Dogs are known as a man’s best friend. Dogs are a great companion of humans ever since the ancient times. Most hunters, nowadays, come along with their companion dogs as they complete activities.
Hunting dogs may help you on different activities such as trailing and packing up. With this, they contribute to the success of your hunting expedition.
Best Hunting Dogs
Compared when you travel alone, you can feel more involved and supported as you hunt your game. Hunting dogs serve as good hunting partners for your next trip. Depending on the type of game you need to pursue, there are different hunting dog options you can bring along.
As you ask, what hunting dog is right for me, we recommend looking into different dog breeds.
Here are some of our suggestions you can look into:
Labrador Retriever
Retriever breeds provide great hunting dogs. Most experts deem that Labradors are the ultimate and best hunting dog among others.
One of the biggest hound breeds, Labradors offer high energy especially on challenging activities. They have a “cold-weather” skin coat which makes them adapt to the intense climate for a long period of time.
Labradors are willing to go on extreme lengths to help you retrieve your game. This dog breed is recommended if you will participate on duck hunting or any small games. We recommend you feed them well before the activity to prevent him from eating the game.
Pointer
Dogs under this breed have a thin coat which makes it not ideal for cold weather. Nevertheless, if you are participating on outdoor trips with a warm weather they are a great choice as hunting dogs.
A Pointer dog is known to be a perfect companion as you scout for birds in a long and wide field. They are great even in hot climates, unlike furry dogs.
Beagle
Most hunters are beagle fans as they provide energy and persistence in all the activities they participate in. Dogs from this bread love chasing activities. They are one of the best shed hunting dog breeds.
A disadvantage they present is their short legs. It provides them a handicap when pursuing a bigger game. Nevertheless, if you tend to hunt for small games like rabbits, you can consider Beagles. They are great good small hunting dogs.
American Foxhound
This dog breed is recommended if you hunt foxes. They specialize on small yet agile games.
One of the good for hog hunting dog breeds, American Foxhounds are known to have great running skills. They are very useful during the autumn deer season. In general, American Foxhounds are great options as they are capable of chasing down anything. Just tell what to do and they will chase it for you.
Golden Retriever
This dog breed is known as a good option for families. Nevertheless, they can also be hunting dogs.
Golden Retrievers are wonderful as small-game hunting dogs. Note only adults will love them as companions but also kids. With this, you can prefer this dog breed should you wish to teach your kids how to hunt.
Bloodhound
The name of this breed lives up to the expectation that their name sounds. They are ruthless hunting dogs which is great for competitive hunters.
Bloodhounds have great tracking abilities. Their very strong smelling capability allows them to track down your game. We recommend you check them out as you look for a reliable hunting dog.
Bay Retriever
One of the good wild boar hunting dog breeds, Bay Retrievers are preferred for small game hunting. They are intelligent and energetic dogs which make them ideal especially for duck hunting.
Known as water-loving dogs, they are known to provide great endurance while taking charge. You can surely rely on them even when hunting for long periods.
Irish Setter
This dog breed is deal when hunting for turkeys. They have a thick fur which may help them last well even when exposed to cold weathers.
Pointers are reliable dogs when hunting for quail in the south. Consequently, the Irish setters work well in cold seasons like fall.
Weimaraner
These dogs are known for their long legs. They might appear awkward on initial glance but they are very useful when hunting.
Weimaraner are elegant and unique looking. They take pride with their fast yet calm pace. They are perfect to bring along when hunting quails, pheasant, and other popular birds.
Coonhound
Known for their sharp noses, they are loved by pet owners because of their friendly nature. If you have a problem with raccoons, they can help you big time. They can easily root out the pests in your area and bag them.
Coonhounds can perform hunting activities well on different weather and temperature conditions. Moreover, they can easily adapt to a wide variety of terrain types. Overall, they are a good hunting dog option.
These are some of our favorite dogs that can perform well as a hunting companion. We recommend you check out the qualities of each dog and identify which one fits your hunting requirements well.
Advantages of Getting Hunting Dogs
Hunting dogs are a great addition to your expedition. They are very popular to bring along especially for sports hunters. Getting their assistance can help in increasing the chances of catching the prey for a successful trip.
There are several dog breeds that can be trained as hunting companions such as setters, pointers and retrievers. Provided below are some of the benefits of getting a dog as a hunting companion.
Expanded terrain traversing
Most hunting beginners have encountered issues on rugged terrains. Moreover, there are terrains that make it difficult to find the prey.
A hunting dog can help you in expanding your capabilities as a hunter. They can easily track down games because of their heightened senses. They are reliable companions that can expand the terrain you traverse.
Retrieving and pointing
Hunting dogs are mostly trained to perform retrieving and pointing activities. They make hunting activities easier and more effective.
Hunters spend most of their times when hunting a game and picking them after a successful shot. Dogs can help you do all these grunt work. With this, they can offer you a lighter load, providing you a more fun hunting experience.
Tracks sniffing
Hunting dogs work well when sniffing tracks of your game. With their great sense of smell, it increases your chances of getting a successful trip.
Dogs offer a good tracking capability with their sense of smell. With this, there is no animal that is difficult to be located with a dog as your companion.
Companionship
The activities involved in hunting are very enjoyable especially if you get a good kill. It is also an excellent bonding activity with your friends and family.
Despite these advantages, there are times when you need a moment by yourself in silence. If you want the same experience but still get a companionship factor, you may prefer hunting dogs instead.
A companion dog usually understands your commands. With this, it makes your hunting adventure easier and worthwhile.
Overall, dogs provide good companionship for hunters.
They can also offer excellent sniffing capabilities that expand you terrain or coverage. Their excellent retrieving and pointing abilities can make your life easier.
We recommend you consider going along with a hunting dog on your next trip. Not only will you get companionship but you can also receive assistance as well.
As you prepare your meals at the end of the day, you must be equipped with appropriate cooking tools. You may consider looking into the best backpacking stoves available in the market.