Most Popular Bird Dog Breeds of 2024
Exploring the most popular bird dog breeds of the upland hunting community over the years.
Project Upland’s annual North American Upland Bird Hunting Survey ended earlier this year. What better way to share our data than by starting a brawl over the most popular bird dog breeds?
Listen to more articles on Apple | Google | Spotify | Audible
The hunting dog world is full of personal biases, and our survey results reflected our community’s diverse preferences. When asked, “What type of hunting dogs do you own?,” 53.69% of respondents said pointing, 32.84% said versatile, 19.37% said retriever, 11.11% said spaniel, and 1% said hound.
Although pointing dogs have retained the #1 spot seven years in a row, the number of versatile dog owners has increased slightly and the number of spaniel and retriever owners have decreased slightly. We won’t let our dog breed snobbery enter the chat, but personally, we’re always happy to see pointing and versatile dogs in the number one and two spots, respectively.
In addition to asking about what type of hunting dog uplanders own, the survey also asked what breed of dog they own. Here’s a breakdown of the top five hunting dog breeds owned by the upland community.
Top 5 Bird Dog Breeds of 2024
1. German Shorthaired Pointer or Deutsch Kurzhaar (19.5%)
Our annual survey showed that 19.5% of the Project Upland Community hunts with a German Shorthaired Pointer or Deutsch Kurzhaar. That’s nearly one-fifth of our entire community; however, it’s one percent less than what the GSP polled in 2023.
The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association registered 1,487 GSPs in 2022, making it NAVHDA’s most popular dog. However, they’ve seen a slight downward trend in GSPs from the breed’s 2021 peak.
The GSP is also the only pointing dog to appear in American Kennel Club’s top 10 most popular dog breeds. The AKC creates this list based on its registration statistics. The GSP has held strong as the tenth most popular breed for the past two years.
German Shorthairs are the most popular among Generation X, or folks born between 1965 and 1980. 22.6% of them have one in their home. 21.7% of folks born after 1996 (Gen Z-ers) own GSPs. 19.3% of Millennials, or folks born between 1981 and 1996, are GSP owners. GSPs are the least popular breed among Baby Boomers, or folks born before 1965. Only 17.5% of them reported 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%). Only one person used their GSP to hunt ptarmigan, and two people hunted snipe with their GSP last season. Pheasant hunters, have you ever considered putting your Shorthair on snipe? Who knows, it could be fun!
Many GSP owners are first-generation hunters; 30.8% of owners said that neither one of their parents were hunters. To no one’s surprise, 100% of GSP owners said they hunt birds.
Fun fact: over half of GSP owners are members of Pheasants Forever.
2. Labrador Retriever (16.8%)
The 2024 North American Upland Hunting Survey showed that the Labrador Retriever, at 16.8%, is the second most popular bird dog breed among the Project Upland community. This comes as no surprise to us because waterfowl and pheasant hunting hold special places in American hunters’ hearts. In fact, 85.4% of Labrador owners reported hunting pheasants in the fall of 2023. Similarly, 57.3% of Lab lovers also hunted waterfowl last year.
Labradors are most popular among Gen Xers; 19.9% of them are Lab owners. Gen Zers are the second most Lab-loving generation. 17.4% of them have at least one Lab lounging on their sofa right now. 16.4% of Baby Boomers own one. Labs are the least popular among Millennials; just 13.5% of them have one in the home.
The breed’s mainstream popularity has created a few breeding issues. There tends to be controversy surrounding the purity and standards of Labs inside the hunting community. Just utter “silver Lab” inside a room full of Labrador enthusiasts, and you’ll see what we mean.
In more recent years, there has been a surge in British Labs in America. A driving factor of this trend is the distinguishable difference in temperament between British Labs and classic, American-bred Labrador Retrievers. The iconic breed even found its way into the heart of Eddie Bauer, who wrote of the British Labrador Retriever, “The greatest of all the great dogs I have ever known; one I have loved above all others. I hope, when I go to the Happy Hunting Grounds, Blackie will come to my side, as I will try to go to his.”
3. English Setter (16.3%)
The English Setter is holding tight at #3 for the second year in a row. This breed is most popular among Baby Boomers. At 19.7%, nearly one-fifth of them have a Setter at home. Gen Z is the second most Setter-loving generation at 17.4%, which speaks to the English Setter’s ability to remain popular with upland hunters young and old. Millennials come in third at 13.5%, and Gen X is not far behind at 13.3%.
