What do you think is the best breed for hunting? I have a friend with germain shorthaired pointer and he said its good for hunting birds and deer, anyone who's a hunter here? He said hunters can really be so attached to their dogs, even sacrificing their personal lives for their dogs. Are there hunters here? Would love to hear from you too.

This depends on what do you hunt. I can tel you for sure that if you are in squirrel and raccoon huniting, the West Siberian Laika would be the best choice. This dog hunts with you and for you, every puppy starts finding his own ssuirrels naturally by age of 4-10 months and, when mature, can be taken to hunt black bear, moose or wild boar as well. If you have a house on land and well forested areas nearby, Laika would be the best choice. Laika learns duck retrieving, too.

My husband & son coon hunt and they use a walker, we also used to have a cur. It really does depend on what you are hunting and what & how you train them to hunt. Most everyone I know that hunts bear,coon,deer,etc. uses
walkers,curs,black & tan,plott,blue tick, & red tick. When a dog is hunting for a bear or coon you have to have a dog that is willing and ready to fight for their life. All breeds of hounds have the knowledge & scent to track. But if want to hunt something that's not an agrressive animal like a duck or birds you can use a retriever, pointer, setter, etc.

I see talk of Pointers in this thread so I have a question for those that know pointers. My dog is a mix between and English Pointer and an English Setter. We don't hunt so he is not trained to. His nose is always sniffing out things. My question is about his sense of hearing. Now don't laugh, but when he hears a noise he can't seem to tell where it is coming from. He will hear birds and he stops and looks in the opposite direction. Its that way with any noises he hears outside. When we play hide and seek with him, forget it, he gets so confused he won't play even for good treats. Does this seem normal for a pointer mix? (By the way even though he is a mix, he looks like the breed picture for a pointer.)

Hi, I would say with 100% a labrador retriever if you can find one from a good breeder and are able to meet the parents. They are the "best" in my opinion all around dog, great with kids, watch dog, hunter and just are happy to please. They are also easy maintance the only thing is they are a puppy (meaning chew or dig a bit longer) but I can tell you I will never have another dog they are SO SO smart, loyal and obideant. My puppies are retrieving on the average of 7 weeks.

they are retrievers not hunters - there is a difference. a lab is not going to tree too many coons, or sniff out too many rabbits I can guarantee you.

they are also the absolute worst shedders on the planet

retrieving at 7 weeks huh? so does just about every other puppy breathing, it's called playing.

Well, you're wrong there. Raspberry to you.

I don't hunt. However, my yellow Lab loves nothing more than to sniff out a rabbit from its hiding place and race it and corner it somewhere. I don't know how he'd be with coons, but he trees squirrels whenever he gets the chance, he's super-fast, and the murder of crows in the neighborhood are even afraid of him.

My Lab responds appropriately when I call him off; but he'd be happy to chase and grab all the squirrels and bunnies in the neighborhood at will if he was allowed.

wine scamp

boar hunting seems to be popular in america.
ive heard of am/staffs being used ,the airedale terrier is fearless .
i think to hunt boar they use a terrier type along with what ive heard is the ultimate hunter the dogo argentino.
im sure they were specifically bred for this and if the thread starter is really interested on this subject id google the dogo.
i know there is some facinating hunting stories on them.

Originally Posted by suebgone

they are retrievers not hunters - there is a difference. a lab is not going to tree too many coons, or sniff out too many rabbits I can guarantee you.

they are also the absolute worst shedders on the planet

retrieving at 7 weeks huh? so does just about every other puppy breathing, it's called playing.

i really dont know what experience you have had with labs but i can tell you ,you post is probably guaranteed on what youve read.
been there done it with the lab,they can hunt,excell at retrieving,trust me .