Exploring the preferred chicken canine breeds of the upland searching group over time
Venture Upland’s annual North American Upland Chook Searching Survey ended earlier this 12 months. What higher technique to share our information than by beginning a brawl over the preferred chicken canine breeds?
The searching canine world is filled with private biases, and our survey outcomes mirrored our group’s numerous preferences. When requested, “What sort of searching canine do you personal?,” 53.69% of respondents mentioned pointing, 32.84% mentioned versatile, 19.37% mentioned retriever, 11.11% mentioned spaniel, and 1% mentioned hound.
Though pointing canine have retained the #1 spot two years in a row, the variety of versatile canine homeowners has elevated barely and the variety of spaniel and retriever homeowners have decreased barely. We gained’t let our canine breed snobbery enter the chat, however personally, we’re at all times comfortable to see pointing and versatile canine within the primary and two spots, respectively.
Along with asking about what sort of searching canine of us within the Venture Upland group personal, our survey additionally requested what breed of canine they’ve. Right here’s a breakdown of the highest 5 hottest searching canine breeds owned by the upland group.
At Venture Upland, we do our greatest to characteristic varied canine breeds in our content material. In current months, we’ve been ensuring our spaniel-loving associates get some love. All canine breeds are nice and specialised (or versatile) in their very own methods; we attempt to filter our private canine breed snobbery in our content material.
Along with asking about what sort of searching canine uplanders personal, the survey additionally requested what breed of canine they personal. Right here’s a breakdown of the highest 5 searching canine breeds owned by the upland group.
High 5 Chook Canine Breeds of 2023
1. German Shorthaired Pointer or Deutsch Kurzhaar (19.5%)
Our annual survey confirmed that 19.5% of the Venture Upland Group hunts with a German Shorthaired Pointer or Deutsch Kurzhaar. That’s almost one-fifth of our whole group; nonetheless, it’s one p.c lower than what the GSP polled in 2023.
The North American Versatile Searching Canine Affiliation registered 1,487 GSPs in 2022, making it NAVHDA’s hottest canine. Nonetheless, they’ve seen a slight downward development in GSPs from the breed’s 2021 peak.
The GSP can also be the one pointing canine to look in American Kennel Membership’s high 10 hottest canine breeds. The AKC creates this record based mostly on its registration statistics. The GSP has held sturdy because the tenth hottest breed for the previous two years.
German Shorthairs are the preferred amongst Technology X, or of us borm between 1965 and 1980. 22.6% of them have one of their residence. 21.7% of parents born after 1996 (Gen Z-ers) personal GSPs. 19.3% of Millennials, or of us born between 1981 and 1996, are GSP homeowners. GSPs are the least widespread breed amongst Child Boomers, or of us born earlier than 1965. Solely 17.5% of them reported proudly owning one.
Most hunters use their GSPs to pin pheasants (80.3%), ruffed grouse (50.5%), American woodcock (38.9%), bobwhite quail (31.8%), and sharp-tailed grouse (30.8%). Just one individual used their GSP to hunt ptarmigan, and two folks hunted snipe with their GSP final season. Pheasant hunters, have you ever ever thought of placing your Shorthair on snipe? Who is aware of, it may very well be enjoyable!
Many GSP homeowners are first-generation hunters; 30.8% of homeowners mentioned that neither one among their mother and father had been hunters. To nobody’s shock, 100% of GSP homeowners mentioned they hunt birds.
Enjoyable reality: over half of GSP homeowners are members of Pheasants Without end.
#2 Labrador Retriever (16.8%)
The 2024 North American Upland Searching Survey confirmed that the Labrador Retriever, at 16.8%, is the second hottest chicken canine breed among the many Venture Upland group. This comes as no shock to us as a result of waterfowl and pheasant searching maintain particular locations in American hunters’ hearts. The truth is, 85.4% of Labrador homeowners reported searching pheasants within the fall of 2023. Equally, 57.3% of Lab lovers additionally hunted waterfowl final 12 months.
Labradors are hottest amongst Gen Xers; 19.9% of them are Lab homeowners. Gen Zers are the second most Lab-loving era. 17.4% of them have a minimum of one Lab lounging on their couch proper now. 16.4% of Child Boomers personal one. Labs are the least widespread amongst Millennials; simply 13.5% of them have one within the residence.
The breed’s mainstream reputation has created a couple of breeding points. There tends to be controversy surrounding the purity and requirements of Labs contained in the searching group. Simply utter “silver Lab” inside a room filled with Labrador fanatics, and also you’ll see what we imply.