Unsurprisingly, 68% of English Setter owners hunt ruffed grouse. 65% chase pheasant, and 59% hunt American Woodcock. Only one person reported hunting ptarmigan with an English Setter in 2023; if you’re looking for a novel pursuit this hunting season, it’s time to tow your Setter out to ptarmigan country and try to bag a bird or two.
The English Setter just barely made the cut for the top 100 most popular dog breeds in the United States, according to the AKC, coming in at 97. It’s dropped four positions since 2022. The Irish Setter continues to beat them in popularity and landed 76th place in 2023. Comparatively, the Gordon Setter was the 101st most popular dog. In our community, Irish Setters ranked #16 and Gordon Setters claimed 12th place.
Between its orginiations in England and the breed’s expansion throughout the US and beyond, the history of the Setter is fascinating. Craig Koshyk hashed it out in remarkable detail in his book, Pointing Dogs, Volume Two: The British and Irish Breeds. You can also read about Edward Laverack, listen to his 1872 book The Setter, learn about Ryman Setters, and explore just how English the English Setter is here on Project Upland.
4. Brittany (13.2%)
Brittanies were the 4th most popular breed within the Project Upland Community. They’re a favorite among Boomers, of which 14.3% own at least one. They’re second-most popular with Millennials; 13.5% of them hunt over a Brittany. 11.6% of Gen Xers have a Brittany, and just 8.7% of Gen Zers own one.
The majority of Brittany owners (33%) hunted more than 30 days last season. 69% of folks hunting over a Brittany chase pheasants, and 54% of them hunt ruffed grouse. No one reported hunting Himalayan Snowcock with a Brittany during last hunting season; 2024 is the year for one of you in our community to claim that title.
In 2023, the Brittany was the 28th most popular breed in the US, according to the AKC. According to NAVHDA, the Brittany was the 8th most popular breed registered in 2022. Overall, they continue to be a popular pointing dog breed among upland hunters and field trialers.
The history of the Brittany in the United States began in the 1930s when a well-known Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breeder began importing them. Two clubs merged in 1942 to create the American Brittany Club. By the 1960s, it was France’s most popular hunting dog breed. By the 1980s, growing pressure existed to split the Brittany into the American Brittany and French Brittany (or Epagneul Breton). The split became a reality in 2002 when the United Kennel Club officially recognized it.
5. German Wirehaired Pointer or Deutsch Drahthaar (9.6%)
The German dog popularity did not end with the GSP. German Wirehaired Pointers came in as the fifth most popular bird dog. If you want to start an internet war, much like the Silver Labs conversation, just mention the difference between the German Wirehaired Pointer and the Deutsch Drahthaar.
GWPs are the most popular among Millennials. 13% own a Wirehair. They’re the second most popular among Gen Xers, of which 10.6% hunt over one. 8.7% of Gen Zers own a GWP or a Draht, and just 7.5% of Boomers are Wirehair fans. This is the second year in a row that GWPs have been the least popular breed among Baby Boomers.
In 2023, GWPs were the 61st most popular breed in American, according to AKC data. It was the fourth most registered breed with NAVHDA in 2022.
Interestingly, 8.4% of Wirehair owners have four or more dogs. In addition to a GWP, they also own Labradors (11.2%), English Setters (10.2%), Pointers (7.1%), and GSPs (6.1%).
54% of German Wirehaired Pointer owners hunted more than 30 days in 2023. During those days in the field, they chased pheasant (82.5%), Huns (46.9%), sharptails (44.9%), and ruffed grouse (41.8%).
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a latecomer to the United States. The official club was not formed until 1959. The first German club in the United States started in 1971, and by 1984, a Canadian chapter was also recognized by the VDD.
2024’s Above 1% Club, According to the North American Upland Bird Hunting Survey
Didn’t see your favorite breed in the top 5? Perhaps you’ll find it in our Above 1% Club. Here’s a breakdown of the dog breeds are owned by more than 1% of the community in 2024:
- 6. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (8.6%)
- 7. Pointer (7.1%)
- 8. Pudelpointer (5.8%)
- 9. Springer Spaniel (4.3%)
- 10. English Cocker (3.5%)
- 11. Small Munsterlander (3.3%)
- 12. Gordon Setter (2.5%)
- 13. Golden Retriever (1.8%)
- 14. Boykin Spaniel (1.7%)
- 15. Vizsla (1.7%)
- 16. Irish Setter (1.1%)
After the Irish Setter, the 14 other breeds we listed in our survey polled under 1% from there on out.
