When it comes to hunting birds, having a calm and obedient dog is crucial. Some dog breeds are naturally more excitable and high energy, which can lead to poor performance in the field. Other breeds have a more laidback temperament that lends itself better to patiently waiting for game to appear. So what dog breeds make the calmest, most consistent hunting companions when pursuing feathered quarry?
Breeds Known for Calm Temperaments
Certain dog breeds are prized for their mellow dispositions and their ability to remain focused and steady in distracting field conditions. These dogs typically have an “off switch” that allows them to conserve their energy and enthusiasm until it’s time to get to work. Here are some of the calmest and most collected breeds used for hunting birds:
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Boykin Spaniel
- English Springer Spaniel
- English Cocker Spaniel
- English Setter
- Irish Setter
- Brittany
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- German Wirehaired Pointer
- Vizsla
- Weimaraner
While individual dogs within a breed can vary in terms of energy level and temperament, these breeds are known for being able to think clearly and maintain self-control in hunting situations. They typically respond well to training and are focused workers in the field.
What Makes a Calm Hunting Dog?
Dogs that excel at hunting birds calmly and methodically tend to have certain traits and characteristics that make them well-suited for the task:
- Intelligence – They are smart enough to understand commands and respond appropriately in the field.
- Trainability – They take well to training and are eager to please their handlers.
- Self-control – They can control their energy and impulses until it’s time to spring into action.
- Patience – They have the patience to wait quietly for long periods of time.
- Focus – They stay alert and focused on the task at hand.
- Drive – They have strong hunting instinct but are not overexcitable.
- Athleticism – They have the stamina and athleticism to work tirelessly in the field.
The ideal bird hunting dog is obedient, eager to please, intelligent, and ready to work. But it also has an “off switch” that allows it to conserve energy and maintain calm while waiting for game. The best dogs strike the perfect balance between drive and self-control.
How to Develop a Calm Hunting Dog
Proper training and socialization from an early age can help produce a calm, focused hunting dog. Here are some tips:
- Expose the puppy to birds and gunfire in a controlled, positive way.
- Practice obedience commands daily to reinforce discipline.
- Don’t overwork or drill young dogs – keep sessions fun and engaging.
- Reward calm behavior and discourage excitable behavior.
- Provide plenty of exercise but also teach the dog to settle on command.
- Work on steadiness around distractions.
- Practice having the dog wait patiently in a blind.
- Use an experienced hunting dog as a role model.
The right amount of exposure, socialization, and training can help bring out the best calm, steady traits in your bird dog.
Best Calm Hunting Dogs by Category
While many breeds produce dogs with calm temperaments for bird hunting, some stand out as being particularly mellow in the field. Here are some top calm hunting breeds broken down by category:
Retrievers
In the retriever group, the Labrador Retriever is a perennial favorite due to its eager-to-please attitude, athleticism, and rock steady disposition. Although very energetic, Labs train easily to control their energy until sent to retrieve downed birds. They have a high drive to work, but are obedient and anxious to please their owners. For these reasons, Labs make ideal companions for duck, goose, and upland bird hunting.
The Golden Retriever is another top-notch retriever with a calm temperament. Goldens are highly intelligent and take well to training. They are excellent markers of downed birds. While enthusiastic hunters, they maintain great self-control in the field and can handle long, patient waits in blinds. Goldens excel at hunting waterfowl, turkey, and upland birds.
Spaniels
In the spaniel group, the Boykin Spaniel stands out as an ideal blend of drive and a calm demeanor. Bred specifically for turkey and duck hunting in the Wateree River Swamp of South Carolina, Boykins are robust hunting partners that work close and obediently. Their medium size gives them excellent agility in swampy terrain and thick brush. Boykins have the stamina to hunt all day, but they maintain steady, focused dispositions.
The English Cocker Spaniel is another calmer spaniel breed perfect for woodcock, grouse, and pheasant hunting. They have boundless energy for covering ground to flush birds, but their enthusiasm is tempered with responsiveness to commands. With their alert, confident demeanor and compact size, they excel at busting birds from heavy cover and thickets.
Pointers
In the pointing breed group, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a premier bird dog known for its intelligence, versatility, and cooperative attitude. GSPs are tireless athletes in the field, yet maintain ladylike composure when waiting on point or sitting patiently in a blind. Their desire to please coupled with their calm confidence make them ideal partners for pheasant, quail, grouse, and waterfowl hunts.
The English Setter is another rocksteady pointer known for its regal, elegant demeanor. Despite their boundless energy outdoors, setters are gentle companions that aim to please their owners. English Setters are intelligent, obedient dogs that work methodically and carefully in the upland fields. Their calm poise and intensity on point makes them ideal partners for grouse, woodcock and pheasant hunting.
Others
Some other calm and collected hunting breeds include:
- The Brittany, prized for its eager-to-please, happy-go-lucky attitude and tireless work ethic on upland birds.
- The Weimaraner, a versatile gun dog known for unflappable steadiness and graceful athleticism.
- The Irish Setter, a trainer’s delight with a good-natured enthusiasm for learning.
- The Vizsla, an affectionate Velcro dog with an off switch they can flip in the field.
The Ideal Temperament
While various breeds produce calm-mannered hunting dogs, the ideal bird dog has a specific blend of traits that allow it to excel in the field:
- Trainable and responsive to commands
- Eager to please with a high degree of obedience
- Intelligent and focused, but not hyperactive
- Steady and deliberate working style
- Exercises restraint and patience in the field
- Maintains control and composure around birds
- Enthusiastic hunter with plenty of drive and stamina
- Strong retrieving/flushing instinct, but not over-excitable
The perfect blend of self-control, intelligence, athleticism and drive is what makes certain breeds excel as calm and collected hunting companions. Proper training and experience also go a long way in developing a steady, unflappable bird dog.
Conclusion
When it comes to hunting birds, a calm dog with unwavering obedience is a priceless asset in the field. Breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Boykin Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers and English Cocker Spaniels are renowned for being mellow, biddable hunting partners. While drive and energy are crucial, discipline and a controllable temperament allow these dogs to harness their natural skills.
Beyond breed traits, early positive introductions to birds and guns, extensive obedience work, and exposure to hunting conditions allows these innate abilities to flourish. The result is a focused, steady hunter – a dog that patiently waits and watches, but explodes into action at the right moment. These calm, collected dogs achieve top performance in the field while maintaining the obedience and composure so important to effective bird hunting.