In some federal states in Germany, a certified hunting dog is even mandatory for hunters. However, not every hunting dog breed is suitable for beginners.
All breeds have their advantages and disadvantages. Depending on their purpose, they are divided into 6 different categories by the German Hunting Dog Association (JGHV):
- Hunting dogs
- Bloodhounds
- Pointing dogs
- Retriever dogs
- Browsing dogs
- Earth dogs [1]
On our website you will also find an article about all hunting dog breeds. Below you will learn about 27 hunting dogs for young hunters and their characteristics.
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#1 Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is an easy-to-train hunting dog for beginners. The four-legged friend comes from Thuringia and was bred specifically to hunt larger wild animals. [2]
The short-haired four-legged friend is energetic, alert and prone to stubbornness. The beautiful dog lives up to 14 years and usually has blue or gray eyes.
There are also specimens with longer fur, but these are relatively rare. Originally, in the past only the nobility were allowed to keep such animals.
Today, the agile four-legged friends are particularly popular with active owners. They are the 36th most popular dog breeds worldwide. If you like action, this dog is the right choice for you.
Fun fact: “Did someone break in?” – “No, my Weimaraner opened the door again and ran away.” To prevent this from becoming your nightmare, you should always make sure that the doors are locked.
#2 Gordon Setter
The Gordon Setter is a hunting dog breed with long floppy ears. The large black dog is particularly suitable as a hunting dog for beginners. He is highly trainable and willing.
The Scottish hound was bred to hunt birds. If he is socialized early, he makes a good family dog. But you should be careful with small children.
The Gordon Setter is reluctant to tolerate awkward behavior. He has a strong hunting instinct and needs a lot of exercise. A house with a garden is recommended for this animal. [3]
This four-legged friend is also well suited as a guard dog. He is very adaptable and gets by on little sleep. However, it is not suitable for couch potatoes.
Fun fact: While other breeds mature after just nine months, these four-legged friends need three years and usually behave playfully until the end of their lives.
#3 Labrador Retrievers
The Labrador Retriever is a popular dog breed from England. This beginner hunting dog was originally bred to hunt all kinds of birds. He's great to train.
Since the four-legged friend is very intelligent and multi-faceted, he is also very popular as a family dog. He is also often trained as a therapy or guide dog. [4]
The retriever species comes in three colors: black, brown and beige. The beautiful animals need a lot of exercise and shed a lot. They like to bark a lot.
Since the four-legged friends are very voracious, they often tend to become overweight if they eat the wrong food. As a rule, they are active, agile dogs and great swimmers.
Fun fact: A dog who likes to swim surely likes to take a bath, right? – Unfortunately no. Labrador Retrievers are known to be very reluctant to take a shower.
#4 Vizsla
The good-natured Vizsla from Hungary is a versatile dog for active owners. The hunting dog is well suited for beginners or young hunters. He is easy to train and doesn't shed much. [5]
This dog breed is now among the top 40 most popular dogs worldwide. The Vizsla comes with both short and long fur – “wire-haired” with a beard.
A large garden and long walks are recommended for this energetic four-legged friend. The four-legged friend can reach speeds of up to 64 km/h and is a good swimmer.
The four-legged friend is trusting and calm towards the family. He gets along well with children, tolerates strange dogs and generally has no problems with strangers.
Fun fact: The eyes of these four-legged friends resemble a chameleon. While they usually have blue eyes at birth, their eyes become increasingly orange-brown as they go through puberty.
#5 German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a sniffer dog breed from Germany. The hunting dog is well suited for young hunters. He is very easy to train and has a strong hunting instinct. [6]
His nose is excellent both on land and in water. The four-legged friend is brave, cooperative and intelligent. But it is also one of the louder dog breeds.
The German Shorthaired Pointer doesn't just cut a fine figure as a hunting dog. Its versatility makes it suitable as a guard dog, sled dog and bomb-sniffing dog.
The beautiful, trusting dog is even well suited as a family dog for active families. The four-legged friend is often skeptical and reserved towards children.
Fun fact: This active breed is one of the rare sniffer dogs that follows a scent with its head raised. Dogs usually sniff the ground while running.
#6 English Pointer
The English Pointer is an active, persistent hunting dog breed with a very strong hunting instinct. The four-legged friend is a great hunting dog for beginners and is easy to train. [7]
This dog also does a good job as a family or guard dog. He is friendly, loyal and obedient. He gets along well with children and likes strange dogs.