The Weimaraner (0.7%) polled less than 1% for the first time this year. Comparatively, Pointers jumped up nearly 3 percentage points. The English Cocker rose by 0.4% this year, stealing spot #10 from the Small Munsterlander, which polled at the same percentage as last year (3.3%). The Pudelpointer and Pointer swapped positions with each other; the Pointer gained nearly three percentage points this year and snagged spot #7. The Pudelpointer actually rose in popularity from 2023 as well, but not as much as the Pointer.
We’d also like to welcome the Irish Setter to the Above 1% Club!
The wide variety of dog breeds found within the top 16 most popular bird dog breeds represents different styles and flavors of hunting birds over a dog. Flushing, pointing, and versatile dogs of all shapes, sizes, and forms are all present in the top five breeds and are found throughout the 16 most popular breeds.
As bird hunters, we’re fortunate to have the freedom to choose our breed of choice allows us to truly do things however we want. We’re incredibly grateful to all the dog-loving folks who have dedicated themselves to the preservation, proliferation, and continued future of these incredible hunting dog breeds.
The Most Uncommon Dog Breeds of 2024
Just because these pups aren’t owned by hundreds of folks in the Project Upland Community, that doesn’t diminish their worth whatsoever. In fact, their uncommonness speaks to the rarity of these breeds and the vast spectrum of bird dogs available for prospective bird dog owners.
If you’re looking to add an uncommon bird dog to your family, here are the least-owned hunting dog breeds of 2024:
- 26. Picardy Spaniel (0.3%)
- 27. Wirehaired Vizsla (0.3%)
- 28. Braque d’Auvergne (0.2%)
- 29. Braque du Bourbonnais (0.1%)
- 30. Blue Picardy Spaniel (0.0%)
ICYMI: 2023’s Most Popular Dog Breeds
In case you missed it, here’s 2023’s list of most popular bird dogs according to the North American Upland Bird Hunting 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 can see, these breeds are recurring favorites with upland hunters. Whether you love versatile German breeds or water-obsessed Labradors, a wide variety of bird dogs make up our most popular list year after year.
Will this trend continue into 2025? Only time will tell…
Interesting article. Please note: Drahthaar is misspelled! ” The English springer spaniel placed fifth place at 4.38 percent. The last five slots are held in the order of the wirehaired pointing griffon, drahtaar, vizsla, English pointer and the golden retriever. “
What?! English Pointers rule.
Drahthaar is the correct spelling.
The author did not know there’s no “y” in Llewellin. Grouse hunters who own setters always refer to their dogs by their strain, i.e. Ryman, DeCoverly and Llewellin, hardly ever as English setters. They leave that for Field setter owners.
Hey Max, great catch on that detail. We have amended that breed reference as you are correct as that is how they referred to as today as “Llewellin”. Upon our research we did, we found that Purcell Llewellyn name was in fact spelled with a “y” and not an “i” which is a welsh origins name (he was from Wales). Common occurrence to the name in the states. Thank you for the feedback!
I will correct you again. His name was Richard Purcell Llewellin and as written and well documented in Freeman Lloyd’s book All Setters: Their Histories, Rearing & Training (ca. early 1930’s), A.F. Hochwalt’s books Dogcraft (1908) and The Modern Setter (1923) show no Llewellin spelling with a “y” when referring to Richard Purcell Llewellin. Welsh or not it’s Llewellin.
Hey Max,
This is pretty interesting stuff and certainly do not doubt the validate of what you are saying at all. You actually bring up a great point. You have inspired me to dig deeper on this and I dug up a magazine article from 1898 in a magazine called “Outing”. The article is called “Dogs of To-day – The English Setter”, using the name “Llewellyn”. I think an article on this whole topic maybe in order in the near future. I found a couple other for the early 1900’s however I am noticing they are all of British origins. One called “The New Country Life” in 1917. I also saw a modern republish (2010) on a book called “The Irish Setter” that also uses the “y”. However again, British origins.
