Hunting Dog Under 25lbs

[Loper]

Hi there - looking for a small pup suitable for hunting. Loyal lookout, stamina, and potentially blood tracking, don’t necessarily need a retriever as I hunt larger game most often.

I have an amazing Aussie who’s getting up in age and I want her to help teach a young one. I can spot game, tell her to stay, walk 100 yds, shoot, and she’ll remain in her spot until I recall. She’s also very protective. I like having a partner on “solo” backcountry hunts/camping.

Only thing is that she can’t travel with me on flights because of her size.

Is there a smart hunting breed that will be under #25? Jags seem like too much because I have 2 cats. Looking at Boykins or Jack Russel’s right now.

OP it’s been about half a year since you first started this thread. Did you end up with a new pup or make a decision on a breed?

As you know Aussies are great dogs. If that what you know and like, have you considered getting a mini-Aussie? We have a mini female and she is about 30 lbs. if I had to fly with her I’d let her on high school wrestler regimen and make her cut weight LOL.

Alternatively, I just found out about toy Aussies. Not sure I’d want a “toy”anything, but if I had certain restrictions, I’d would not worry about the stigma and get a toy Aussie.

Interestingly enough, I saw my first toy Aussie in the airport a couple of weeks ago coming back from a hunting trip. I think it’s name was Buster, if I remember correctly. The lady said it was a puppy and would get a bigger. Good thing my wife wasn’t with me, she would have been trying to negotiate a price to buy the dog off the owner, or already had a breeder lined up before the plane touched down.

 

[CodeMonkey]

I have yet to find a dog more determined than my wife's late Dachshund.

Heart of a lion, size and shape of a sausage.

 

[Kminc]

Hard to beat an English Cocker for a retriever, dead bird finder and a pet.

 

[VomSteinbruch]

Cocker - a top tier to flusher and retriever. I considered the best woodcock dog.

Jagdterrier - if you want to hunt small fur game (rabbits, coons, foxes) and also happen to recover wounded deer and shoot pheasants. They will retriever ducks but they may have hard time to work in deep and dense reeds. They are terrific and hardworking dogs, but require discipline and structural approach.

Dachshunds - Amazing dog for tracking and ground work, but otherwise somewhat limited due to ther frame and build.

German Spaniel (Wachtelhund) - A versatile version of Springer Spaniel. They can track a deer or boar from a long distance and drive it towards you or hold them at bay as well as find a pheasant under the gun and flush it. They bark on the track like hounds. They are great for blood tracking and work well in the water too.

Unfortunately I am less familiar other small hunting dogs, though there are plenty of them.