A Guide to Choosing Your First Hunting Dog

Written by HLRBO| 9/12/2021

Sportsmen and women looking to take their hunting to the next level often rely on man’s best friend to help them sharpen, expand, and improve their hunting skills and game. If you’re ready to find a hunting dog to accompany you on your hunts, you’re in the right place. In this post, we will go over everything you need to know about choosing your first hunting puppy. First and foremost, it’s important to ensure that you are ready to take on the responsibility of owning a gun dog. Your new hunting companion will need your care, love, and attention daily — not just when you’re hunting. Owning a bird-dog also involves all of the same duties as owning a regular dog does — potty training and obedience training, exercising, feeding it, paying for its medical bills, etc. Finding a Breeder If you’re ready to take on the responsibility of bird-dog ownership, it’s time to find a breeder. This is an important step because genetics are of the utmost importance when finding a hunting dog. Once you’ve decided on the breed that best aligns with your hunting goals (retrievers retrieve, pointers know how to point, etc.), start Googling some breeders in your area. Take the time needed to do proper research on each breeder, including reading reviews and testimonials from past customers, reaching out to past customers to hear about their experiences, and contacting the breeder to learn about their process, requirements, cost, etc. If any of your hunting comrades have hunting dogs, ask where they got them and if they recommend using that breeder and for any other recommendations they might have as far as breed, breeder, training, and so on. It’s essential that you find a breeder that will stand behind the dog if it is born with genetic defects and that they will be there to answer questions after the sale. A pro tip is to find a breeder that breeds and hunts. Now you are killing two birds with one stone — getting a dog from hunting stock and working with a breeder who knows what makes a good hunting dog.

Choosing the Right Litter Once you’ve found a reputable and trustworthy breeder to go with, you’ll need to be prepared to choose the right litter. As you look at prospective litters, it’s important to study the dog’s lineage for health issues. Ensure the sire and dam are certified against hip dysplasia and check the dog’s lineage for titles, such as test results from AKC Hunt Test Titles and NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association). If there are titles listed that you’ve never heard of or don’t know what they signify, be sure to ask. For instance, field trial titles only matter if you’re looking to compete in field trials or you’re seeking an extremely wide-ranging dog for western hunting. Additionally, you should see the parents hunt — whether in the field or on video, to give yourself a good idea of how your dog would work in the field. There’s nothing wrong with being honest with the breeder about your lack of experience — they’re there to help you choose the right pup. First-time gun dog owners should look for dogs from a litter with a lot of natural ability that is easy to train and eager to please. In an ideal world, you will find a litter born in the spring — this would mean that all midnight trips to the potty would take place in warm weather, and your pup will be old enough to head to the field with you for fall hunting season.

Picking a Bird Dog Puppy Don’t just pounce on the cutest puppy or the biggest or strongest-looking. What’s inside the pup counts much more than the outside. So, take some time to watch the litter. If you notice one dog staying back and sitting there, you probably don’t want that one if you’re looking for a hard-charging hunting dog. Next, hold the puppy, turning it upside down to check for submissiveness. If the pup does not resist being handled that way, it will be more likely to accept you as a trainer. On the other hand, a dog that squirms, growls, or nips may grow up to be a dominant dog that’s much harder to train. When it comes to males versus females, the rule of thumb is generally that females are softer than males and therefore need a gentler touch during training. The biggest difference between the male and female pups is that the females are smaller. Best Bird Dog Breeds for First-Timers These bird dog breeds are the most ideal for first-time owners: • German Shorthaired Pointer: Hunting dogs don’t get much more practical than these pups. Their short coats are burr-proof, and they can adapt easily to hunt anything. Shorthaired pointers are excellent hunters, good at tracking cripples, and are energetic and goofy — characteristics of a great hunting companion. • Labrador Retriever: Labs are America’s favorite dog — and for a good reason! They’re friendly, great for families, and have a stupendous retrieving dive. They also adapt well to upland hunting, working in range, flushing birds for the gun, and vacuuming up cripples. • American Brittany: These dogs are a great choice for those looking for a compact pointing dog. They are small, most weigh 40 pounds or less, and most Brits hunt until they are 13 or 14. • English Setter: These dogs come in all shapes and sizes — some are bred to run big on quail plantations while others are designed for the foot hunter — so it’s important to choose your breeder carefully. Now that you’ve got your hunting dog, where are you going to enjoy your first hunt together? HLRBO has got you covered. Find your next hunting lease for free today. We’ll send you properties matching your criteria, and if you are interested in the property, you can contact the landowner directly with questions or to lease.