In the past, only those breeds that chase wild animals were called “hunting dogs”. Today all hunting companions are also official hunting dog breeds.
In some federal states in Germany it is even mandatory for hunters to have a certified hunting dog at their side. Basically they are divided into 6 categories:
- Pointing dogs
- Hunting dogs
- Bloodhounds
- Retriever dogs
- Earth dogs
- Browsing dogs
At least this is true according to the German Hunting Dog Association (JGHV). In other countries, hunting dogs are sometimes classified differently.
Below you will learn about all 60 hunting dog breeds that are officially recognized by the JGHV. At the very end you will also find a list of non-approved breeds.
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#1 Alpine Dachsbracke
Category: Bloodhound
The Alpine Dachsbracke is a hunting dog breed from Austria. The strong dog sheds little, is easy to train and barks a moderate amount. He needs a lot of exercise.
His excellent nose makes this four-legged friend the ideal sniffer dog for injured wild animals. The dachshund-like dog is ideal for hunting in mountains and at heights.
Fun fact: If these four-legged friends grow up with other pets, they develop a particularly strong protective instinct towards them.
#2 Barbet
Category: Pointing Dog
The Barbet is a brown hunting dog breed from France. With their obedient, sociable nature, the cute four-legged friends are suitable for both beginners and seniors.
The bearded four-legged friends get along well with heat and cold. They are open-minded towards children and dogs. However, they have difficulty staying alone.
Fun fact: When these dogs sleep on the sofa, you can hardly tell them apart from an XXL toy teddy bear.
#3 Bavarian Mountain Hound
Category: Bloodhound
This loyal hunting dog has its origins in Bavaria. He was bred as a tracking dog for hunting. With his super nose he reliably detects injured game.
The hardy four-legged friends need a lot of exercise and are moderately easy to train. They are not suited to city life and often suffer from separation anxiety.
Fun fact: So-called “sweat dogs” get their name not because they sweat a lot, but because they are experts at tracking down injured animals.
#4 Beagles
Category: Hunting Dog
The Beagle is a lovable sniffer dog from England. The hunting dog breed is considered the 6th most popular dog breed in the world. The animals live up to 15 years.
They are well suited to apartment living. They get along well with children, dogs and strangers. Beagles love lots of exercise and love to dig.
Fun fact: The name “Beagle” comes from French and translates roughly as “open mouth”. This breed of dog can ultimately make more than 20 different sounds.
#5 Black and Tan Coonhound
Category: pack dog
This hunting dog breed with long ears comes from the USA. The black and brown four-legged friends are suitable as tracking dogs for hunting raccoons and wild animals.
These four-legged friends are not suitable for beginners. They need consistent training and lots of exercise. These active dogs are better suited as work animals.
Fun fact: Many women use special shampoo that makes their hair particularly shiny. This is not necessary with the Black and Tan Coonhound. The fur here is naturally shiny, which makes many people jealous.
#6 Bloodhound
Category: pack dog
The Bloodhound is considered one of the best tracking dogs among all hunting dog breeds. With 300 million olfactory cells, the four-legged friend smells many times better than us humans.
The active, stubborn four-legged friend is difficult to train and needs a lot of activity. As a pack animal, he really enjoys having other dogs around him.
Fun fact: Be careful all women. A Bloodhound can smell whether you're on your period from 10 meters away. His snout often goes between your legs.
#7 Brandlbracke
Category: Hunting Dog
This elegant hunting dog breed comes from Austria. It is also known as “Vieräugl” because the four-legged friend has two brown patches of fur above its eyes.
The animals are moderately trainable. They need a lot of exercise and will not be happy if they cannot run freely. They are therefore not suitable for city life.
Fun fact: This breed has “brand” in its name because its fur is the color of burnt wood.
#8 Braque d'Auvergne
Category: Pointing Dog
This adaptable hunting dog breed from France also makes a good family dog. The four-legged friends are very easy to care for and playful.
They get along well with children, dogs, other pets, and even strangers. The rare breed is very obedient and easy to train. Even beginners get along well with it.
Fun fact: “Mom, look at a Dalmatian!” – Um, not quite. Although Dalmatians are the most well-known spotted dogs, there are other breeds as well.
#9 Braque de l'Ariege
Category: Pointing Dog | Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This energetic hunting dog breed from France is very large and resilient. The four-legged friends need a lot of attention and have a strong herding instinct.
They bark a lot, loudly and deeply. This makes them less suitable for apartment life. The floppy-eared four-legged friends have no problems with children and strange dogs.
