30 Hunting Dog Breeds: Best Dogs for Hunting (October 2024)

Rank	Breed	Origin	Group	Average Weight (lbs)	Average Height (inches)	Average Lifespan (years)
1	Beagle	United Kingdom	Hound	20-30	13-15	12-15
2	Bloodhound	Belgium/France/United Kingdom	Hound	80-110	23-27	10-12
3	Rhodesian Ridgeback	Zimbabwe	Hound	70-85	24-27	10-12
4	Jack Russell Terrier	United Kingdom	Terrier	13-17	10-15	13-16
5	Poodle	Germany/France	Non-sporting	45-70	15-22	12-15
6	Dachshund	Germany	Hound	16-32	8-9	12-16
7	Yorkshire Terrier	United Kingdom	Toy	4-7	7-8	13-16
8	Cairn Terrier	Scotland	Terrier	13-18	9-10	13-15
9	Pembroke Welsh Corgi	United Kingdom	Herding	25-30	10-12	12-15
10	West Highland White Terrier	Scotland	Terrier	15-20	10-11	12-16
11	Toy Fox Terrier	United States	Toy	3.5-7	8.5-11.5	13-15
12	Shiba Inu	Japan	Non-sporting	17-23	13.5-16.5	12-15
13	Chinese Crested Dog	China	Toy	10-13	11-13	13-15
14	Norwich Terrier	United Kingdom	Terrier	11-12	9-10	12-15
15	Mastiffs	United Kingdom	Working	130-220	27-30	6-10
16	Boerboel	South Africa	Working	110-200	22-27	9-11
17	Saint Bernard	Switzerland	Working	120-180	26-30	8-10
18	Neapolitan Mastiff	Italy	Working	110-150	24-31	7-9
19	Bullmastiff	United Kingdom	Working	100-130	24-27	7-9
20	Tibetan Mastiff	Tibet	Working	75-160	24-30	10-12
21	Rottweiler	Germany	Working	80-135	22-27	8-10
22	Dogue de Bordeaux	France	Working	99-110	23-27	5-8
23	Akita	Japan	Working	70-130	24-28	10-15
24	Cane Corso	Italy	Working	88-110	23-28	10-12
25	Kuvasz	Hungary	Working	70-115	26-30	10-12
26	Scottish Deerhound	United Kingdom	Hound	75-110	28-32	8-11
27	Beauceron	France	Herding	70-110	24-27.5	10-12
28	Dogo Argentino	Argentina	Working	80-100	24-27	9-15
29	Borzoi	Russia	Hound	60-105	26-28	9-14
30	Doberman Pinscher	Germany	Working	60-100	24-28	10-13

Hunting has been an essential aspect of human civilization for thousands of years. Throughout this time, people have depended on hunting dogs to help them in their quest for prey. Hunting dogs have been used in many hunting situations, from flushing out birds to tracking down large animals.

Several breeds have been created and bred, especially for hunting, with distinctive qualities that fit various species and terrain types. In this extensive article, we explore the world of hunting dog breeds to find the top 30 hunting dog breeds.

30 Best Dogs That Can Hunt Easily

1. Beagle

Beagles are exceptional scent hounds skilled at locating rabbits and small game, and they are well-known for their strong sense of smell and unwavering perseverance. They become devoted household pets and excellent hunting companions due to their small stature and amiable personality.

2. Bloodhound

Bloodhounds are known for their unmatched scenting prowess and are adept at locating downed wildlife across great distances. Their tenacity, stamina, and kind disposition make them cherished household pets and essential assets in hunting situations.

3. Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a vast, strong breed distinguished by a pronounced hair ridge along their backs. They need regular exercise and strict, persistent training, yet they are superb hunters and faithful friends.

4. Jack Russell Terrier

Jack Russell Terriers are compact, active, and well-known for their prowess in ratting and hunting. Their short, thick coats, exceptional trainability, and loyalty make them ideal for energetic families enjoying outdoor pursuits.

5. Poodle

Poddles are standard, miniature, and available in toy sizes for these brilliant and trainable dogs. They are well-liked and adaptable companions because of their curly, hypoallergenic coat and success in various canine sports and activities.

