Disclaimer: We do not endorse or promote hunting; this article is intended for informational purposes only.
The bird hunting season is almost here as the sun tips the scale of heat, making summer run its course all around the globe. The migratory birds will soon return from their breeding grounds and back to their homes.
Hence, if you are seeking some unique delicacies to eat or just want to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors who enjoyed the hunting tradition and want to spend some time relaxing in the wild and taking down some upland birds, then these bird dogs will be a perfect companion for your hunting expedition. Because what better than scoring dinner and enjoying the freshest catch of the day, or having an unforgettable adventure in the deep wild?
These bird hunting breeds have natural hunting instincts for pointing, flushing, and retrieving waterfowl and upland birds. These pooches will make your hunt ten times easier and be fun hunting partners with whom you can enjoy the early fall or late summer day in the wild.
Bird Hunting Dog Breeds
For many generations, our human ancestors, the early humans, wandered the earth as hunters and gatherers, dependent on nature and its blessings, and didn’t grow their food with seeds but rather hunted for survival.
Tracking game and foraging for roots, fruits, and berries. When the world offered no certainty and had a fragile balance between feast and famine. Many indigenous tribes and modern humans, even to this day, still follow the tradition of hunting for survival.
1. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is the second most popular bird dog breed among upland hunters. This dense and medium-coated pooch is a versatile breed that is known to be a friendly and athletic dog at home and an agile sporting dog and bird hunter in the field.
These pooches with webbed feet were originally bred to help fishermen in Canada in retrieving their catch of the day. But they were refined for waterfowl hunting and upland game retrieving in the 19th century, England.
PDSA mentions that this pooch is known as America’s Sweetheart and is a super-friendly, social, and active pup. They love to spend time outdoors, swimming, hiking, and playing all day.
If you have an active and adventurous pack yourself the lab will fit perfectly in your family puzzle and be the happiest when hunting birds and exploring nature with you, because this pup is filled with enormous amounts of energy and enthusiasm.
The Labrador loves to swim and can survive in cold water because of its water-resistant double coat. But be aware that this charming pup is a heavy shedder and big foodie, which gets the labrador into trouble.
2. Golden Retriever
The golden retriever has a soft mouth, which helps in retrieving small game efficiently without harming the catch, and an extremely gentle personality. It is a versatile hunter dog breed.
But if you see what this unique and loyal family dog was originally bred for, then the actions of this dynamic pooch will not shock you. This beautiful dog is an exceptional hunting and retrieving dog that can retrieve ducks and hunt pheasants like a pro.
Petplan says this popular dog breed loves to chill in the pool because it has a great affinity towards water. But why do these pooches have accurate and precise hunting skills?
It is because their foundation stock included the yellow retriever, which was also known for its versatility, intelligence, and trainability, and was famous among sportsmen in the 19th century.
3. Irish Setter
The glamorous, graceful, and gorgeous red Irish setter has been an excellent hunter for centuries and can flush out and retrieve small game and birds even in the thick cover of the forest. The Irish setter is a constantly happy pup that loves snuggling and cuddling up with their owners at home and actively wandering and hunting in nature.
Orvis explains the Irish setter is also a smart pooch with a high energy that catches on to cues and directions quickly and proves to be a great hunting mate that you can trust more than yourself. This medium to large-sized gun dog has a high prey drive and should be supervised when interacting with smaller dogs, animals, or children.
This Irish pup also needs a large space to play and spend their energy because of their highly active and bouncy nature. Most hunters prefer these loyal pooches for their incredibly friendly and dedicated personality, which makes them an exceptional bird dog and hunter.
4. Brittany
This rare dog might have an adorable human-like name, but is actually a medium-sized great hunting and sporting dog that can help in flushing out game and retrieving downed birds. These great dogs were originally bred in France as bird hunters. This sweet and adorable pup is quite gentle and loving towards his family.
The American Brittany is also an exceptional pointing dog, just like the French Brittany, and thrives in an active and lively household. Purina UK says Brittany’s are playful and happy all the time, but can also get restless because of their high energy level.