Fun fact: “Do you prefer chestnut or liver?” Yep, those are the official color descriptions of this breed.
#10 Braque du Bourbonnais
Category: Pointing Dog
The Braque du Bourbonnais comes – as the name suggests – from France. The hunting dog breed is relatively rare and was bred specifically for hunting.
It is less of a family dog and is suitable for keeping in an apartment. The four-legged friends are very intelligent, learn quickly and want to work. They need a lot of exercise.
Fun fact: No matter how fearless these dogs may look when hunting, as soon as they are left alone, they will cower in fear in a corner.
#11 Braque Saint Germain
Category: Pointing Dog | Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This loving hunting dog breed from France specializes in birds. Nevertheless, she is also suitable as a family dog. The four-legged friends get along well with children.
The breed, which is rather rare today, was in the 18th and 19th centuries. Century very popular. The animals get along well with other dogs. They bark little and are very trainable.
Fun fact: The normal gait of this breed is gallop. They are therefore less suitable for a leisurely walk on a leash.
#12 Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Category: Retriever
This four-legged friend is a water dog, meaning it specializes in hunting waterfowl and can swim particularly well. His fur is waterproof and he has webbed feet.
The hunting dog breed is also popular as a family dog. In appearance, the four-legged friend resembles a Labrador with curly fur. The animals are alert and stubborn in nature.
Fun fact: Attention, energy junkies! When they are young, these dogs like to let out their energy by jumping around wildly.
#13 Curly Coated Retriever
Category: Retriever
This intelligent hunting dog breed from England was bred to hunt land and waterfowl. The curly-haired dog is also suitable as a family dog.
He is trusting and loyal to his family. He gets along well with children and dogs. The good swimmer has an easy-care coat and loves lots of activity and action.
Fun fact: The fur on these dogs' faces is completely smooth. On the other hand, they have strong curls on the rest of their bodies.
#14 Dachshund
Category: Earth Dog
The clever dachshund was bred in Germany. The hunting dog breed was primarily used to hunt badgers. His figure is great for crawling into the badger's den.
The sausage-shaped dog comes in different types of fur and sizes. There are a total of 9 species of Dachshunds. The little furry friend is well suited to keeping in apartments.
Fun fact: Did you know that particularly stupid and clumsy people are also referred to as “Dachshunds”? So it would be better if you called the four-legged friend “Dachshund”.
#15 German Wirehaired Pointer
Category: Pointing Dog
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a hunting dog breed. The spiky-haired four-legged friend lives up to 14 years, sheds little and is easy to train. He barks moderately and needs a lot of exercise.
The four-legged friends find it difficult to stay alone and often suffer from separation anxiety. They are trusting family dogs that are often skeptical of strangers.
Fun fact: Due to their gray fur and mustache, these dogs often make an old impression even at a young age.
#16 German Shorthaired Pointer
Category: Pointing Dog
The German Shorthaired Pointer is not only a great hunting dog breed, but with its good nose it is also ideal as a police dog. His instinct is great on land and in the water.
The animals are also excellent swimmers. They even have webbed feet between their toes. As a family dog, they are only suitable for active, sporty people.
Fun fact: This hunting dog is one of the few sniffer dogs that follows a scent with its head raised. Almost all other dogs sniff out a trail with their noses on the ground.
#17 German Longhair
Category: Pointing Dog
This good-natured dog comes from Germany and belongs to the hunting dog breeds. Today, the highly trainable four-legged friend is more likely to be kept as a family dog.
German Longhairs love to play with children and are very versatile. They are friendly towards strangers and have only a moderate hunting instinct.
Fun fact: “Is this a GLP, GSP or GWP?” – This is how the related breeds of the German Longhaired Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer and German Wirehaired Pointer are abbreviated in the USA.
#18 German Stichelhaar
Category: Pointing Dog
This hunting dog breed with the funny name is one of the large dogs with a shoulder height of 70 cm. The versatile hunting dog is moderately easy to train and sheds little.
He requires a lot of attention and is prone to an above-average number of illnesses. The four-legged friend gets along well with dogs and children. He barks little and needs a lot of exercise.
Fun fact: These dogs have bristles rather than hair in the chest area. It feels very strange when you stroke it.
#19 German Hound
Category: Hunting Dog
This German hunting dog breed is ideal for following tracks and is usually kept in a pack (“Brackade”). These hunting dogs are often trained using a horn.
The obedient four-legged friends are well suited as guard and family dogs. They get along well with children and are ideal for first-time owners. They are intelligent and learn quickly.
Fun fact: While some dogs can last up to 18 hours…