Native Breed Survey

Dog Breed Survey

WIN A TON OF NATIVE® DOG FOOD FOR YOUR FAVORITE BREED!

As part of our partnership with Wingshooting USA, Native performance dog food will donate A TON of Native to the designated national rescue organization for the winning breed. How do we choose the winning breed you ask? We don’t. You do! Simply vote for your favorite breed below (one vote per household please) and invite your friends to do the same. At the end of season one, we’ll tally up the votes and send a ton of dog food to the winner.

To vote, simply click the radio button next to the breed of your choice and click 'Submit'.

Boykin Spaniel

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Description

The Boykin Spaniel will generally quarter at a moderate pace in front of the hunter to track birds by scent and sight. They are known for their hesitation while tracking before flushing aggressively. They are versatile hunters with very keen noses and a strong, natural desire to retrieve. Boykins are fantastic swimmers.

Brittany

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Description

The Brittany is a close working pointer with natural hunting and retrieving ability. While not large in stature, they have the speed and agility to cover a lot of ground. They are a tough and durable breed with skin and coat built to resist punctures and tears in thick cover.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

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Description

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a tough breed with skin and coat built to resist quite low temperatures in icy water. They are a powerful versatile hunting breed with natural retrieving ability that should stay within range. Jaws are large and powerful for retrieval of large game birds.

Clumber Spaniel

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Description

Originating in the 18th century, the Clumber Spaniel is one of the original nine registered breeds by the American Kennel Club. While not generally as fast or agile as most sporting breeds, the Clumber will work all day at a very methodical pace. The thick, heavy coat makes the Clumber well suited to hunt upland birds in heavy cover.

Curly-Coated Retriever

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Description

Originating in the 1800’s, the Curly-Coated Retriever is one of the oldest of the retriever breeds. They are versatile hunting retrievers that are well rounded multi-purpose gundogs equally adept on land or water. Like most retrieving breeds, the Curly will range in front of the hunter to flush upland birds within comfortable gun range.

English Pointer

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Description

The Pointer is very hard driving hunter and known to be a tireless worker with great work ethics. They are independent and enthusiastic hunters with great range that work well in the field with other dogs. They generally exhibit natural hunting instincts at a very young age and have to abilities to cover larger areas of ground. Pointers are generally bred for upland hunting in warmer climates with a need to cover larger areas.

English Cocker Spaniel

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Description

The English Cocker Spaniel is trained to quarter within comfortable gun range in front of the hunter to flush upland game birds. While small in stature, they were bred to penetrate and hunt dense upland cover. They are versatile hunters but generally prefer moderate temperatures for waterfowl hunting.

English Setter

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Description

The English Setter (aka Setter) is a quick and efficient worker with an excellent nose and ground speed that was bred specifically for upland bird hunting. They are graceful hunters that combine agility with stamina to cover a lot of ground. They are energetic dogs from a long, rich history of finding and pointing upland birds.

English Springer Spaniel

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Description

The English Springer Spaniel will generally quarter in a zig-zag pattern in front of the hunter to “spring” and flush upland game birds. They should stay within comfortable gun range and will retrieve to hand. The English Springer breed is noted for both upland and waterfowl hunting.

Flat-Coated Retriever

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Description

Originating in the 1800's, the Flat-Coated Retriever became very popular as a "Gamekeeper's Dog". They are versatile hunting retrievers that are well rounded multi-purpose gundogs equally adept on land or water. Like most retrieving breeds, the Flat-Coat will quarter in front of the hunter to flush upland birds within comfortable gun range.

German Shorthaired Pointer

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Description

The German Shorthaired Pointer should range and hunt within a comfortable distance from the hunter. They work well with other dogs in the field and should honor instinctively. They are a versatile and popular hunting choice due to their ability to hunt enthusiastically on both land and water.

German Wirehaired Pointer

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Description

The German Wirehaired Pointer is an all-around gun dog that is able to hunt many types of game on almost any terrain. It is a versatile hunter that will track, point, and retrieve on both land and water. They are sturdy dogs that are well muscled and tend to be very determined hunters.

Golden Retriever

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Description

Golden Retrievers are versatile hunting retrievers that are well suited to cold hunting conditions due to an outer coat that is dense and water repellent. They are a tough and durable breed with good speed and agility and a great love of water. Golden's will quarter in front of the hunter to flush upland birds and should stay within comfortable gun range. They live to retrieve.

Gordon Setter

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Description

The Gordon Setter should range and hunt independently some distance from the hunter. They are not generally fast but are patient and have very good stamina. They exhibit natural abilities to point and retrieve and are well suited to hunt in adverse weather conditions.

Irish Red & White Setter

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Description

The Irish Red & White Setter is a cousin to the Irish Setter and the breed is still under development for the AKC. The Red & White is much more commonly used as a gundog than its cousin and has been revived for this use in recent years. They are known for a keen nose and can hunt a wide variety of terrain in any climate.

Italian Spinone

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Description

The Italian Spinone (aka Spinone Italiano) is a large, rugged gun dog with a thick, wiry coat that is well suited for protection in dense upland grasses or cold water. They are sturdy and determined hunters with a close-working, deliberate style. While not fast or flashy, the breed will naturally point and retrieve and is gaining popularity due to its unique appearance and reliability in the field.

Labrador Retriever

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Description

Labrador Retrievers, or Labs, are versatile hunting retrievers that are well suited to adverse weather conditions and very cold water. They are a tough and durable breed combining a sturdy build with good speed and agility. Labs will quarter in front of the hunter to flush upland birds and should stay within comfortable gun range.

Llewellin Setter

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Description

The Llewellin Setter is an unrecognized (by the AKC) strain of English Setters with very similar hunting characteristics. While not a separate breed, the Llewellin Setter is a pure and distinct bloodline of the English Setter breed that was bred for superior performance in the field.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

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Description

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (or "Tollers") are hunting retrievers well suited to cold hunting conditions. They are a compact and sturdy breed that is very active and agile. Tollers were bred to hunt by frolicking and retrieving along the bank to "toll", or lure, curious waterfowl. While excellent hunting companions, they are not generally considered for extensive use in upland hunting.

Pudelpointer

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Description

The Pudelpointer is a versatile hunter bred for a combination of a very good nose plus speed, endurance and hunting desire. They will exhibit natural pointing and hunting instincts and will enthusiastically retrieve on land and water.

Small Munsterlander

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Description

The Small Munsterlander is a very versatile hunter that will flush, point, and retrieve on land and water. Their numbers are small in the United States but they are much sought after by hunters that perceive them to be one of the most versatile and easily trained gundog breeds.

Vizsla

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Description

Vizsla's are very energetic working dogs that are robust but rather lightly built. They exhibit natural abilities to point and retrieve and show a genuine love of water. They do not have an undercoat, however, and are not particularly well suited for very low temperatures.

Weimaraner

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Description

The Weimaraner is a good all purpose gun dog that is able to hunt many types of game. It is a versatile hunter that was originally bred for hunting large game but became more focused on upland game as the popularity for large game hunting declined. Prey drive is strong and instinctive and training should begin at a young age to shape their general hunting instincts.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

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Description

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is an all-around gun dog that is able to hunt many types of game from rabbits to quail. It is a deliberate hunter that will track, point, and retrieve on land and water and stay within easy range of the hunter. Their thick, heavy coat is well suited to hunting in very cold temperatures and they tend to prefer cooler hunting climates.