The best hunting dogs, what are they? Each sandpiper praises his swamp, and the hunter his dog. One thing is certain - a dog intended for hunting must have certain talents, such as keen hearing, a sensitive nose and a sharp eye. Good endurance and unquestioning obedience also play an important role in assessing her qualities.
Which breed to choose
When choosing a dog for hunting, you need to pay special attention to its temperament and working qualities.
In most dogs, loyalty to their owner is genetic. In professional terms, everything is more complicated: everyone’s purpose is different (again, genetics are to blame). Thus, burrowing dogs are best suited for hunting badgers, pointers are best for hunting birds, and huskies are best suited for hunting bears and wild boars. When choosing a hunting partner, you must remember that a universal dog does not exist.
About the use of dogs on water bodies
Laikas are often used when hunting waterfowl. The main task of the dog is to track down a bird hiding in the bushes. The pet then sneaks up on the prey and jumps to scare it away.
Use in ponds
The flying bird falls into the fire line area. All that is required from the hunter is a well-aimed shot. The dog will also bring killed game.
Laika is a unique breed and an irreplaceable assistant. The main thing is to have the right approach to choosing a puppy and its further training. In case of any difficulties or insufficient experience, it is better to entrust the training to a specialist.
Burrows
The main job of burrowing dogs is to search for animals such as a raccoon dog or a fox in their home. Having discovered prey, she either drives them out of the hole under the gun, or crushes them herself, pulls them out and brings them to the hunter. Individual qualities of burrowing dogs: aggression towards the animal, independence and fearlessness.
Wire Fox Terrier
This breed was originally bred for hunting, so instincts often appear at the wrong time. They enjoy chasing cats and birds, so you should take your pet for a walk on a leash. Foxes are very temperamental, active and capricious. They require a responsible approach to education and physical activity.
Even though the fox terrier is a hunting dog, he will not refuse to play with the child, but their fuss must be monitored and never left alone.
Many representatives of this breed love to bark and have a well-developed defensive reaction, so when punishing a dog, be careful.
In general, the Fox Terrier is a cheerful, loyal and responsible hunting partner.
These dogs' fur is trimmed.
Smooth Fox Terrier
It is distinguished from Wirehaired Terriers only by its coat type. They are also devoted to the family and adequate to children, but they themselves require no less reciprocal care. They are very jealous and will fight for the sole attention of the owner if there are other pets in the house.
These small hunting dogs are quite aggressive and often bully their brothers during walks, even if they are much larger than the bully.
With proper upbringing, your pet will become an indispensable hunting companion and an assistant in getting the animal out of its hole.
This breed is recommended for people leading an active lifestyle. But she is not suitable as a dog “on the sofa”; her hunting instincts are ineradicable.
Dachshund
The breed has three varieties: smooth-haired, long-haired or rabbit-haired and wire-haired.
Her little body combines such incompatible qualities as a pet - loving warmth, comfort and affection, and a brave hunter, ready to pursue prey even in the fierce frost, not paying attention to pain and fatigue.
A dachshund with the same dexterity can pull a fox out of a hole and get game from a pond. If you wish, you can train her on the trail and teach her how to hunt black grouse.
The dachshund's specialty is the fox, since the badger and raccoon can be dangerous for it due to its larger size.
A common disease of this breed is discopathy.
Cops
These are bird hunting dogs. A cop's instincts will help you spot game even in the swampy areas of vast lands. Pointers help hunt waterfowl, field birds, pine birds and marsh birds.
Poitner
According to those who like to shoot wild birds, this breed is excellent for such hunting. They have well developed hunting instincts.
Possessing a sensitive nose, he is able to smell game from a great distance. Having sensed prey, the poitner will freeze in its stance and point with its head in the direction where the bird is hiding.
English Setter
Having discovered game, the setter will freeze, raising one paw and stretching out its tail. Also, when approaching a bird, it presses a little to the ground; the closer the bird is, the lower the hunting dog sinks.
Irish Setter
A distinctive feature of the “Irish” is its mahogany-colored coat. The setter is usually used as a gun dog.
During the hunt, the dog behaves actively, is capable of developing high speed, and works well both in swampy areas and in fields and forests. They are able to get through the most impenetrable thickets.
Scottish Setter
This is a worthy example of how one dog can combine the qualities of a devoted friend and a passionate hunter.
The setter is suitable even for an inexperienced lover, since these hunting dogs are quite independent and intelligent. This gun dog is capable of detecting game in large open spaces. It works well on water, but it performs best on land.
Kurzhaar
The main characteristic of the breed is that it can be used not only for poultry, but also for hunting fur-bearing animals.
Thanks to his innate instincts, he does not need to be specially trained for this. These dogs are disciplined and strong, resilient and intelligent. The shorthaired pointer is a passionate hunter; in search of prey, bad weather and cold cannot interfere with him; he completely devotes himself to his favorite work.
Draathar
First of all, this is a pointer, which means its calling is partridge and quail. But she can just as successfully hunt upland game (badger, pheasant and even ungulates).
