12 Best Hunting Dog Breeds — our top picks
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer: very high prey drive, very high athleticism and very high trainability — bred to work game and still built for it. Versatile, athletic hunting dog that excels at pointing, retrieving, and tracking. Known for boundless energy and strong work ethic. Worth knowing before you commit: the German Shorthaired Pointer needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Weimaraner
Weimaraner: very high prey drive, very high athleticism and high trainability — bred to work game and still built for it. The "Gray Ghost" - sleek, athletic hunting dog with striking silver-gray coat. Intelligent and energetic with strong hunting instincts. Worth knowing before you commit: the Weimaraner needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier: very high prey drive, very high athleticism and medium trainability — bred to work game and still built for it. Small, energetic hunting terrier with bold personality. Intelligent, fearless, and excellent working dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the Jack Russell Terrier needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Catahoula Leopard Dog: very high prey drive, very high athleticism and medium trainability. Louisiana state dog with striking coat patterns and glass eyes. Versatile working dog bred for herding wild hogs. Worth knowing before you commit: the Catahoula Leopard Dog needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Siberian Husky
Siberian Husky: high prey drive and very high athleticism. Medium-sized Arctic sled dog with striking appearance. Energetic, friendly, and excellent endurance athlete. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Siberian Husky needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Border Collie
Border Collie: high prey drive, very high athleticism and very high trainability. Supreme herding dog with intense work drive and intelligence. Often considered the most intelligent dog breed. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Border Collie needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Vizsla
Vizsla: high prey drive, very high athleticism and very high trainability. Elegant Hungarian pointer known as the "Velcro dog" for their close bond with owners. Athletic and affectionate. Worth knowing before you commit: the Vizsla needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Malinois: high prey drive, very high athleticism and very high trainability. Elite working dog with intense drive and athleticism. Preferred breed for military and police special operations. Worth knowing before you commit: the Belgian Malinois needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rhodesian Ridgeback: very high prey drive, very high athleticism and medium trainability. African lion hunter with distinctive ridge of hair on back. Strong, athletic, and independent breed. Worth knowing before you commit: the Rhodesian Ridgeback needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Brittany
Brittany: high prey drive, very high athleticism and very high trainability. Compact, athletic gundog with boundless energy. Eager to please and excellent family companion when properly exercised. Worth knowing before you commit: the Brittany needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamute: high prey drive and very high athleticism. Arctic sled dog built for endurance and strength. Independent, friendly, and excellent cold-weather companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Alaskan Malamute needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Airedale Terrier
Airedale Terrier: very high prey drive, high athleticism and medium trainability. King of Terriers - largest terrier breed with versatile abilities. Intelligent, confident, and excellent working dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Airedale Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or see which breed you look like from a single photo.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for hunters and working-dog owners
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a popular choice, but very low prey drive and very low athleticism put it at odds with hunters and working-dog owners.
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a popular choice, but very low prey drive and low athleticism put it at odds with hunters and working-dog owners. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Shih Tzu needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
English Bulldog
The English Bulldog is a popular choice, but low prey drive and very low athleticism put it at odds with hunters and working-dog owners. On top of that, the English Bulldog is stubborn enough that first-time owners often struggle.
Which dog do you look like?
Take one photo and an AI model tells you which of our 321 breeds you most resemble, and which features gave it away. Free, no account, and your photo is never stored. It is a game rather than advice — but every match links straight into that breed's real guide.
See which dog you look likeFrequently asked questions
- What is the best hunting dog breed?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks as the top choice for hunters and working-dog owners, followed by the Weimaraner and Jack Russell Terrier.
- How was this list of dogs for hunters and working-dog owners chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for hunters and working-dog owners — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. The same trait ratings are printed on each breed's own guide page, so you can check why a breed placed where it did.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for hunters and working-dog owners?
- The French Bulldog, The Shih Tzu, The English Bulldog all rank near the bottom for hunters and working-dog owners despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.