8 Small Hunting Dog Breeds (Highly Skilled Field Companions)

In times past, hunters found a hunting companion dog invaluable. The most popular small hunting dog breeds include the Beagle, French Brittany, American Water Spaniel, Brittany Spaniel, and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Not only did a hunting companion dog help to flush the game out of bushes, shrubs, trees, or even water, but the hunting companion dog would also retrieve much of the game for the hunter. In some cases, hunting companion dogs would assist in finding a felled game that had somehow gotten out of sight of the hunter. Prior to the hunt, these same dogs would help to track potential games. 

Very few individuals utilize dogs when hunting, with the exception of those who are hunting waterfowl. However, those that do still use a hunting companion dog find that these canines make the hunt a little more exciting, especially when they “tree” or “point” out a potential game. I listed 8 of the most common small hunting dog breeds including the facts about them below.

What are eight hunting dogs that are smaller in size?

There are eight hunting breeds that are considered small dog breeds. They include:

• the Beagle
• the French Brittany
• the American Water Spaniel
• the Brittany Spaniel
• the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
• the Small Munsterlander
• the Cocker Spaniel
• the Boykin Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is one of the best hunting dogs. It is named after the bird that the breed was utilized most to hunt. The Cocker Spaniel is one of the smallest hunting dog breeds today, but, typically, they are house pets rather than hunting companions. 

Although the Cocker Spaniel is a small dog, they truly shine when they perceive prey is in the thickest of cover. They pounce with all the bravery their tiny bodies can contain, and they would flush out a game with great enthusiasm. They are great bird hunting dogs, also called a gun dog. When trained properly, a Cocker Spaniel can be a versatile hunting dog.

The Cocker Spaniel was chiefly utilized to hunt the woodcock. The Cocker Spaniel is a very energetic dog that loves to work. Plus, he’ll work all day if you provide him with the opportunity. 

There are two variations of Cocker Spaniel—the English and the American. One can only tell a slight difference in the head shape of the Cocker Spaniel. However, American Cocker Spaniels tend to be friendlier than their English counterparts. 

The Cocker Spaniel is typically between 13.5 to 15.5 inches (this includes averages for both males and females; the male Cocker Spaniel will measure on the larger end of those numbers). The Cocker Spaniel will usually weigh between twenty to thirty pounds. 

The American Water Spaniel

The American Water Spaniel is a curly-haired dog breed that is known for its ability to flush game out of water. They are described as “flusher dogs.” They also retrieve fallen games, and, as such, they tend to work closely with their hunter handler. 

The American Water Spaniel is considered quite versatile, but the breed is highly inclined to retrieve. The breed is highly athletic as well as enthusiastic; however, the American Water Spaniel can be somewhat stubborn as well as shy around new people. 

The American Water Spaniel is chiefly a canine that is utilized to hunt, flush out, and retrieve waterfowl. They have a highly dense and waterproof coat that makes them perfect for such work. 

The American Water Spaniel is a highly intelligent dog breed that is full of energy as well as a tad bit of stubbornness. It is important to keep the breed active in order for the dog to be happy. 

It is also important to begin training the American Water Spaniel as early as possible. Overall, the breed is obedient and friendly when trained properly. 

The American Water Spaniel male is between thirty and forty-five pounds at adulthood; the female is much smaller, weighing twenty-five to forty pounds when fully grown. The American Water Spaniel typically stands between fifteen and eighteen inches at adulthood. 

The Beagle

The Beagle is one of the most popular small hunting dog breeds—or even one of the most popular dog breeds, period. They are hounds at heart, so they love tracking scents and they enjoy flushing out prey. The Beagle is a highly diverse hunting dog as they are originally bred for and have been utilized for hunting smaller game such as rabbits and foxes, but they have also been utilized for hunting large game such as deer. 

The Beagle is also highly popular because of its happy-go-lucky attitude. These pups are fun and smart. They can be taught to retrieve even though it is not their chief inclination. 

The Beagle was used to hunt rabbits, and the style of hunting used for this purpose was called “beagling.” They work well in pairs, and typically, they flush prey out of thick underbrush. 

The Beagle is a gentle and friendly breed that loves to interact with its hunter handlers. Training the Beagle should begin when they are fairly young. As a hound breed, they can are a stubborn dog breed, but consistent training should overcome any obstinate behavior on the part of the dog. Beagles are one of the small hunting dog breeds that love to interact with children, too. 

The Beagle is like other hunting dogs—they need a certain amount of activity each day in order to remain happy and healthy. 

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is also known as the “Toller.” This is one of the smallest retrieving dogs, and they are brilliant water dogs. Some will relate that the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a high-pitched “scream” that sets them apart from other hunting dogs. 

