Best breed for big game hunting companion.

[ohlongarm]

After owning/training three working line German Shepherds (Czech and East DDR) kept as family protection dogs in remote Alaska, there is my vote. Absolutely fearless against anything I've met, man or beast, including 1,000 lb Brown bears. Whatever you do, do NOT tie one outside for even short duration in bear country. They seem to take pleasure in killing dogs on cable runs. Not mine thankfully, but I've seen several. My pregnant female import from the Czech Border Patrol kennel was especially impressive on Brown bears even solo. Breeder Yiri Novotny stated the dog had never seen a bear but surmised that bears and dogs have been mortal enemies for centuries. Makes sense, having seen wolves kill youngish Brown Bears on multiple occasions.

These all represent the lines you've mentioned,we also have some Slovakian dogs.Many more not shown.

 

[Bluumoon]

These all represent the lines you've mentioned,we also have some Slovakian dogs.Many more not shown.

Love my Czech line GSD, put my time in on training w her. But the nervous energy/gsd whine can be a bit much… I haven’t run into anything I can’t call her off of. Unfortunately the altitude (7k) here has been hard on her, developed pannus at 3yo and this year has gone totally blind.

 

[AKAV8R]

Love my Czech line GSD, put my time in on training w her. But the nervous energy/gsd whine can be a bit much… I haven’t run into anything I can’t call her off of. Unfortunately the altitude (7k) here has been hard on her, developed pannus at 3yo and this year has gone totally blind.

Pretty common to see that ultra high drive/whine in working lines. A lot of the K-9 units I worked with exhibited those traits with their dogs. I bought our GSD's from 2 fantastic breeders who selected the perfect drive dogs for us. My target dog was a house stable, calmer dog that was trainable for family protection and Schutzhund training. They were notably lower drive dogs, and not particularly hard temperaments but highly athletic and excelled in everything I asked of them. From my limited knowledge, these dogs could not be competitive in the higher levels of Schutzhund but can perform any Schutzhund tasks at a novice to intermediate level. kb

 

[AKAV8R]

These all represent the lines you've mentioned,we also have some Slovakian dogs.Many more not shown.

Good looking dogs! Are you currently breeding? What state? I currently do not have a GSD, after having them for 20 plus yrs. My last dog just passed 3 yrs back and I went with a Chessie pup because I always wanted one, and I retired and moved into a great location for waterfowl hunting. Had working Labs for 25 plus, then went to GSD's due to the need for family protection as a LEO in a rough community.

 

[AKAV8R]

These all represent the lines you've mentioned,we also have some Slovakian dogs.Many more not shown.

Current hound Goos and past GSD’s.

 

[ohlongarm]

Good looking dogs! Are you currently breeding? What state? I currently do not have a GSD, after having them for 20 plus yrs. My last dog just passed 3 yrs back and I went with a Chessie pup because I always wanted one, and I retired and moved into a great location for waterfowl hunting. Had working Labs for 25 plus, then went to GSD's due to the need for family protection as a LEO in a rough community.

I can give you a contact if you're truly interested, however the waiting list for adults, and pups is endless. Your call.

 

[AKAV8R]

I can give you a contact if you're truly interested, however the waiting list for adults, and pups is endless. Your call.

I'm not looking for right now, thanks.

 

[Lionhound1975]

Well if one of you all find the perfect bear defense dog you could probably make it rich selling them to the Japanese, I read bears in Japan have killed 13 people and injured over 100 since April.

Maybe I can buy used clothing from some of you Alaska bear hunters that you used to skin a grizzly, then use them to aptitude test a bunch of Black Mouth Cur puppies and show up in Tokyo in 6 months with my retirement assured!

 

[johnnycake]

Well if one of you all find the perfect bear defense dog you could probably make it rich selling them to the Japanese, I read bears in Japan have killed 13 people and injured over 100 since April.

Maybe I can buy used clothing from some of you Alaska bear hunters that you used to skin a grizzly, then use them to aptitude test a bunch of Black Mouth Cur puppies and show up in Tokyo in 6 months with my retirement assured!

If only I'd have been thinking clearly I would've bagged and frozen my bear spoiled clothing last month instead of tossing it! Smelly gold!

 

[AKAV8R]

Well if one of you all find the perfect bear defense dog you could probably make it rich selling them to the Japanese, I read bears in Japan have killed 13 people and injured over 100 since April.

