Top Bird Hunting Dog Breeds with Amazing Skills

While dogs since many years ago achieved a reputation as some of the most adorable and loyal domesticated pets. It still remains an undeniable fact that they are also some of the most effective hunters on the field when they are specifically bred or commanded to do so.  Although some may require training beyond one’s patience.

From being an owner’s best dream to being an animal’s worst nightmare, dogs can frequently switch out their personality types. This is also where bird hunting dog breeds come, dog breeds such as spaniels more so than likely were originally bred as hunting companions either for the royalty or for hunters alike.

This article will be dealing with some of the best 15 bird hunting dog breeds that were or still are used for hunting certain games such as waterfowls, though hunting is more or less seen with negative connotations than in the old era. Keep reading below to know more about these dog breeds!

The Top 15 Bird Hunting Dogs

If you are simply looking for dogs that are athletic and strong due to their bird hunting capabilities, then the list above may just help out with your unending search for great hunting dogs:

1. Brittany

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 17.5-20.5 inches
• Weight: 30-40 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wavy double short-length coat. Colors are: Liver White & Orange, Orange Roan, Liver Roan etc…
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Brittany, France

Bred in a Celtic province of France, the Brittany dog breeds were originally considered to be a spaniel due to their astonishing bird hunting capabilities. But some of their traits has reclassified them into a type more akin to a pointer.

These dog breeds are effective at hunting upland birds along with capturing even rabbits or any other small prey. These affordable breeds are effective at all activities that are related to hunting or dog sports, whichever so they are made to do.

2. English Setter

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 23-27 inches
• Weight: 45-80 pounds
• Coat and Color: Silky medium-length double coat. Colors include: Blue Belton, Lemon Belton, White, Blue Belton & Tan which is a tri-color or Liver Belton
• Life Span: 12 years
• Origin: England, France, Wales

While the origins of the English Setter may be vast, it is also an undeniable fact that they are excellent at tracking prey, chasing them down or retrieving them. The English setters are excellent at training, hence they can be trained to do variety of tasks that they may not have done before in fact.

Therefore, English setters can act as great bird hunters when required and tasked to do so by their owners. Otherwise, these dogs are also charming and can easily get on with either strangers or other animals when not hunting.

3. Vizsla

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21-24 inches
• Weight: 44-60 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short sized smooth coat. Color is generally Golden Rust or may be a mix of others.
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Hungary

Bred in Hungary by Magyar tribes for hunting in large fields, these dogs are effective as both being retrievers or working as pointers. These dogs are slightly imposing yet can run with tremendous speed at a moment’s notice.

Effective as a bird hunting when trained to do so, the Vizsla dog breed are genuinely one of the best gundogs as they are able to follow commands accurately.

Get More: Skinny dog breeds

4. Labrador Retriever

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21.5-24.5 inches
• Weight: 55-80 pounds
• Coat and Color: a double coat that is short in size. Colors include: Yellow, Black, Chocolate
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Newfoundland, Canada

Generally known to be bird dogs due to their efficacy at being able to track down prey and capture them immediately, the Labrador Retriever aren’t just named so for the sake of naming. These dogs are most often used to retrieve ducks or pheasants or even waterfowls easily.

Labradors can be great hunting partners when used effectively and also great friends when at home, being perfect family dogs and protective of their beloved ones.

5. German Shorthaired Pointer

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21-25
• Weight: 45-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth coat that is short in size. Colors generally are Black, Black & White, Black Roan, Liver, etc.
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Germany

Perfect for running and jumping, the German Shorthaired pointer is an excellent hunter of varied capabilities, including even swimming. These dogs are capable of hunting both birds in water or in uplands as they are able to hunt down waterfowls easily.

Perfect for training and eagerly obedient, the German Shorthaired Pointer is most often considered as a hunter’s first choice when choosing a dog breed to help with hunting.

6. English Springer Spaniel

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 19-20 inches
• Weight: 40-50 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium sized double coat. Colors Include Leon & White, White & Black, or Red & White, etc.
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: England

Effective at bird hunting and a choice for many hunters, the English Springer spaniel is one of the best bird hunting dog breeds. With a tough exterior and bored expression that may just make them look wise, the Springer spaniel can especially be great for hunting birds such as pheasants.

These dogs are highly responsive to training and will affectionately stay close to their owners whenever possible, they are always eager to please them in fact!

7. Weimaraner

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 23-27 inches
• Weight: 55-90 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short-length double coat. Colors Include: Silver Gray or Blue, might be a slight mix
• Life Span: 10-13 years
• Origin: Germany

Fearsome and obedient, the Weimaraner (Gray Ghost) is one of the favorites of a hunter, able to listen to commands during exercises and fiercely loyal. These dogs are used for hunting of birds by hunters as they have a keen sight and are able to smell out the birds and retrieve them.