Draathars are not afraid of cold weather thanks to their fur, and do not freeze even in icy water. He is an excellent swimmer, and thanks to his talent for fetching, he is incomparable with other breeds.
Langhaar
This hunting dog is mainly suitable for duck hunting, as it swims well, has a warm “fur coat”, and easily finds and retrieves game even from dense thickets and swamps.
Burrs and thorns cling to the thick and wavy coat, which causes certain problems. In their work, they are inferior to smooth-coated cops in terms of search speed and strength of scent.
Hunting for black grouse and wood grouse
With the opening of the summer-autumn hunting season (second half of August), the work of the husky on the young of these species is basically the same. The dog raises the brood, sees how the birds are sitting in the trees, and begins to bark at one of them.
Young black grouse and wood grouse usually freeze when barked and it can be difficult to see them in the crown of a tree. As black grouse grow up, they no longer tolerate barking at all. Taking a black grouse from under a husky in the second half of September is a great success. Wood grouse, on the contrary, as they grow up, cease to be afraid of the dog, look at it from above with curiosity, “click”, “cross,” as if teasing the dog’s powerless anger.
And the husky must be deliberately acting out his rage, knowing full well that the more he diverts the capercaillie’s attention to himself, the easier it is for the owner to get the right shot. Only now you need to approach carefully, because, having heard a person, the capercaillie can fly away. The wood grouse should be shot from under the dog in the side along the wing. A shot in the chest or under the tail will make a heavy wounded man who may not be found.
Likes
Northern dogs for hunting and sledding. Friendly animals with a sharp mind and grace. They are naturally curious and independent. They love to walk in the open air, driving their owners to exhaustion. In everyday life, they are not picky and quite clean.
Russian-European
Laika is valued for its calm disposition and endurance. Thanks to her excellent sense of smell, she instantly picks up the scent and tracks down the animal.
It is possible to hunt wild boar, elk, bear, beaver and bird with a husky. Chasing the beast is the meaning of life for her; she is ready to do what she loves in any bad weather. Russian-European Laikas are extremely active and energetic. They are characterized by a black and white color and powerful muscles.
West Siberian
West Siberian Laikas are perhaps the best hunting dogs. They are able to move silently and drive out any, even large, animal.
These brave pets will not retreat from the onslaught of another animal, even if it is much larger. Usually they are trained on one type of game and thereby increase the efficiency of hunting.
Karelo-Finnish
Despite its size (up to 50 cm at the withers), it is in no way inferior to its large relatives. This dog is agile and passionate in hunting, has an innate viciousness towards the beast and amazing endurance.
This dog is used to hunt almost any animal. Its task is to bark to raise the prey and try to detain it until people arrive.
By nature, this is a playful, affectionate and kind animal, infinitely loyal to the family in which it lives.
Choosing a dog
Depending on what breed of hound you choose, and whether it will be a cable or a bitch, the process of training and hunting itself depends. For example, the vyzhlovka is easier to train, it is less pugnacious and has a more sonorous voice. The survivors, in turn, are larger and more vicious. They are, as a rule, bolder than bitches and more amenable to the hare, but at the same time they are more difficult to train and maintain.
The hound is certainly the best dog for hunting hare, but let's look at which breed is best for you below. Among all hound dogs, only 3 breeds are in greatest demand in Russia, these are: Russian Hound, Russian Legion Hound, and Estonian Hound.
Estonian hound
The last one is worth highlighting separately. Its main difference from the first two breeds is the small height (up to 52 cm) for the hound, which makes it difficult for it to hunt a hare in loose snow. And although the dog is practically in no way inferior to its taller brothers, short stature is the main reason why this breed is not very popular in Russia.
But the Estonian breed is very popular in its homeland in Estonia and in some regions of Ukraine. This is due to low precipitation levels in winter. Therefore, if you live in the southern regions of Russia and areas with low rainfall, this breed is perfect for you. The advantages of the Estonian hound include the fact that it is easier to keep in an apartment.
Anglo-Russian or Russian Hound
As for the Anglo-Russian and Russian hounds, these two breeds are almost equivalent in character, viciousness and hunting efficiency. And although today there is a lot of debate about which dog is better for hunting hare, there are practically no significant differences between these two breeds. But still, let's look at some of them.
Anglo-Russian hound
First of all, I would like to note that, according to many experts, the Russian piebald is more vicious in relation to the wolf. And, although a well-trained Russian Hound is no less tenacious towards this beast, the percentage of piebald dogs is slightly higher. For this reason, this particular breed is one of the main ones when hunting wolves. But since we are looking for the best dog for hunting hare, this indicator does not matter.
A key factor in favor of the Russian hound in hare hunting is the fact that it has less weight, so the likelihood of knocking off its paws when hunting on frozen ground is much less. In general, RPGs are more angry than RGs and have a more melodic voice. Russian hounds, in turn, have a wider search and from it you can often understand by what animal she is working and whether she is sitting on it.