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is especially attuned to hunting in cold weather, and their coat protects them from the harsh, cold water. These dogs are chiefly flushers as well as retrieving. They were named for the way in which they would assist their human hunting handler in “tolling” ducks. 

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is best utilized for hunting waterfowl. However, they often worked to lure ducks in range of their human handler so that the hunter could get an accurate shot on the prey. 

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a very alert and an extremely intelligent breed. They are also highly patient. Like other retrieving dogs, they depend greatly on signals from their human hunting handlers. 

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is quite active, and, if human handlers do not offer the Toller the best balance of activity, the Toller can become destructive. Remember, as natural hunters and retrievers, the Toller is happiest when he is busy—or very tired from a busy day. 

The Toller can be less submissive than other retrieving dogs. They tend to be less friendly with strangers. 

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever stands anywhere from seventeen to twenty-one inches in height. Typically, regardless of whether the dog is male or female, the Duck Toller will weigh between thirty-five and fifty pounds. 

The Boykin Spaniel

The Boykin Spaniel is considered a smaller hunting dog, but it is one of the larger small hunting dog breeds. The Boykin Spaniel has a dense coat that protects their body as they swim in the water of varying temperatures. 

The Boykin Spaniel is a great flusher of game. However, they are known for taking their sweet time before they actually flush the game out. They do not need their human handler to offer commands before taking action. They are extremely versatile dogs as well. 

The Boykin Spaniel is also a highly adept retrieving dog. 

The Boykin Spaniel is exceptional at hunting both pheasants and quail. They are also used for flushing out and retrieving waterfowl. The Boykin Spaniel utilizes both scent and sight for the tracking game. 

Not only is the Boykin Spaniel a great hunting companion, but the breed is a wonderful family pet as well. The Boykin tends to get along well with all people, even strangers. The breed is very smart and they simply enjoy hard work. They are also great companion dogs outside the hunting field. 

The Boykin Spaniel tends to be between fifteen inches to eighteen inches in height at adulthood, and the breed weighs an average of twenty-five to forty pounds at adulthood. 

The Small Munsterlander

The Small Musterlander is a dog of German origin; it is not related to the Munsterlander other than they come from the same area in Europe. 

The Small Musterlander is known for its ability to do just about anything. These dogs are easily trained to flush out and then retrieve prey, and they can also be trained to point as well. 

These dogs are so versatile that they are equally adept hunters on both lands and in the water. 

The Small Munsterlander hunts just about any type of fowl a hunter can imagine. They are adept at hunting waterfowl, ducks, and the like, but they are also great for hunting upland birds. 

The Small Munsterlander is usually very attentive, which lends to their being highly trainable. They are extremely intelligent as well. The Small Munsterlander will require a great deal of DIY dog grooming, however. 

The Small Munsterlander is typically twenty to twenty-one inches in height and normally weighs between forty and sixty pounds. 

The French Brittany

The French Brittany is very similar to the American Brittany spaniel in its hunting style. They are known for their scent tracking abilities as well as their ability to point. 

The French Brittany Spaniel is a great, versatile dog for hunting both upland birds as well as waterfowl. 

The French Brittany is versatile, and they are highly intelligent as well as friendly. They are great family dogs as well as great competition hunting companions. 

The French Brittany typically stands between seventeen and twenty inches and they weigh between thirty and forty-five pounds. 

The Brittany

The Brittany Spaniel is a gundog whose initial purpose was as a hunting companion. The Brittany Spaniel is known for its penchant for pointing as well as being a flushing dog. 

The Brittany Spaniel is versatile and strong as well as highly intelligent. They are great family dogs, and they love to hunt a wide variety of games [1]. They are also highly adaptable. 

The American Brittany Spaniel is usually just over seventeen inches to just over twenty inches in height, and the average weight of a Brittany Spaniel is between thirty to forty pounds at adulthood. 

FAQs

1. What is the smallest breed of dog used for hunting?

The Cocker Spaniel is one of the smallest breeds of dogs that were once utilized as hunting companions. However, the Cocker Spaniel of today is more of a companion animal than a hunting companion. 

2. What is the smallest upland bird dog?

The Small Munsterlander, a German dog with a tendency to work as a pointer, is the smallest upland bird dog. 

3. What is the easiest breed of hunting dog to train?

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers tend to be the easiest to train. Both breeds look to their handlers for directions and they work well with their human hunting companions. 

4. What is a good hunting dog?

A good hunting dog is one that listens to commands, hunts enthusiastically, and is energetic on the hunting field.