When most people think of hunting dogs, names like Labrador Retriever, Beagles, or Pointers probably come to mind. Sure, they’re great at what they do, but did you know there are even more amazing hunting companions out there that have been trusted by indigenous people for centuries?
These unique dogs have bodies built for the job. They’re fast, strong, and perfectly designed for the land they come from. From the deserts of Africa to the forests of Asia, the mountains of Europe to the plains of America, every region has its own special hunting dogs, each with different strengths, skills, and endurance.
What makes these exotic hunting breeds even more fascinating is that you won’t often spot them outside their native lands. They’re rare, and that’s part of their charm! But their legend is growing, as more dog lovers discover these one-of-a-kind canines, prized not just for their incredible hunting abilities but also for their history, looks, and loyalty.
In this article, we’ll take you on a journey to explore the most exotic hunting dog breeds in the world — and what makes them so special!
Exotic Hunting Dog Breeds
1. Azawakh
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Origin: Sahel region of West Africa
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Category: Sighthound
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Known For: Speed and Endurance
If you come across an Azawakh, the first thing you’ll notice about it would surely be its physique. This dog is extremely lean and has visible bones. It wears a super tight coat and has an elegant appearance overall.
Oh, and let me mention one thing here: they thrive in warm climates and are sensitive to cold. This is also one reason it’s difficult to take them from Africa to any other place that is relatively lower in temperature.
This dog was bred by the Tuareg and other nomadic tribes, mainly for the purpose of hunting.
It is a sighthound that uses its eyes to locate prey and pursue it. PetMD says their sharp eyes make them some of the best hunting dog breeds out there. Also, they are not only good at the short run, but they can chase for miles, and that too in the scorching heat of the sun.
2. Catahoula Leopard Dog
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Origin: Louisiana, United States of America
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Category: Working dog
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Known For: Striking pattern on the coat, cracked” eyes, silent tracking
What really sets this dog apart from others is the leopard-like spots and other striking coat patterns. As it was bred to be a working dog, you can imagine it having impressive stamina to perform difficult tasks during tough situations.
As per the American Kennel Club (AKC), this dog is a well-muscled dog and possesses great endurance when compared to other dogs.
Their hunting capabilities include their actions as phenomenal bay dogs. They corner the prey and bark at it to keep it in position until the hunter reaches it. On top of that, as phenomenal hunters, they are known for their glass-cutting precision when it comes to locating prey.
These working dogs are task-focused! Once they spot prey, they’ll make sure to get it no matter what happens.
3. English Foxhound
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Origin: United Kingdom
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Category: Hound Dog
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Known For: Speed, stamina, and tenacity
This dog has a long history. WebMD mentions its ancestry dates back to the 16th century. The breeders originally bred it specifically for fox hunting; hence, it has all the qualities that a good hound or hunter must have.
These energetic dogs are mainly scent hounds. This means they rely on their sense of smell to locate prey and pursue it. Its endurance makes it a tough dog, and it is able to run for hours without getting tired or exhausted.
What makes it one of the best hunting dogs is its methodical tracking style. The foxhound has the capability to stay focused and follow a scent without getting distracted along the way!
At home, they make great family dogs, thanks to their affectionate nature and friendly demeanor with kids and other family members.
4. Golden Retriever
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Origin: Scotland
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Category: Sporting breed
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Known For: Expressive eyes, love of water, quiet hunting
AKC categorized these dogs in the sporting group, and these dogs possess phenomenal qualities, just like other retriever breeds.
Goldens have a keen sense of smell. Hence, they are able to spot prey and go after it for long distances without failing. Also, they are quiet hunters.
They won’t make a lot of noise and would rather hunt down the prey silently, without it getting to know about what’s gonna happen to it next!
Ranked as some of the most intelligent dogs, Goldens are easy to train. Pet owners can easily teach their dogs specific hunting styles and turn them into their most loyal hunting companions.