6. Dachshund

Dachshund is a little, long-bodied breed that is excellent at digging and hunting tiny game that burrows. It is distinguished by its brave and inquisitive disposition and is available in wire-haired, long-haired, and smooth variants.

7. Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers are canines with a strong hunting instinct, drive, and tenacity. They were initially developed to catch rats in mills. Known for being tiny, solid animals, they are excellent companions for single people and families with older kids.

8. Cairn Terrier

The Isle of Skye and Scotland are the birthplaces of the Cairn Terrier, much like the Scotch and West Highland. They were principally used for otter, badger, and fox hunting. They date back to the fifteenth century and likely still look like the original terriers from that era.

9. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

With the proper training, Corgis may be trained to hunt small wildlife like hares, pheasants, and rabbits. Additionally, because their initial purpose was herding rather than hunting, they may be trained to drive animals toward hunters or to flush out birds.

10. West Highland White Terrier

Westies were developed as a specific kind of hunting dog. They would track their prey into the earth, find it in its natural den, and then bark underground to alert their master to their location. After that, the handler would dig to catch the victim.

11. Toy Fox Terrier

The boldness and hunting characteristics of the terrier’s ancestors are still present in the Toy Fox Terrier. These canines are excellent at pursuing rodents, such as squirrels. Additionally, the Toy Fox Terrier makes an excellent watchdog due to its protective attitude and propensity for barking.

12. Shiba Inu

The history of the Shiba Inu dates back to the Jomon era, which lasted from 14,500 BC to 300 BC. It is said that early Shibas were maintained as hunting dogs due to their excellent hearing and scent. If needed, a Shiba Inu might assist in the hunt for bears and boars and capture small animals like birds and rabbits.

13. Chinese Crested Dog

The Crested is said to have traveled with Chinese seafarers, hunting rodents during and between plague outbreaks. Because the Chinese Crested, like many little terrier-like breeds, is an excellent hunter, sailors kept the dogs on board to keep the rats under control.

14. Norwich Terrier

The Norwich Terrier originated in England and was developed to hunt tiny rodents. These dogs are uncommon and among the most miniature terrier breeds.

15. Mastiffs

Although mastiffs have historically been employed for blood sports, such as fighting other mastiffs or animals like bulls, bears, or even lions, they have also been used as hunting, war, and security dogs for houses and property.

16. Boerboel

The Boerboel, also known as the Boer Dog or Boer Hunting Dog, is descended from an ancient colonial crossbreed of mastiffs and bulldogs used as guard dogs on isolated farms and estates and for large game hunting.

17. Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard were used as working dogs, watchdogs, hunting partners, livestock guardians, and herders for farmers. Their most notable accomplishments are their incredible mountain rescues, in which they bravely rescued victims of avalanches.

18. Neapolitan Mastiff

Primarily used as farm assistants and guardians, Neapolitan Mastiffs have also been used as herding dogs, flock guardians, cattle drovers, cart dogs, big game hunters, and personal guardians.

19. Bullmastiff

Bullmastiff is excellent in hunting and tracking, and it makes a beautiful companion dog for a dedicated single owner or family, in addition to its strong ability to chase.

20. Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan mastiffs were a common hunting dog breed in China’s imperial courts. In the past, they were transported from Tibet down the Silk Road as a tribute. They were large black canines used as guard dogs. They burst into action like bullets.

21. Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is a working and hunting dog breed. However, they may need more patience to point or a great sense of smell for the job.

22. Dogue de Bordeaux

Dogues de Bordeaux served as fighters, hunters, and protectors. They were particularly skilled at baiting bears, jaguars, and bulls. Due to the perception that Dogues were associated with nobility, many of them perished after the French Revolution.

23. Akita

As late as 1957, Japan employed ancestors of the contemporary Akita for bear, wild boar, and deer hunting. Their purpose was to drive the boar away and hold it at bay until the hunter could arrive and dispatch it.

24. Cane Corso

An Italian mastiff breed is called the Cane Corso. It is typically maintained as a guard dog or companion dog but may also be used to keep livestock safe. Previously, it was used to hunt great animals and herd cattle.

