Hunting Dog Under 25lbs

[Mt Al]

Cocker Spaniel. This is the answer.
My Springer is only 35lbs, but we train with folks with field-bred cockers and those dogs are lightning bolts! They will tear up any upland field you throw them at. They'll retrieve geese.
(The good ones are also absolute psychos, but hey, worth it.)

My friend has an English Field Cocker, outstanding dog! His is a female that I doubt is much over 20 pounds, but looks like males might go over your minimum weight for flying. She's fearless, goes ape s&#t around birds. Worth a look at least.

 

[kickemall]

Jag terrier and train it to mind. As earlier stated if they’re raised with cats they won’t mess with them. I’ve seen them do some pretty amazing things. Jump deer, track deer, bay deer. Pretty much the same with bear. Helps keep them out of camp and the ones I’ve seen know how to not get caught while tormenting the $hit out if them. Also, once they’re in shape seen them trot with horse packing in and never miss a beat. If you want the same type of dog but mellower then a fox terrier. Just as good but handle easier.

 

[Rokbar]

Mt. Feist

 

[JoeDirt]

My last Aussie was amazing, he was a mix with some Heeler. 30-35lbs. He would help track downed game but had the herding instinct that I had to be on top of.

New Aussie is shaping up to be a good dog, he has no herding instinct (bought him for that reason) purebred 50+ lbs though.

My Family has a couple Springer/Lab mixes they're small and have been absolutely fantastic all around hunting/family dogs!

 

[rarmitage915]

Mountain Feist is a good option. Extremely happy with mine.

 

[wowzers]

Maybe throw Patterdale Terrier into the mix for consideration.

We have one and he’s been great. I like Jagds too but they are on another level.

 

[Pochuck]

Anyone have experience with beagles? I know they can be good hunting dogs and are right at that 25lb mark but not sure how they compare

 

[Wellsdw]

Anyone have experience with beagles? I know they can be good hunting dogs and are right at that 25lb mark but not sure how they compare

My understanding on the way they trail is that they tend to not differentiate scents. Meaning they tend to lock in on the scent of deer, and not a specific deer. Generally when trailing to are teaching the dog to follow the scent you tell it to. This allows the dog to cross the track of multiple other animals and stay on the one you are after.

 

[Sierra Hunter]

We have one and he’s been great. I like Jagds too but they are on another level.

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I always wanted a patterdale if I went on the smaller side. I’m currently with 2 GSDs and a GSP

 

[Beagle1]

I have never blood tracked with a beagle but with their nose they should be able to do it quite easily. The problem I see is a beagle doesn’t have the right temperament for your purposes. They are hard wired to hunt when off the leash, can be a bit stubborn especially when on a track, bark a lot and I do mean a lot and would not sit obediently while you walked off 100 yards to do something. They are great dogs but do not have a retriever type personality.

 

[texansport]

Circling back to this - I’m thinking Teckel right now. Apparently airlines have reduced limits to #20 or I misremembered.

Anyone have a breeder recommendation? They’re hard to find.

 

[texansport]

Boykins are hard to find under 25. I was also looking at Brittany’s but also a little too big.

Might just go with a bigger breed which opens up a lot more options and drive

Teckels seem like they might fit the bill and may be a little more obedient than Russel’s.

 

[texansport]

I always wanted a patterdale if I went on the smaller side. I’m currently with 2 GSDs and a GSP

Looking into these!

 

[coyoteman]

How genetics work isn't an opinion, it's science.

If fancy mutts are the best of both worlds, why aren't they taking the hunting and trial world by storm?

How a message board works..its reading comprehension.

OP has mentioned absolutely nothing about wanting to take the field trials world by storm

 

[Slickhill]

We bought our son a black and tan Dachshund from a local lady who has a pack of them on her hobby farm. She has videos of hers gathering goats and a few head of tame cattle and they’re hell on rats and other varmints that show up around the barns.

We bought the pup mostly because of my wife befriending her and he was cheap when our old Dachshund died and the boy needed a pup to grow up with.

I would assume that we hit the lotto but it probably has something to do with his coming from “working” dogs, or at least not overfed sausages that never leave the house, like my parents’ Dachs, but he is a champ. All heart and loves to hunt. Incredibly smart and teachable, along with being the most gentle weenie I’ve ever been around when it comes to kids, I would literally leave him with a newborn with no worries.

He learned to retrieve shot birds in one outing, will even swim to retrieve doves from the pond. His best day last fall he made 18 retrieves. He will tree squirrels, coons, possums, about anything that comes in the yard. And on a lark I took him on a blood trail during archery deer season last year and he made a great follow up and led me right to my deer, approximately 350 yards. I have no experience training or using a blood dog, I just showed him the blood and let him eat some clots and said get em boy.

He weighs about 12lb and can go about anywhere I can. His only handicap is that being so low slung tall grass will rub his balls raw and he gets chapped. Poor guy.

I would have never dreamed of taking a weinerdog hunting even though I’ve owned them my whole life, but this one is a go getter and has been a pleasure.

 

[texansport]

His only handicap is that being so low slung tall grass will rub his balls raw and he gets chapped. Poor guy.

Same

 

[texansport]

My last Aussie was amazing, he was a mix with some Heeler. 30-35lbs. He would help track downed game but had the herding instinct that I had to be on top of.

New Aussie is shaping up to be a good dog, he has no herding instinct (bought him for that reason) purebred 50+ lbs though.

My Family has a couple Springer/Lab mixes they're small and have been absolutely fantastic all around hunting/family dogs!

View attachment 870145View attachment 870146
View attachment 870147

I would clone my Aussie if I could.

 

[OneGunTex]

We bought our son a black and tan Dachshund from a local lady who has a pack of them on her hobby farm. She has videos of hers gathering goats and a few head of tame cattle and they’re hell on rats and other varmints that show up around the barns.

We bought the pup mostly because of my wife befriending her and he was cheap when our old Dachshund died and the boy needed a pup to grow up with.

I would assume that we hit the lotto but it probably has something to do with his coming from “working” dogs, or at least not overfed sausages that never leave the house, like my parents’ Dachs, but he is a champ. All heart and loves to hunt. Incredibly smart and teachable, along with being the most gentle weenie I’ve ever been around when it comes to kids, I would literally leave him with a newborn with no worries.

He learned to retrieve shot birds in one outing, will even swim to retrieve doves from the pond. His best day last fall he made 18 retrieves. He will tree squirrels, coons, possums, about anything that comes in the yard. And on a lark I took him on a blood trail during archery deer season last year and he made a great follow up and led me right to my deer, approximately 350 yards. I have no experience training or using a blood dog, I just showed him the blood and let him eat some clots and said get em boy.

He weighs about 12lb and can go about anywhere I can. His only handicap is that being so low slung tall grass will rub his balls raw and he gets chapped. Poor guy.

I would have never dreamed of taking a weinerdog hunting even though I’ve owned them my whole life, but this one is a go getter and has been a pleasure.

Wait now I want a weinerdog

 

[cuerro viejo]

My votes for Jagd. If you run bears becareful they will damn sure go to head on a walking bay, like they are catch dog or something. They have zero F to give.

With any dog with strong prey drive, make sure and get a handle on them at a young age age.

 

[KurtR]

How a message board works..its reading comprehension.

OP has mentioned absolutely nothing about wanting to take the field trials world by storm

Leaving field trials out of it doodle are genetic mutants with bad health witch i would assume most people want a dog healthy for the short amount of time they are around