Best Dog for Pheasant Hunting: Labs, Setters and Griffons
Best dog for pheasant hunting? For most hunters it is a flushing Labrador retriever: Pheasants Forever calls the Lab "perhaps the most versatile hunting dog of all" and the most popular breed among its members. If you prefer birds held on point, an English setter or a versatile breed like the wirehaired pointing griffon is the classic pick.
Below we compare flushers, pointers and versatile dogs, then look at four proven pheasant breeds. Proud of your bird dog? Browse our hunting dog shirts with your dog's name.
Best dog for pheasant hunting: flusher, pointer or versatile?
Pheasants Forever, the upland conservation group, profiles 38 proven breeds for upland hunting and starts with a blunt point: for serious upland hunters, hunting pheasants without a bird dog "is a path to frustration, futility and no fun" (Pheasants Forever: Bird Dogs). Pick the hunting style first, then the breed:
| Type | How it hunts (Pheasants Forever) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Flushing dog | Works cover close to the hunter, within shotgun range, and puts birds into the air. Many are natural retrievers. | Labrador retriever, English springer spaniel |
| Pointing dog | Cruises a little or a lot out of shotgun range; when it finds a bird it "locks up" and points, and the hunter walks in for the flush. | English setter, Llewellin setter, Brittany |
| Versatile dog | Tracks, points and retrieves on land and water. | Wirehaired pointing griffon |
Pheasants are famous for running ahead of a dog in tall grass and cattails, so many hunters on public land like a close-working flusher, while hunters on big open fields often enjoy the classic point. There is no single right answer: match the dog to your cover and your pace.
Labrador retriever: the all-around pheasant dog
Pheasants Forever describes Labs as active, outgoing dogs "as comfortable in a family setting as they are cruising the wide-open prairie in October or November, or crashing through cattail swamps in the dead of winter." They have speed, stamina and "a desire to retrieve for hours on end," and in the field they quarter in front of the hunter as excellent flushers. Labs come in three colors: black, chocolate and yellow.
The Lab also doubles as a duck dog, which is why it suits hunters who chase both roosters and waterfowl. If you are weighing other retrievers, read are golden retrievers good hunting dogs.
English springer spaniel: a flusher built for heavy cover
Pheasants Forever calls the springer "a good-sized, family-friendly flushing dog for pheasants, quail and other upland birds." Springers quarter well, "bust into any cover they encounter" and "make great all-season pheasant dogs." The catch: their exuberance can carry them too far in front of the gun, so training and steady reminders matter.
English setter and Llewellin setter: the classic point
The English setter is "a quick and efficient worker with an excellent nose and ground speed that was bred specifically for upland bird hunting," and it covers a lot of ground. Pheasants Forever lists height at 23 to 27 inches and weight at about 45 to 75 pounds.
The Llewellin setter is not a separate breed. Pheasants Forever explains it is "a pure and distinct bloodline of the English Setter breed that was bred for superior performance in the field," registered in the Field Dog Stud Book. For the details, see English setter vs Llewellin setter.
Wirehaired pointing griffon: the versatile choice
Pheasants Forever calls the griffon "an extremely versatile dog equally adept at waterfowl and upland birds." It is a deliberate hunter that tracks, points and retrieves on land and water and "stay[s] within easy range of the hunter." Its thick, wiry coat suits very cold days, and the breed tends to prefer cooler climates, a good fit for late-season roosters. Griffons stand about 20 to 24 inches and weigh about 40 to 60 pounds.
How to choose your pheasant dog
- Your cover: thick cattails and small public parcels favor a close flusher; big open fields reward a pointer's range.
- Your other hunting: if you also hunt ducks, a Lab or a versatile breed covers both.
- Your home: most bird dogs need plenty of exercise; Pheasants Forever notes several breeds become restless if they are not kept active.
- Your training time: wide-ranging dogs and exuberant flushers both need consistent work to stay in gun range.
Getting ready for opener? Our guide on what to wear pheasant hunting covers blaze orange and layers.
Show off your bird dog
Our hunting dog shirts feature Labs, setters, griffons and more, with your dog's name or your name printed on. Styles such as hoodie, long sleeve shirt and T-shirt vary by design, so check each product page for the styles and sizes offered. These are casual shirts, not blaze orange safety wear.
FAQ
What is the best pheasant hunting dog?
The Labrador retriever is the most popular choice: a versatile flusher and retriever that also works water. English setters and versatile breeds like the griffon are great if you want birds pointed.
Do I need a dog for pheasant hunting?
Not by law, but Pheasants Forever says hunting pheasants without a bird dog is "a path to frustration, futility and no fun." A dog finds, flushes and retrieves birds you would lose.
Is a flushing dog or a pointing dog better for pheasants?
Flushers work close, within shotgun range, which helps with running birds in heavy cover. Pointers range farther and hold birds on point for you to walk in.
Is a Llewellin setter a different breed?
No. It is a distinct bloodline of the English setter, registered in the Field Dog Stud Book.
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