Russian hound
In general, in terms of the quality of hare work, these two blood breeds of dogs show almost identical results. The success of the hunt depends on where the puppy was taken and how it was baited. It is worth noting that indicatively working dogs are more common in RPGs, but poorly working dogs are also quite common. This is primarily due to the fact that the breed is quite young and is still partially at the stage of formation. In this regard, the Russian Hound is much more stable than its hybrid competitor.
Hounds
The responsibilities of a hound during a hunt are to find the trail of four-legged game and drive it until it is completely exhausted, or until it is driven out to the hunter.
Russian hound
Russian hunting dogs are balanced and indifferent to other domestic animals. Very hardy animals, capable of chasing an animal for days on end, and after a short rest, they are again full of strength. They rush without making out the road, so that the game has no time to confuse the trail.
Russian piebald hound
Thanks to its innate instincts, the Russian piebald unerringly navigates the forest and picks up the scent. And possessing strength and endurance, it easily pursues prey and brings it towards a person.
The cops accompany the rut with a loud bark, and the hunter understands the progress of the hunt by the timbre of the dog's voice. Hounds have a unique melodious bark and know how to play with it, thereby “telling” their actions to the owner. Most often, this breed is used to corral hare, elk or wild boar.
Greyhounds
Swift running, sharp eyesight and an athlete's physique allow these hunting dogs not only to hunt down prey, but also to bring it to the owner. Firearms are not used when hunting with greyhounds.
Russian canine
The best hunting dogs of this subspecies. Tall (up to 85 cm at the withers), graceful and fragile in appearance, they are actually very strong and resilient.
Capable of reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h. They are always ready to fight a stronger animal; they hunt hares, foxes and even wolves with them. The Russian canine is capable of catching and capturing an animal with lightning speed and bringing it to the hunter. If the prey tries to hide, the owner gives a sound signal and the dog completely focuses on the fleeing animal, and until it disappears from sight, the greyhound reduces the distance to a minimum and makes a swift jump.
The greyhound can be called a double-minded dog; at home it is affectionate and quiet, but it changes radically at work, revealing aggression and irrepressible energy.
The training of hunting dogs should be carried out directly by the owners, and it must begin at puppyhood. You cannot pamper your pet and indulge all its whims, otherwise you may end up with an uncontrollable and wayward animal.
In conclusion, we can add that the best hunting dogs are graceful, intelligent and devoted animals that require special care and responsibility, special training and great physical activity.
Hunting with hounds: what is important to remember
Much depends on the activity of one or more dogs. The most ideal time to hunt is autumn or winter. The main thing is that there is a little snow. In humid weather, dogs can smell well, especially when there is dew. When it's dry and frosty, it's harder for them to pick up the trail.
When hunting a hare with hounds in winter, it is better that the tracks are on recently fallen snow while they are still fresh. With multi-day trails, everything is much more complicated. It is best to hunt in the morning and in humid air. In wind and rain it is completely useless. And you need to choose a forest where there are few or no wolves, because the dogs begin to fight with them when they meet them.
How does the corral happen?
Dogs chase a hare through the forest with their voices and thereby show its location to the hunter. It is important to notice where he will run. The animal can run in circles and knows many tricks on how to deceive predators:
- The hare can meander, return to its old path of tracks, and then turn and fork the path like a railway fork. They do this two and three times.
- Sometimes they jump away from their tracks at right angles up to 4 meters.
- In autumn, scythes try not to run through the forests because the leaves make noise.
- They never run under a ravine, so as not to create a dead end.
- They confuse or break their tracks.
- Running away from the dogs, the hare makes different circles. When there is wind, they are uneven due to the fact that it carries the barking of dogs, and the hare meanders more. If he is running away from fast dogs, the circles are large and even, while from slow dogs they are short and crooked.
- The prey not only runs away from the dog, sometimes it jumps to the side and quietly waits for the hound to run further along a fresh trail. When she runs, the hare runs back, weaving and looking for a secret place where he will not be found.
Hunting dogs must smell the scent of a hare, find it and start chasing it. Hunters prefer to either run with the dogs, or simply wait for the prey to return to its circle. However, this does not always happen: the hare itself gets entangled in its tracks.
When the animal returns to its circle, you need to shoot at it. Several people usually participate in the hunt. People are not far apart from each other, but as soon as they hear a dog barking, they immediately become silent and go towards it, and then in different places they wait for the scythe to return to its circle. If a bird flies into the air, you cannot shoot it, otherwise the dogs will stop running after the hare.
What requirements must dogs meet?
If the dog is poorly trained, it will frighten the hare and lose it, and the hunt will become uninteresting. It should not be too fast and not too slow. When the dog runs at medium speed, the hare stops to think and is more easily shot.
A hound dog quickly gets used to a white or black trail; it does not like being sent on different tasks, so it is better to initially prepare it for one type of trail. The main thing is to train the dog correctly so that it does not get confused on the spot.