25. Kuvasz

Kuvasz was historically employed as a guard and herding dog, assisting shepherds in defending flocks against robbers or predators. Thus, this makes sense. It is also said that they were and are still used for big game hunting.

26. Scottish Deerhound

The Scottish Deerhound, labeled the “royal dog of Scotland,” dates back to the sixteenth century. The nobles originally owned it exclusively and valued it highly as a Scottish stag hunter. The Deerhound loves to keep up with everything that moves and has been employed to hunt wolves, coyotes, and rabbits.

27. Beauceron

The Beauceron, sometimes known as the Berger de Beauce, is a working dog from France. In the 1500s, it was primarily developed to hunt wild boar but also used as a herding dog and flock guard.

28. Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino, sometimes called Dogos Argentinos in the plural, is a vast, mastiff-type dog breed native to Argentina. It was developed in Córdoba, central Argentina, at the beginning of the 20th century, primarily for hunting big game like pumas, wild boar, and peccaries.

29. Borzoi

Borzoi was employed initially on broad terrain to hunt running animals, including hares, wolves, and foxes. They had to rely on their quickness, skill, and endurance to capture their prey.

30. Doberman Pinscher

Dobermans are excellent barn hunters. This breed is well-known for its quickness, scent sensitivity, and territorial defense. It can dig tunnels, climb, and look for rodents with ease.

Essential Abilities Necessary for Hunting Dogs

Ability	Description	Importance
Scent Tracking	Ability to track and locate game using their sense of smell.	Crucial for finding and trailing game.
Retrieving	Skill to fetch and return game to the hunter.	Important for waterfowl and upland hunting.
Stamina	Sustained physical endurance to keep up with long hunts.	Essential for covering large areas.
Obedience	Following commands and maintaining discipline during hunts.	Key for safety and effective hunting.
Steadiness	Remaining calm and steady, especially when game is flushed or shot.	Important for accurate shooting and retrieval.
Agility	Ability to navigate difficult terrain quickly and efficiently.	Useful for hunting in varied landscapes.
Swimming	Competence in water, necessary for retrieving waterfowl.	Critical for waterfowl hunting.
Intelligence	Problem-solving skills and quick learning ability.	Helps in training and adapting to different hunting scenarios.
Endurance	Ability to sustain energy over prolonged periods.	Necessary for long hunting sessions.
Nose Sensitivity	Highly developed sense of smell for detecting faint scents.	Enhances effectiveness in scent tracking.

What Makes Hunting Dogs Different from Other Breeds

Hunting dogs are special due to their exceptional sense of smell, strong work ethic, and high intelligence. They possess natural hunting instincts, physical endurance, and agility, allowing them to navigate difficult terrains and sustain long hunts. Their loyalty and bond with their handlers enhance cooperation and communication. Additionally, their steadiness, patience, and retrieving skills are vital for successful hunting, making them indispensable companions in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What skills should a hunting dog have?

A hunting dog should have excellent scent tracking, retrieving abilities, stamina, obedience, and agility.

2. How do I train a hunting dog?

Start with basic obedience training, then gradually introduce scent training, retrieving exercises, and exposure to hunting environments.

3. Can hunting dogs be good family pets?

Yes, many hunting dogs are also loyal and affectionate family pets, but they require ample exercise and mental stimulation.

4. What equipment is needed for hunting with dogs?

Essential equipment includes a sturdy leash, collar, GPS tracker, training dummy, whistle, and appropriate hunting gear for the dog.

5. How do I care for a hunting dog?

Ensure they get regular exercise, a balanced diet, routine veterinary care, and mental stimulation through training and play.

Wrapping Up

The exceptional abilities, acute senses, and unwavering loyalty of hunting dog breeds make them outstanding. Every breed, including hounds, pointers, and retrievers, has certain qualities that set them apart as excellent companions for various hunting pursuits.

Because of their intellect and amiable disposition, many of these dogs are excellent family companions and outstanding hunters. Proper training, attention, and exercise are necessary to guarantee their continued health and happiness.