But as you said today it is 100% refereed to as “Llewellin”. Would love to continue the conversation and even pick your brain a bit if you are willing to see what else can be found and some more details on the references you gave to cite in the article. Thanks again, truly appreciate your passion and knowledge, I am by no means a setter expert. My email is aj.derosa@northwoodscollective.com
This was interesting. And of course the answer is correct as both my Llewelyn and I agree with the result😎I subscribe to Project Upland and have found the first couple of issues somewhat interesting. But I also have noticed what you commented on which is that a preponderance of your authors writing about grouse and western plains hunting. To hold me and guys like me in your audience you need to get some voices from the southeast. It’d be a natural, upland hunting for quail is in our blood here.
Great feedback Alan! We are working to add more southern content. In fact you will see a good uptick in it for the winter issue. Fall issue has an article specifically based around conservation for bobwhite and restoring native grasslands to Missouri.
Cool article. We breed GSP’s and Brittany’s. I am liking this format. Just starting to explore PU now. Thanks
The last spot can’t be held by Golden Retriever. I hunt a couple of Braque Francais, and they have to be less numerous in the upland community then the Golden Retriever.
Our wording was bit off in that. Just added (of the top ten). So Golden Retriever was #10 in the audience at 2.09%. The 1.11% of the audience cited owning Braque Francais.
Brittanys and GWPs are clearly not the authors favorite breeds. Three short paragraphs and one photo each haha.
While I am not surprised the GSP is on the top it would be safe to speculate that the GSP as a name no longer describes one breed but rather a type of dogs that may share superficial similarities and some ancestry. There is enormous difference between the GSP that goes beyond mare line or subset within the breed. I don’t see anything in common between a 40lb quail dog and a 65Lb NAVHDA bred GSP. Not to mention the DK, which is almost its own breed, has got its own lines and types which vary by kennel or regions. I guess only common physical feature between these dogs is the docked tail.
This so called GSP dogs vary from the manner of hunting, style and temperament.
It is also safe to assume that the good percentage of the GSP in America has some doze of Pointer blood. However, this is not unique to the American GSP, but quite often happened in many other countries such as Italy, France and the Balkans.
But one thing is clear, the GSP is the most successful upland breed in the world. You will not find a country with an upland culture that does not have GSPs. And maybe their success lay in that they are very diverse, adaptable and flexible in a sense.
Based on this survey, I wonder what the ration between GSP and DK is? (Yes, I have a bias for DK though I don’t own one)
I would gather the Deutsch Kurzhaar ratio is pretty high as well. But the survey, while did allow write ins (which some people did write in the DK), did not separate the GSP/DK. GSP was the only option on that front.
What is the exact difference between the English Pointer or a GSP? My Ben dog is registered GSP but I bought him as much for his resemblance to the English Pointer which We hunted as a youth (white w/ liver spots) as much as Ben’s close hunting instinct & retrieving/soft mouth instincts. Size/body weight?
it all depends on game being hunted.. if it were duck; retrievers, grouse/quail/pen raised pheasant; pointers.. wild pheasants; springers. there is no better breed than a springer for pheasant.. i would put a springer against any other breed w/ similar experience any time.. i especially love all the false points, the pointing breeds give.. lol… there is nothing better than watching a flusher pick up scent and chase it down until it flushes..
much like the argument chevy, ford or dodge
it depends on what you are hunting… ducks; retrievers, quail, grouse, pen raised pheasants; pointers, wild pheasants; springers.. there is no better breed. will take a springer head to head on any upland bird w/ similar experience.. nothing better than watching a springer flush a bird. my dad always said, pointers are a lazy mans hunting dog.. jk…
And where does the Irish Red & White Setter appear. Historically the beginning of the Irish Setter. They are far and above excellent bird dogs. Because of their scarcity no one seems to want to try and work with them.
This is categorically flawed. “Versatiles” are pointing breeds theoretically. So the first graph should combine pointing and Versatile data. Also “spaniel” isn’t an action category like Pointing dog, or retriever. The proper category would be “flusher”. If asked about ownership of a spaniel vs a flusher your data received would probably also look different. Good fun. Keep up the good work.
So what are the breeds ranked between number 16 and 26?
You listed 1-16 and 26-30.
Here you go:
Irish Setter: 1.08%
Braque Francais: 0.98%
Chesapeake Bay Retriever: 0.88%
Large Munsterlander: 0.79%
Spinone Italiano: 0.79%
Weimaraner: 0.69%
American Cocker: 0.59%
Bracco Italiano: 0.59%
German Longhaired Pointer (or Deutsch Langhaar): 0.59%
Cesky Fousek: 0.49%