Dog breed lists
Sporting Dog Breeds
Sporting breeds were developed to work with hunters, retrieving and flushing game. They tend to be friendly, energetic and eager to please, which makes many of them popular family dogs. Here are the sporting breeds in our guides, most popular first.
-
1
Sporting
Labrador Retriever
Born to retrieve, built to befriend.
- 55–80 lbs
- 11–13 yrs
- Active
-
2
Sporting
Golden Retriever
Part retriever, part sunshine, all family.
- 55–75 lbs
- 10–12 yrs
- Active
-
3
Sporting
German Shorthaired Pointer
A tireless gundog with a clown's heart.
- 45–70 lbs
- 10–12 yrs
- Athlete
-
4
Sporting
Brittany
Looks like a spaniel, points like a setter.
- 30–40 lbs
- 12–14 yrs
- Athlete
-
5
Sporting
English Springer Spaniel
Eager to please, until something smells interesting.
- 40–50 lbs
- 12–14 yrs
- Athlete
-
6
Sporting
Cocker Spaniel
The original Disney dog.
- 20–30 lbs
- 10–14 yrs
- Active
- 7
-
8
Sporting
English Cocker Spaniel
Bred for woodcock, built for joy.
- 26–34 lbs
- 12–14 yrs
- Active
-
9
Sporting
Weimaraner
The grey ghost that shadows your every step.
- 55–90 lbs
- 10–13 yrs
- Athlete
-
10
Sporting
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Tireless outside, tender inside.
- 35–70 lbs
- 12–15 yrs
- Athlete
-
11
Sporting
Boykin Spaniel
South Carolina’s best-kept secret.
- 25–40 lbs
- 10–15 yrs
- Athlete
-
12
Sporting
Irish Setter
The rollicking redhead of the field.
- 60–70 lbs
- 11–13 yrs
- Athlete
-
13
Sporting
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The retriever built for icy water.
- 55–80 lbs
- 10–13 yrs
- Athlete
-
14
Sporting
English Setter
The gentleman of the dog world.
- 45–80 lbs
- 10–12 yrs
- Active
-
15
Sporting
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The retriever that lures ducks by playing.
- 35–50 lbs
- 12–14 yrs
- Athlete
-
16
Sporting
Flat-Coated Retriever
The Peter Pan of retrievers.
- 60–70 lbs
- 8–10 yrs
- Athlete
-
17
Sporting
German Wirehaired Pointer
The pointer that grew a beard.
- 50–70 lbs
- 12–14 yrs
- Athlete
-
18
Sporting
Gordon Setter
The heavyweight of the setter family.
- 45–80 lbs
- 12–13 yrs
- Athlete
-
19
Sporting
Curly-Coated Retriever
The oldest retriever, in a coat of curls.
- 60–95 lbs
- 10–12 yrs
- Athlete
How we picked
This list shows every breed in the Sporting group in our guides, ranked by popularity.
Questions people ask
What are sporting dog breeds?
Sporting breeds were developed to work with hunters, retrieving and flushing game. They tend to be friendly, energetic and eager to please, which makes many of them popular family dogs.
Are sporting breeds good family dogs?
It depends on the breed. Each guide covers temperament, energy, trainability and grooming so you can judge the fit for your home.