These pooches are a mix of spaniels and pointers; hence, they have a natural ability and strong instinct to locate the birds and then freeze in place, pointing their strong nose in the direction of the bird.
Brittany’s are versatile hunting dogs preferred by younger hunters who can efficiently be used for bird hunting and sporting because of their high prey drive and instinct to chase after small animals or fast-moving objects. These white and orange to reddish brown pooches need constant exercise and training to keep them happy, healthy, and well-behaved.
5. Boykin Spaniel
These outclass pooches were bred in the 1900s by hunters in South Carolina. These small, rugged dogs were first used for hunting ducks and wild turkeys in the Wateree River swamp. These smart pooches are quick learners that make them perfect for waterfowl hunting in lakes and swamps. Boykin Spaniels are known for their profound tracking abilities.
Continental Kennel Club says this curious pup with a medium-length outer coat and inner dense undercoat needs consistent mental stimulation, along with regular exercise and proper training for keeping these pooches focused and well-behaved.
These pooches are available in many shades of brown, from rich chocolate to solid liver. The Boykin’s coat is shorter, and their tails are generally docked to one-third of their full length.
The Boykin spaniel is a super affectionate puppy with a bright and loving personality and hunting skills. And although their luscious, wavy coats are a pain to maintain, their high trainability and cuteness make everything worthwhile.
Moreover, these brown pooches are the state dog of South Carolina and need a ton of physical and mental activity to keep them brimming with happiness, health, and joy.
6. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are rugged and adept at hunting in harsh conditions because they sport a thick, short coat and heavy undercoat that keeps them warm and dry even in extreme weather conditions.
These pooches were bred for hauling fishing nets and retrieving in icy waters. But you might not know that the Chessies originated from Newfoundland, right? An ancient tale says two Newfoundland puppies were saved from a shipwreck off the Maryland coast.
VCA Animal Hospitals says these puppies were raised in different parts of the Chesapeake Bay Area and bred with sporting and hunting dogs, creating the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Hence, they have the loving temperament and retrieving instincts of a Newfoundland and hunting and pointing skills of the sporting and hunting dogs used in their foundation stock.
This powerful and muscular larger dog is a sturdy American breed of sporting and gun dog, that can easily beat the other dogs and retrievers in the working field. Because it is sturdier, more agile, courageous, protective, and alert than all of them. The Chessie holds a special place in the heart of hunting enthusiasts.
7. English Setter
This loving, friendly, and jolly pup belongs to the setter group, which includes the Red Irish Setter, Irish Red and White setters, and black and tan Gordon setters.
The English setter is one of the oldest gun dogs, which originated 400 to 500 years ago and can be traced back to the 14th century. The ancestors of this pooch are the Spanish pointers, French pointers, and a variety of Spaniels.
The English Setter is known for its excellent nose and ground speed. This medium-sized pooch is the ultimate depiction of agility and gentleness, making it an exceptionally affectionate pet.
These pooches have a mostly white coat with flecks of different colors, which make a pattern known as the Belton. These pooches are always ready to pounce, hunt, and retrieve. They are intelligent, highly trainable, and sweet pooches.
Omlet describes that these large pups require regular grooming and daily exercise. This medium-sized sporting breed exhibits a sweet temper and show-stopping good looks. The English setter is a merry and mellow guy, available in colors like liver, lemon, and orange. This balanced hunter is known as the gentleman of the dog world because they get along with people and other dogs quite nicely.
Conclusion
Now, the value of the hunting dogs can only be seen by hunting champions and enthusiastic people who love and adore the bounties of nature. The Following bird dog breeds and pointing dogs are some more options to consider if you aren’t convinced about the alert and excelling pooches mentioned above.
The English springer spaniel is good at flushing and retrieving but is also a great companion dog. The Braque Francais is a lesser-known hunting dog but is exceptional as a bird dog. The American Water Spaniels are versatile dogs that excel in both upland and water hunting.
Moreover, German shorthaired pointer, wirehaired vizslas, wirehaired pointing griffon, and German wirehaired pointer are also great pointing breeds, which make hunting an enjoyable sport rather than a tiring day in the field.
