Smallest hunting dogs?

Gargoyle

Gargoyle

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What would you consider the smallest useful hunting dogs for all types of hunting?

Waterfowl, Upland, Rabbits, Raccoon and anything else I am missing.

I have a seven month old Blue Heeler that is really showing some retrieving skills and very interested in birds in general and am considering doing some more formal training with her for ducks and possibly some upland. She stands 20 inches at the shoulders and weighs 30 pounds but is still growing and has incredibly strong jaws and neck muscles as well as being a very agile dog.

I am also on my way in about an hour to pick up a year old German shorthaired pointer male that I plan on using for an all round gun dog but would love to have two versatile dogs.
 
Cocker spaniels are great for pheasants. Being small, they always are working in close and they have just as good of noses as their larger cousins.
 
Beagles will run bunnies and raccoon and can flush birds. No one dog can do it all. Most of the hunting breeds have hundreds of years of breeding for specific purposes. The various breeds don't have much instinct or drive to perform other than what their breeding has instilled. My Plott will retrieve a ball, but it's not in him to sit, quietly, and retrieve birds.
 
I use my Basset Hound for flushing birds and rabbits. She will also retrieve ducks. It took A LOT of patience, but she learned eventually. Great swimmer, must be the oversize webbed paws. At first she was pretty scared of gunshots, so I bought her hearing protection and now all is well.

Awesome nose on her BTW.

Couple older pics.

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First time I have heard of a Blue Heeler being used for bird hunting, but they are definitely smart enough to learn just about anything. Not sure how good their noses are, but your shorthair should show you what a hunting dogs nose can do.
 
For hunting rats, a Miniature Pinscher. If not successful, shoot the Min-Pin, it is probably just as annoying.
 
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I think a Brittany would be the smallest dog that could handle everything you've listed. Of course I may be a bit biased... I've got three of them. Our smallest might have a bit of trouble with a large goose though - she's only 30 pounds.
 
Spaniels make great hunting dogs as long as you get breeding out of hunting bloodlines. I'm partial to Springers but I've always been intrigued with Britt's. I'd probably own one except my wife says that after our current crop (3) is gone to the" great marsh in the sky",that's it. No more dogs(something about hair,cleaning,poop not quite sure what her point is).:( By the way just how much hair does a a small Muensterlander shed?;)
 
Mutt Muffs. They are designed for dogs riding in planes. It took a while to get her to wear them, but now she doesn't notice. It does impede her ability some, but I think they're worth it to save her ears.

h ttp://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/pspages/muttMuffs.php
 
Springer Spaniel. Lap doggie at home but all business in the bush, fur, feathers, or otherwise. They'll fetch and retrieve till the cows come home. Breeds come in all different sizes.

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If we are talking racehorses, lets talk racehorses...

I'd recommend a Drahthaar, aka the German Wirehaired Pointer. The best bred versatile dog breed out there, IMHO.

Cheers
Jay
 
Lots of good breeds mentioned here. Like Grizzly416, I think Nova Scotia Duck Tollers are awesome. I have two of them. My three year is a great duck/goose retriever and upland flushing dog. My one year old female is shaping up to be at least as good as my three year old Toller. I've never had them on fur though, so I don't know about that aspect.
 
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