There’s no reason why your four-legged hunting partner can’t live in the house. It goes without saying, of course, that your choice of breed depends on various factors. These factors include what, where, and how you like to hunt, where you live, and so on. However, if you are looking for a hunting dog that can pull double duty as a cute family companion, we’ll be discussing several adorable breeds that are well-suited to the task.
Golden Retrievers are by far the cutest hunting dogs! Well known for their lustrous gold coats, goofy grins, and soft tempers, Golden Retrievers are just as intelligent, fierce, and determined on the inside as beautiful on the outside, making them excellent gun dogs and small prey hunters.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 cutest hunting dogs, lastly mentioning our very favorite- the Golden Retriever.
Top 5 Cutest Hunting Dogs
While dogs make great pets and companions today, dogs have a much longer history of serving more utilitarian purposes, such as hunting partners. When dogs are properly trained, they are much more resilient and capable hunters than humans. They are known for their athleticism, impeccable sense of smell, and acute hearing. They just need us to teach them how to use those talents.
The best hunting dog breeds fall into one of two categories. First are the gun dog breeds, otherwise known as bird dog breeds, which flush out birds and other small animals on the hunter’s behalf and often retrieve the catch after being killed.
Then, the second type is scent hounds; they use their high-powered sniffers to locate and track prey. On occasion, they’ll even chase the game up a tree and trap it there until the hunter arrives.
While many of these dog breeds have been specifically bred for hunting, they are also loyal playmates and house dogs.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 cutest hunting dogs!
1. Beagle
Although much smaller than most hunting canines, the Beagle is equipped with a note-worthy snout and voluminous bark. The Beagle ranks among the best scent hounds globally; they are primarily used for hunting rabbits, foxes, and birds.
In addition, Beagles are known for being loving, playful, and eager to please, making them excellent companions for all kinds of households, including ones with kids.
They are intelligent canines with moderately easy training abilities. This comes in handy when teaching them how to hunt alongside you.
Beagle Overview
In addition to their cute faces and savvy sniffers, Beagles tend to have a muscular body, a perky, long tail, and long, floppy ears. This top hunting breed will serve you well in the bush and at home.
HEIGHT: 13 to 15 inches
WEIGHT: 20 to 25 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-15 Years
SPECIALITY: small to medium game
2. Bloodhound
Known as the Sherlock Holmes of canines, the Bloodhound is a tenacious tracking dog with superb investigative skills and incredibly sharp noses. There are very few dogs, if any, quite as astute as the Bloodhound when tracking prey.
These fearless trackers are used by law enforcement to find missing people. They are also often used for deer and boar hunting.
Bloodhounds are docile and easy-going, making them excellent companions on and off the game trail. However, their nose can sometimes lead them into trouble- leashes are recommended on walks. Take note that training these sensitive sleuths may be a challenge!
Bloodhound Overview
Bloodhounds have a unique appearance and very sweet disposition. They have long, wrinkled faces with adorably huge, droopy ears and legendary snouts, hefty builds, and short legs.
HEIGHT: 25 to 27 inches
WEIGHT: 80 to 110 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 7 to 10 Years
SPECIALITY: tracker
3. Boykin Spaniel
If you hunt everything avian, don’t forget about the Boykin Spaniel. The Boykin is a genuinely versatile hunter. The Boykin can cover lakes for waterfowl in the morning, head to the field for an upland hunt in the afternoon, and curl up fireside at home in the evening.
Boykin Spaniels are friendly, energetic, and enthusiastic pups. They are intelligent and highly trainable; however, they are on the sensitive side, needing a more experienced hand willing to put in the time to develop their hunting skills.
Boykins should not be overlooked for folks seeking a spirited, fun, and easy-going companion.
Boykin Spaniel Overview
The Boykin is a medium-sized breed with a chocolate brown coat, adorable, soft floppy ears, and striking light-colored eyes. Boykins tend to be larger, rangier, and more robust than their cousin, the Cocker Spaniel. In addition, they have webbed-toes making them excellent swimmers.
HEIGHT: 14 to 20 inches
WEIGHT: 25 to 40 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 14 to 16 Years
SPECIALITY: Bird hunting
4. English Setter
The English Setter is a gun dog famous for its pointing, running, and hunting skills. English Setters are easily trained to retrieve, making them exceptional bird hunters. Like all setters, English Setters are named after their distinctive crouching stance that they take on the hunt- known as ‘setting.’
English Setters have been categorized into a field and show varieties, the hunting type being smaller and more agile.
English Setters are a boisterous and amicable company. They are energetic, with a friendly, refined quality. They are mischievous when they haven’t been given enough exercise, but they are laid back and easy-going when kept busy throughout the day.
English Setter Overview
English Setters have a medium-length coat with long feathering on their ears, tail, belly, chest, and the back of their legs.
English Setters definitely count amongst the most beautiful dogs on our list; however, their long and luxurious coats are also their biggest drawback in hunting, as it gets dirty and tangled almost immediately out on the hunt.
That being said, if you don’t mind excessive grooming, there’s no reason the English Setter should not be at the top of your list of hunting dogs.
HEIGHT: 25 to 27 inches
WEIGHT: 45 to 80 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 to 12 Years
SPECIALITY: Bird hunting
5. Golden Retriever
Take one look into a Golden Retriever’s big brown eyes, and your heart melts instantly! Goldens are widely referred to as cute by everyone they meet.
You might think that the beautiful and luxurious appearance of Golden Retrievers makes them better companion pets than hard-working hunters; however, you’re mistaken. They are just as fierce and determined on the inside as beautiful on the outside. Moreover, Golden Retrievers are just as well-suited in the bush, searching for the quarry as hanging out on your couch at home. I mean, they are retrievers, after all.
High in stamina and incredibly intelligent, Golden Retrievers are gun dogs and excellent for hunting birds and other small prey.
Fit for families and hunting, Golden Retrievers are enthusiastic, loyal, and highly trainable. Retrievers are also even-tempered and wonderful family companions with a reputation for getting along well with children. However, they need lots of activity to exercise their minds and bodies.
Golden Retrievers are both one of the best hunting breeds you can find and a man’s best friend.
Golden Retriever Overview
Blessed with one of the sweetest faces in the dogdom, Goldies are sturdy, medium to large canines with a muscular build, friendly eyes, and lustrous golden coats.
HEIGHT: 21 to 24 inches
WEIGHT: 55 to 75 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 to 12 Years
SPECIALITY: Bird hunting and All-round retrieving
Conclusion
Of the top five cutest hunting dogs mentioned, including Beagles, Bloodhounds, Boykin Spaniels, English Setters, and Golden Retrievers, the Golden Retriever has to be the cutest!
From their gorgeous golden coat to their big, soulful brown eyes and goofy smiles, we could not have picked a cuter dog than a Golden Retriever.
However, it is not only the handsome appearance of a Golden Retriever that makes it our number one pick but also their playfulness, loyalty, and intelligent personality.
Whether on the hunt or the couch, a Golden Retriever makes a loyal, loving companion.