Maybe I can buy used clothing from some of you Alaska bear hunters that you used to skin a grizzly, then use them to aptitude test a bunch of Black Mouth Cur puppies and show up in Tokyo in 6 months with my retirement assured!

I’d wager that most Japanese people getting attacked by bears are extremely poor, working outside with no cash to spare for dogs or firearms.

 

[johnnycake]

I’d wager that most Japanese people getting attacked by bears are extremely poor, working outside with no cash to spare for dogs or firearms.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/asia/japan-bear-supermarket-attac-intl-hnk

 

[ThunderJack49]

I hate to start a new thread as there is one similar,m going on right now, but I dont have a Weight limit and the dog can be as big as it needs to be.

Back story. I live and hunt in serious grizzly country. We have a rule that we dont hunt alone, (yes its that bad). Even when hunting in pairs, we dont separate with the exception of putting a stalk on something. I have stuck to that rule until this year, my long-time hunting partner is guiding, and there were weekends I had no one to hunt with.

So I took the larger of our 2 family dogs with me a few weeks ago. Buck is a 95lb mountain Cur. I walked into a creek bottom being very cautious of course, when all of the sudden Buck went absolutely ballistic barking behind me. I look back and there is a 500lb (yes, I know bear size is often exaggerated, this is not) grizzly boar standing at 20 yards looking at me and looking back to Buck who is literally 5 feet from that bears face giving him the business. An intense stand off lasted for about 10 seconds where that bear was deciding what he wanted to do and he finally turned and ran, and Buck followed behind him, chasing him up the mountain until he was about 100 yards away, then Buck turned around and re joined me at my side.

That dog was fearless. Ive never taken him hunting and to be honest he did exactly what I hoped he would do. He stays close to my side, not on a leash, when we get into dense brush, he goes a little ahead of me and bird dogs around ( which is how he found that bear that I walked right past). When I sit down to glass I tie him next to me to sage brush or a tree and he just lays down.

The only problem I have with him is I cant tie him up and walk away from him or he will bark. Sometimes he gets too far ahead and doesnt listen immediately when I call him. So we have some training to do, maybe an E Collar.

So this got me thinking that going forward I would like to get another dog after Buck or sooner that will suite my needs as a hunting companion. I dont need the dog to spot game, blood trail, point or any of that. I need it to be fearless, easily trained to sit, stay, not bark at game, stay by my side and most importantly not back down from enormous grizzly bears.

Maybe with my experience with Buck I know the answer already, but to be honest up until that weekend, me and Buck havent had the best relationship, I am not sure if its the breed, but him in his sister have been pains in the asses. They have way too much energy, very needy, run away when we are at home every chance they get, destroy crates, destroyed a chain link kennel. All this has gone on regardless of how much attention and time is spent with them, they just can't chill.

Buck is 6 so he still has plenty life left in him and we are going to start training the bad habits out.

Im thinking having a well trained dog will enable me to hunt at times I would otherwise have to stay home. I wont be getting another dog for a few years, but am curious what breeds to focus around when that time comes.

Thanks.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

Where are you that the griz are that bad?
I go hunting with my heeler, especially spring bear. He will bark and protect me if he feels the need but is honestly pretty afraid of large animals after getting ran over by a horse one time and losing a few teeth. Stays by my side but trembles when we come across anything bigger than a deer.

 

[grfox92]

Where are you that the griz are that bad?
I go hunting with my heeler, especially spring bear. He will bark and protect me if he feels the need but is honestly pretty afraid of large animals after getting ran over by a horse one time and losing a few teeth. Stays by my side but trembles when we come across anything bigger than a deer.

NW Wyoming. Right on the border of the Park.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[ThreeOhSeven]

First breed that comes to mind is a Karelian Bear Dog. Literally bred for bear hunting and alerting. My buddy had one and it was well mannered.

 

[ThunderJack49]

NW Wyoming. Right on the border of the Park.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

I’ve heard it’s bad down there, but I’ve never been there. I hunt the northern border of the park, we have our fair share of them too.

 

[ohlongarm]

Where are you that the griz are that bad?
I go hunting with my heeler, especially spring bear. He will bark and protect me if he feels the need but is honestly pretty afraid of large animals after getting ran over by a horse one time and losing a few teeth. Stays by my side but trembles when we come across anything bigger than a deer.

Polebridge at base of Glacier,this young bear about 500 lbs attempted an intimidation tactic but the dog temporarily deterred him. This was on a doctor's friend's 40 acres, he bought it 30 years ago for 5K an acre, worth a few million now.two cabins built with all amenities.