Although not as well known as other hunting dogs due to them not being used as much for hunting nowadays, the Weimaraner still can be used for hunting when trained properly by a hunter.

8. Golden Retriever

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21.5-24 inches
• Weight: 55-75 pounds
• Coat and Color: Double coat that is medium sized. Colors may include: Light Golden, Golden, Dark Golden
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: United Kingdom, Scotland

True to their name, the Golden Retriever is an ample choice for a hunter for hunting various games such as waterfowls in water. In essence, golden retrievers are comfortable with both swimming and hunting water birds and hunting birds on the land as long as they are given the task to do so.

Otherwise, these dogs are perfect family dogs and one of the best choices of hunters for game hunting as these dogs were originally developed to do so.

9. Irish Setter

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 25-27 inches
• Weight: 60-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-length silky coat. Colors are Chestnut, Mahogany, and Red.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Ireland

The Irish setters are perfect gundogs due to their agility and the speed at which they hunt. While mostly trainable, these dogs can be stubborn at times and may need a little bit more patience to teach them correctly.

Irish Setters, while they normally are all in one package hunters, still can be most effective while hunting game birds as they are able to utilize skills such as tracking, retrieving, or even pointing to the game.

10. Boykin Spaniel

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 14-18 inches
• Weight: 25-40 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wavy double coat that is medium in size and Liver in color
• Life Span: 10-15 years
• Origin: United States, South Carolina

Most spaniels were originally bred to be companions for hunters and flush out a game or retrieve it, therefore it is no surprise that Boykin Spaniel is one of them. The Boykin spaniel is bred so to be effective at hunting in both land fields and in waters, regardless of the setting.

In essence, these dogs can be used for hunting down even waterfowl by hunters. However, they can be great family dogs when adopted as a pet instead of hunting dogs.

11. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21-26 inches
• Weight: 55-80 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry and wavy medium-length coat. Colors are Sedge, Tan, Brown, etc.
• Life Span: 10-13 years
• Origin: United States, Chesapeake Bay

With their strong round skulls and tough jaws, these dog breeds are perfect for hunting even large game birds and carrying them over. Originally used for hunting ducks as water dogs, The Chesapeake Bay Retriever can be slightly wary around strangers, although not violent.

These dogs can also be great watchdogs as they bark to alert their owners of potential strangers and other intruders alike.

12. Clumber Spaniel

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 17-20 inches
• Weight: 55-85 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wavy coat that is medium in size and silky with a base color of white.
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: England

While often used for hunting game birds, these dogs are more precise and slow hunters as compared to other spaniel breeds. Generally, these dogs are not frantic hunters and will simply try to hunt down birds and alike with patience.

While great for older hunters, these dogs may not be as suitable for hunters who are looking to capture their prey quickly.

13. Wirehaired Griffon

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 20-24 inches
• Weight: 35-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Double coat that is wiry and medium in size. Colors mainly are Brown & Gray, Chestnut & Gray
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Germany, France, Netherlands

Considered to be one of the best gundogs for hunting, the Wirehaired Griffon, despite their slightly small stature, are excellent at hunting both water birds and land birds as they are able to swim and run with pure agility.

By type, these dogs are close-ranged hunting dogs, personally hunting down and retrieving game along with their hunting companion.

14. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 17-21 inches
• Weight: 35-50 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-length double coat. Colors mainly are Buff, Red Gold, or Red
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Yarmouth County

While rarer than other retrievers, the Nova Scotia dog breeds are certainly terrifying when it comes to hunting birds. These dog breeds can be used for luring games into the range of a trap or even retrieving it by themselves when properly trained to do so.

Highly intelligent and curious, these dogs are perfect for flushing out games and will do their jobs to the maximum when required.

15. Curly-Coated Retriever

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 23-27 inches
• Weight: 60-95 pounds
• Coat and Color: Unique curly coat that is short in length with colors mainly being Black and Liver
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: United Kingdom, England

The Curly-Coated Retrievers are distinctly recognizable due to their coat which has a small mass of clumps covering it overall. Popular among poachers and hunters for their abilities to hunt down both birds on water and land, these are still sometimes used as gundogs from time to time.

With a roughed look and reserved personality, these dogs are highly responsive to training and work to make sure that the owner remains happy and assured with their great work.

Conclusion

While some of these 15 bird hunting dog breeds may normally be reserved for family use as hunting has become a questionable activity, many of these dogs still can be effective at hunting down pests whenever required. Although it should be noted that these dogs may not be perfect at socializing and may need the training to do so.

On the other hand, these dogs are also some of the most high-energy dog breeds and therefore will need an appropriate diet and nutrition to keep them up and going, especially so for a hunter. Whereas for a family, an owner would still need to give a dog lots of exercises to keep them happy and obedient, something that more so applies to a spaniel.