5. Sloughi
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Origin: North Africa
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Category: Sighthound
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Known For: Rarity, quiet nature
Known as the Arabian Greyhound, the Sloughi has been around for quite some time. In fact, it is one of the oldest hunting dogs out there, with its origin dating back to the 13th century. They were bred by the Berber and Bedouin tribes to be their hunting partners and guard their homes.
Sloughi is truly rare, and you would not spot it anywhere outside its place of origin.
They are typical sighthounds. They are known for their incredible sight and super-fast speed. A combination of these qualities makes it easy for them to chase fast-moving prey across open landscapes.
These elegant dogs also have a strong prey drive, which further makes them great hunting dogs.
6. Ibizan Hound
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Origin: Balearic Island of Ibiza
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Category: Sighthound
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Known For: Oldest dogs in the dog world
Ibizan Hound has a connection with ancient Egypt, so you can imagine how old these dogs must be!
This dog is also known for its rarity! Though it is a sighthound, it uses both its smell of smell and sight to spot prey and go after it with its incredible speed and endurance.
With its phenomenal jumping ability, this dog can easily jump through the bushes and hunt small game hiding inside them! This energetic breed also has a strong prey drive, hence it would take a great interest in being your valuable partner in hunting expeditions.
At home, these dogs are gentle, usually quiet, and extremely affectionate. This is why they can make great family pets who will also go along with you on outdoor adventures!
7. Finnish Spitz
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Origin: Finish
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Category: Non-sporting group
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Known For: Barking Bird Dog Capabilities
The Finnish Spitz is the state dog of Finland and is quite popular in the Scandinavian countries.
These dogs have a unique strategy when it comes to hunting. They would locate the prey and then bark consistently till they were able to alert the hunter.
They’ll also get their prey’s attention and then attach it. Their original purpose was actually to make them work as forest bird hunters. With their incredible capabilities, they could easily point upland birds.
These active dogs can also spot the downed birds by tracking the bird scent.
Oh, and these Spitz are great family companions as well, thanks to their friendly nature, which they showcase with children.
8. Norwegian Lundehund
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Origin: Lofoten Islands, Norway
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Category: Non-sporting group
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Known For: Rarity and specialization
Norwegian Lundehund was originally bred in Lunde, Norway, with a very specific purpose. It was supposed to hunt puffins and help the inhabitants near the sea. They were developed and trained in a way that it was possible for them to do this task even at steep cliffs and sea caves.
This dog is extremely rare. Spotting it anywhere other than Norway is quite impossible.
Purina notes these dogs are great at hunting, thanks to their fully functioning six toes on their feet. They give this dog a super-sturdy grip through which they can easily hold the prey. Also, they are always alert and have their own independent thinking!
With the double coat it wears on its body, it turns into an extremely weather-resistant hunting dog that can go for long tracking no matter the cold, hot, or super windy weather!
Norwegian people who keep them as pets mention that these dogs are really reserved with strangers. However, the family members are extremely friendly and affectionate.
9. Cirneco dell’Etna
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Origin: Sicily
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Category: Sighthound
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Known For: Endurance
Belonging to Sicily, the Cirneco dell’Etna is also one of the oldest dogs for hunting, and shares its ancestry with really ancient breeds like that of the Pharaoh Hound.
However, when compared to other dogs of this ancestry, this one is a little smaller in size.
In fact, owing to its small size, it was originally used to hunt rabbits and other small animals. Though it is classified as a sighthound, it is actually capable of using both its eyes and nose for hunting purposes.
Cirneco dell’Etna is a lean dog that is mostly considered to be a healthy breed with a long life. Thanks to its endurance, it can easily manage a hot and arid environment and hunt there for long periods.
Conclusion
Be it deer hunting, bird hunting, duck hunting, or going after bigger beasts, no one does that better than the exotic hunting dog breeds. German shorthaired pointer, Labrador retriever, English springer spaniel, German wirehaired pointer, and Chesapeake Bay retriever are some other breeds known for their incredible hunting capabilities.
