
As per PetMD, with patient handling and clear routines, this dog becomes a reliable hunting partner and a sweet family pet that lives for tail wagging greetings at the door.
Remember: Brittany the Close-Working Charmer
Great if you want an upland bird dog that naturally works closer to you
Handy size for travel, small trucks, and quick weekend trips after upland game
Responds well to gentle training, making it a good breed for many first bird dog owners
4. English Springer Spaniel
If your perfect hunt means birds exploding from your feet, the English springer spaniel is your dog. This classic bird dog was originally bred to “spring” game birds from cover, which makes it a natural leader among flushing dogs for upland hunting.
Picture a happy blur racing through brush, nose down, tail going like a metronome.
In the field, this pup works in front at shotgun distance, sweeping from side to side and using a keen sense of smell to locate game birds. Once scent locks in, it pushes through the hard cover and flushes birds instead of pointing them.
Many springers also enjoy retrieving birds from creeks, ponds, and field edges, giving you one upland bird dog that can find, flush birds, and help with downed birds.
At home, this dog is a cheerful, people-oriented family pet that loves training games, kids, and a warm spot on the sofa. Positive, playful training fits their affectionate nature and helps them shine during busy hunting season trips.
Give an English springer spaniel regular exercise and attention, and it becomes one of the best bird dog breeds for hunters who love close-range action.
Remember: Springer Power in the Thickets
Designed for thick brush, fence rows, and dense woods where birds sit tight
Ideal for hunting ruffed grouse and other tight-holding upland game birds
A fun option if you enjoy energetic flushing dogs and lots of in-your-face bird work
5. Labrador Retriever
When most people picture a gun dog, they see a Labrador retriever splashing after ducks at sunrise. This hunting dog is one of the most popular dog breeds on the planet and a legend in waterfowl hunting thanks to its dense double coat, strong build, and love of water.
In the uplands, a Labrador retriever works more like a close-range flushing dog than a pointing dog. It sweeps cover with its nose down, tail wagging, and eyes always checking back with you.
Many labs love hunting pheasants and other upland game as much as they love mallards, and their strong retrieving instinct keeps retrieving game fun well into late hunting season.
WebMD suggests that the Labrador retriever is famous for being a loyal, outgoing family pet. Friendly dogs like this thrive on time with people, simple rules, and plenty of play.
Treat your lab like a true hunting partner and everyday friend, and it easily earns a spot on any list of best bird dog and excellent hunting dogs.
Remember: Lab Power on Land and Water
Great fit if you want one dog for upland bird hunting and waterfowl hunting
Built to retrieve in cold water and work long hours in the field
Ideal for families who want hunting partners that also love home life
6. Vizsla
If you want a bird dog that hunts hard, then melts into your side on the couch, the Vizsla might steal your heart. This Hungarian sporting breed is famous for its close bond with people and its stylish, efficient hunting style.
Many upland hunters love how a Vizsla seems to float over fields, lock up on wild birds, and then quietly wait for the next move.
In the field, the Vizsla is a classic pointing dog with serious drive. It uses a sharp nose and natural hunting instincts to hunt upland birds in crop edges, hillsides, and prairie grouse cover.
A well-conditioned Vizsla is a versatile hunting dog that can chase game birds in the morning and help with waterfowl hunting in the afternoon without complaint.
At home, this dog acts like a soft “Velcro” shadow, happiest when pressed against its favorite person. It can look like a couch potato after a big day, but it still needs regular exercise and gentle, positive training.
Treated kindly, a Vizsla grows into a sensitive hunting buddy, loving family pet, and one of those dog breeds that feels like it truly understands you.
Remember: Vizsla the Velcro Bird Dog
Great for active owners who hunt often and love to run or hike
Sensitive nature rewards calm training and clear cues in the field
Solid choice if you want a close, people-focused bird dog as your main hunting partner
7. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is the rugged, scruffy upland bird dog many walking hunters dream about. This hunting dog was developed as a close-working “foot hunter’s” companion that could point, retrieve, and handle harsh conditions in both fields and wetlands.
In the field, the griffon is a steady pointing dog that likes to stay in easy gun range and keep regular eye contact with its person. Its harsh double coat shrugs off thorns, cold, and wet ground, letting it power through thick cover and rough terrain while hunting upland game birds.
With a sharp nose and big enthusiasm for retrieving birds, it handles prairie grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and other wild birds with gritty confidence.
At home, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a warm, devoted family pet that wants to live indoors with its people. It tends to bond deeply and makes a loyal, steady hunting buddy year after year.
For upland hunters who want one upland bird dog that laughs at harsh conditions and thick brush, this griffon is one of the excellent breeds to consider.
Remember: Griffon Grit in Tough Country
Built to work in snow, mud, and rough ground all hunting season long
Close-working style suits upland hunters who like steady, controlled searches
Versatile enough to help with retrieving game on mixed days of upland game and waterfowl
Conclusion
When you step back and look at all the dog breeds out there, it is easy to feel a bit lost. There are so many great dogs that can share the field and the couch with you.
Maybe you dream of a flat-coated retriever splashing through marsh edges, or cocker spaniels bouncing through hedgerows.
Each dog breed brings its own style, its own pace, and its own way of working with different bird species. That mix is what makes them such versatile dogs and such fun partners.
The good news is you do not need the “perfect” dog. You just need the one that fits your days, your ground, and your heart. Take your time, learn what calls to you, and trust the bond you feel with a pup.
Do that, and whichever hunting dog breed you bring home will be more than a worker. It will be one of those great dogs you remember for the rest of your life.