This active animal is not suitable for apartment life. The English Pointer needs a lot of exercise and a garden in which it can let off steam. He doesn't like loneliness.
In general, these animals need a lot of physical and mental activity. When they are bored they tend to gnaw, dig and bark.
Fun fact: Attention, whip! If these dogs are happy, you should especially keep your small children safe. Because their rod becomes a wagging weapon.
#7 Black and Tan Coonhound
The Black and Tan Coonhound comes from the USA and was bred as a tracking dog for hunting larger wild animals. The four-legged friends are easy to train and have a strong hunting instinct.
Due to their hunting instinct, these dogs should always be kept on a leash in appropriate places. In principle, these hunting dogs are also suitable for beginners. [8]
Since the four-legged friends need a lot of exercise and bark a lot, they are less suitable for apartment keeping. A consistent, dominant upbringing is very important here.
Black and Tan Coonhounds are – as their name suggests – always black with brown spots. They have difficulty staying alone and get along excellently with children.
Fun fact: The floppy ears of these four-legged friends are so long that they sound like hits when the dogs shake themselves.
#8 Griffon d'arrêt à poil dur Korthals
The four-legged friend with this bizarre name is a bearded dog with a strong hunting instinct. This breed of dog barks a lot and needs a lot of exercise. They are alert and proud. [9]
The hunting dogs are also known as “Korthals Griffon” and are particularly popular as a hunting dog breed for beginners and young hunters. Although the animals shed little, they are not allergy-free.
Saliva and dander from these dogs are suspected of surprising their owners with nasty allergies. Griffons are great guard dogs and like country life.
The loyal four-legged friends are not so well suited to keeping apartments in the city. They often suffer from separation anxiety and find it difficult to be left alone.
Fun fact: Griffon d'arrêt à poil dur Korthals are the canine ones Flamingos. Why? Because they are known for standing on three legs with the other one bent.
#9 Flat Coated Retriever
The Flat Coated Retriever is a great hunting dog for beginners. The four-legged friend from England is easy to train and has an optimistic, very obedient nature. [10]
The four-legged friend is suitable for hunting on land and water as well as as a family dog. The Flat Coated Retriever comes in black or brown.
It is one of six species of retriever. Although the four-legged friend barks urgently at strangers, he still greets everyone in a friendly manner. This makes him not a good choice as a guard dog.
This retriever is very suitable as a family dog for families with children and other dogs. He gets along excellently with them and is sociable and friendly.
Fun fact: The Flat Coated Retriever is also colloquially known as the “Peter Pan dog”. Just like Peter, this four-legged friend would also prefer to never grow up.
#10 English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is an intelligent, playful dog. He is very easy to train, sheds a moderate amount and has a very strong hunting instinct. [11]
This makes this an ideal hunting dog for young hunters. It has always been used for hunting birds or as a tracking dog. This is the fastest of the 28 Spaniel species.
The four-legged friend is one of the top 30 most popular breeds worldwide. In England it is even in third place. The spaniel is not only a great hunting dog, but also a companion.
The four-legged friend gets along very well with children and other pets if he gets used to them early on. He is trusting and very friendly towards strangers.
Fun fact: As a rule, English Springer Spaniels are very calm companions. However, if you leave them alone, they often bridge their loneliness with loud barking and yelping.
#11 Large Münsterländer
The Great Münsterländer is a German dog breed with a strong hunting instinct. This makes the animals ideal hunting dogs for beginners. The dogs are versatile. [12]
In addition to their hunting qualities, the Münsterlanders are also suitable as protection dogs. The hunting dog breed is not recommended for keeping in the apartment.
Four-legged friends often react skeptically towards strangers. However, the dogs have no problem with children or strange dogs. They are good companions for seniors.
The Large Münsterländer gets by on little sleep and is generally voracious. Most specimens in black and white or black and brown often become overweight.
Fun fact: You have to motivate many dogs to eat. These four-legged friends, on the other hand, never leave a bowl empty.
#12 Irish Red Setter
The Irish Red Setter is an active, sociable four-legged friend from Ireland. Due to its strong hunting instinct, the dog makes a great hunting dog for beginners. [13]
With his sociable nature, the Irish Setter is easy to train. He barks very little and can be used as a family or therapy dog. The dog is unsuitable as a guard dog.
The beautiful four-legged friend with the long, silky fur sheds a lot and needs a lot of activity. The four-legged friend should be exhausted both mentally and physically.
Even as adult dogs, the Irish behave…