In newer years, there was a surge in British Labs in America. A driving issue of this development is the distinguishable distinction in temperament between British Labs and basic, American-bred Labrador Retrievers. The enduring breed even discovered its method into the center of Eddie Bauer, who wrote of the British Labrador Retriever, “The best of all the good canine I’ve ever identified; one I’ve beloved above all others. I hope, once I go to the Pleased Searching Grounds, Blackie will come to my facet, as I’ll attempt to go to his.”
3. English Setter (16.3%)
The English Setters is holding tight at #3 for the second 12 months in a row. This breed is hottest amongst Child Boomers. At 19.7%, almost one-fifth of them have a Setter at residence. Gen Z is the second most Setter-loving era at 17.4%, which speaks to the English Setter’s capability to stay widespread with upland hunters younger and outdated. Millennials are available in third at 13.5%, and Gen X is just not far behind at 13.3%.
Unsurprisingly, 68% of English Setter homeowners hunt ruffed grouse. 65% chase pheasant, and 59% hunt American Woodcock. Just one individual reported searching ptarmigan with an English Setter in 2023; should you’re searching for a novel pursuit this searching season, it’s time to tow your Setter out to ptarmigan nation and attempt to bag a chicken or two.
The English Setter simply barely made the lower for the highest 100 hottest canine breeds in america, based on the AKC, coming in at 97. It’s dropped 4 positions since 2022. The Irish Setter continues to beat them in reputation and landed 76th place in 2023. Comparatively, the Gordon Setter was the a hundred and first hottest canine. In our group, Irish Setters ranked #16 and Gordon Setters claimed twelfth place.
Between its orginiations in England and the breed’s growth all through the US and past, the historical past of the Setter is fascinating. Craig Koshyk hashed it out in exceptional element in his e-book, Pointing Canine, Quantity Two: The British and Irish Breeds. You may as well examine Edward Laverack, take heed to his 1872 e-book The Setter, study Ryman Setters, and discover simply how English the English Setter is right here on Venture Upland.
4. Brittany (13.2%)
Brittanies had been the 4th hottest breed throughout the Venture Upland Group. They’re a favourite amongst Boomers, of which 14.3% personal a minimum of one. They’re second-most widespread with Millennials; 13.5% of them hunt over a Brittany. 11.6% of Gen Xers have a Brittany, and simply 8.7% of Gen Zers personal one.
Nearly all of Brittany homeowners (33%) hunted greater than 30 days final season. 69% of parents searching over a Brittany chase pheasants, and 54% of them hunt ruffed grouse. Nobody reported searching Himalayan Snowcock with a Brittany throughout final searching season; 2024 is the 12 months for one among you in our group to say that title.
In 2023, the Brittany was the twenty eighth hottest breed within the US, based on the AKC. Based on NAVHDA, the Brittany was the eighth hottest breed registered in 2022. Total, they proceed to be a preferred pointing canine breed amongst upland hunters and subject trialers.
The historical past of the Brittany in america started within the Thirties when a widely known Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breeder started importing them. Two golf equipment merged in 1942 to create the American Brittany Membership. By the Sixties, it was France’s hottest searching canine breed. By the Eighties, rising stress existed to separate the Brittany into the American Brittany and French Brittany (or Epagneul Breton). The cut up turned a actuality in 2002 when the United Kennel Membership formally acknowledged it.
5. German Wirehaired Pointer or Deutsch Drahthaar (9.6%)
The German canine reputation didn’t finish with the GSP. German Wirehaired Pointers got here in because the fifth hottest chicken canine. If you wish to begin an web warfare, very like the Silver Labs dialog, simply point out the distinction between the German Wirehaired Pointer and the Deutsch Drahthaar.
GWPs are the preferred amongst Millennials. 13% personal a Wirehair. They’re the second hottest amongst Gen Xers, of which 10.6% hunt over one. 8.7% of Gen Zers personal a GWP or a Draht, and simply 7.5% of Boomers are Wirehair followers. That is the second 12 months in a row that GWPs have been the least widespread breed amongst Child Boomers.
In 2023, GWPs had been the 61st hottest breed in American, based on AKC information. It was the fourth most registered breed with NAVHDA in 2022.
Curiously, 8.4% of Wirehair homeowners have 4 or extra canine. Along with a GWP, additionally they personal Labradors (11.2%), English Setters (10.2%), Pointers (7.1%), and GSPs (6.1%).
54% of German Wirehaired Pointer homeowners hunted greater than 30 days in 2023. Throughout these days within the subject, they chased pheasant (82.5%), Huns (46.9%), sharptails (44.9%), and ruffed grouse (41.8%).
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a latecomer to america. The official membership was not fashioned till 1959. The primary German membership in america began in 1971, and by 1984, a Canadian chapter was additionally acknowledged by the VDD.
2024’s Above 1% Membership, Based on the North American Upland Chook Searching Survey
Didn’t see your favourite breed within the high 5? Maybe you’ll discover it in our Above 1% Membership. Right here’s a breakdown of the canine breeds are owned by greater than 1% of the group in 2024:
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (8.6%)
Pointer (7.1%)
Pudelpointer (5.8%)
Springer Spaniel (4.3%)
English Cocker (3.5%)
Small Munsterlander (3.3%)
Gordon Setter (2.5%)
Golden Retriever (1.8%)
Boykin Spaniel (1.7%)
Vizsla (1.7%)
Irish Setter (1.1%)
After the Irish Setter, the 14 different breeds we listed in our survey polled underneath 1% from there on out.
The Weimaraner (0.7%) polled lower than 1% for the primary time this 12 months. Comparatively, Pointers jumped up almost 3 share factors. The English Cocker rose by 0.4% this 12 months, stealing spot #10 from the Small Munsterlander, which polled on the similar share as final 12 months (3.3%). The Pudelpointer and Pointer swapped positions with one another; the Pointer gained almost three share factors this 12 months and snagged spot #7. The Pudelpointer really rose in reputation from 2023 as properly, however not as a lot because the Pointer.
We’d additionally prefer to welcome the Irish Setter to the Above 1% Membership!
The big variety of canine breeds discovered throughout the high 16 hottest chicken canine breeds represents completely different types and flavors of searching birds over a canine. Flushing, pointing, and versatile canine of all shapes, sizes, and varieties are all current within the high 5 breeds and are discovered all through the 16 hottest breeds.
As chicken hunters, we’re lucky to have the liberty to decide on our breed of selection permits us to actually do issues nonetheless we would like. We’re extremely grateful to all of the dog-loving of us who’ve devoted themselves to the preservation, proliferation, and continued future of those unimaginable searching canine breeds.selection permits us to actually do issues nonetheless we would like. Discover and analysis a correct breeder, and you can be in your technique to a terrific, dog-centric upland journey.
The Most Unusual Canine Breeds of 2024
Simply because these pups aren’t owned by lots of of parents within the Venture Upland Group, that doesn’t diminish their price in anyway. The truth is, their uncommonness speaks to the rarity of those breeds and the huge spectrum of chicken canine accessible for potential chicken canine homeowners.
When you’re wanting so as to add an unusual chicken canine to your loved ones, listed below are the least-owned searching canine breeds of 2024:
Picardy Spaniel (0.3%)
Wirehaired Vizsla (0.3%)
Braque d’Auvergne (0.2%)
Braque du Bourbonnais (0.1%)
Blue Picardy Spaniel (0.0%)
ICYMI: 2023’s Most Common Canine Breeds
In case you missed it, right here’s 2023’s record of hottest chicken canine based on the North American Upland Chook Searching Survey:
German Shorthaired Pointer (20.9%)
Labrador Retriever (18.7%)
English Setter (14%)
Brittany (11.4%)
German Wirehaired Pointer (10.7%)
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (7.4%)
Pudelpointer (5.2%)
Pointer (4.8%)
Springer Spaniel (4.5%)
Small Munsterlander (3.3%)
English Cocker (3.1%)
Golden Retriever (2.9%)
Vizsla (2.2%)
Gordon Setter (1.9%)
Boykin Spaniel (1.6%)
Weimaraner (1.4%)
As you may see, these breeds are recurring favorites with upland hunters. Whether or not you’re keen on versatile German breeds or water-obsessed Labradors, all kinds of chicken canine make up our hottest record 12 months after 12 months.
Will this development proceed into 2025? Solely time will inform…
Learn Extra
The Distinction Between a Deutsch-Drahthaar and a German Wirehaired Pointer
Extinction: The Historical past of Misplaced Canine Breeds
Select a Pointing Canine – Breaking Down 38 Chook Canine Breeds
Ought to You Take into account a Flushing Breed for Your Subsequent Chook Canine?
