8 Small Hunting Dog Breeds — And the Best GPS Fences to Contain Them

Key Takeaways

• Small hunting dog breeds like Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, and Brittanys were bred to flush, point, and retrieve — instincts that make them some of the hardest dogs to keep in a yard.

• Their small size lets them squeeze through fence gaps, and their scent drive means they’ll follow a trail until they can’t find their way home.

• A GPS dog fence gives hunting breeds the freedom to run your property while enforcing a reliable boundary — even when their nose tells them to keep going.

Small hunting dogs are incredible field companions. They’re fast, intelligent, and relentless on a scent. But those same traits that make them great hunters make them terrible at staying in your yard.

I’ve seen it firsthand — hunting breed owners are some of the most common buyers of GPS dog fences because traditional containment just doesn’t hold these dogs. A Beagle that picks up a rabbit trail doesn’t care about your 4-foot fence. A Brittany locked onto a bird won’t hear you calling from the porch.

A GPS fence solves this by creating a virtual boundary that warns your dog before they cross the line — tone, vibration, then correction. It works whether your dog is in the backyard, on your hunting property, or at the cabin. And because it’s portable, you can use the same collar across multiple locations.

Here are the 8 most popular small hunting breeds and what makes each one a containment challenge.

8 Small Hunting Dog Breeds

1. Beagle

The Beagle is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world — and one of the most common escape artists. Originally bred for “beagling” (hunting rabbits in pairs), Beagles are hounds at heart with an extraordinary nose. They flush prey from thick underbrush and can even track large game like deer.

Beagles are friendly, happy, and great with kids. But once they pick up a scent, recall training goes out the window. They work in pairs naturally, which means a single Beagle left alone in a yard will go looking for something to track.

Containment challenge: Scent drive overrides everything. A Beagle will follow a rabbit trail under, through, or around any physical fence. Their small size (13–15 inches) lets them squeeze through gaps that larger dogs can’t.

GPS fence advantage: The progressive warning system interrupts the scent-chase cycle before the dog reaches the boundary. Over 2–4 weeks of training, Beagles learn to associate the tone with “turn around” — even mid-chase.

2. Cocker Spaniel

Named after the woodcock they were bred to hunt, Cocker Spaniels are among the smallest hunting dogs — 13.5 to 15.5 inches, 20–30 lbs. They pounce into the thickest cover with enthusiasm and flush game with a bravery that belies their size. Both English and American varieties exist, with American Cockers being friendlier.

Today most Cockers are house pets, but they retain that hunting energy. They need daily activity and will create their own entertainment (read: escape) if understimulated.

Containment challenge: High energy in a small package. Cockers are fast, agile, and low enough to find gaps in fencing that larger dogs would miss.

GPS fence advantage: Their eagerness to please makes Cockers responsive to boundary training. The Halo Collar 5 fits necks as small as 8 inches, making it a good match for smaller sporting breeds.

3. Brittany

The Brittany is a versatile gundog — pointer, flusher, and retriever rolled into one. Standing 17–20 inches and weighing 30–40 lbs, they’re strong, intelligent, and love hunting a wide variety of game. Brittanys are also excellent family dogs, which is part of the problem — they bond deeply with their owners and can develop separation anxiety when left alone outdoors.

Containment challenge: Brittanys combine high prey drive with separation anxiety. They’ll chase a bird beyond your property line or panic and bolt if spooked by thunder while outside alone.

GPS fence advantage: The escape alert and live GPS tracking features mean that even if a Brittany pushes through the boundary during a panic, you know exactly where they are and can bring them home.

4. French Brittany

Very similar to the American Brittany in hunting style, the French Brittany excels at scent-tracking and pointing upland birds and waterfowl. They’re highly intelligent, friendly, and versatile — 17–20 inches, 30–45 lbs.

Containment challenge: Like their American cousins, French Brittanys are driven by scent and sight. They’ll range far from home when tracking and may not respond to recall at distance.

GPS fence advantage: For owners with hunting land and a separate home property, GPS fences let you set different boundaries for each location using the same collar — no reinstallation, no extra equipment.

5. American Water Spaniel

Recognizable by their curly coat, American Water Spaniels are “flusher dogs” that retrieve fallen game from water. They have a dense waterproof coat, are incredibly athletic, and are among the most intelligent breeds — but also among the most stubborn.

Standing 15–18 inches and weighing 25–45 lbs, they need constant activity. A bored American Water Spaniel becomes destructive or finds a way out.

Containment challenge: Stubborn + smart + water-loving = a dog that will dig under a fence to reach a pond or creek. Early training is essential because their independent streak strengthens with age.

GPS fence advantage: GPS fences let you draw boundaries that include safe water access while excluding roads and neighboring properties — something no physical fence can do for a waterfront yard.

6. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The “Toller” is one of the smallest retrieving dogs — 17–21 inches, 35–50 lbs. They’re named for their technique of luring ducks into range for hunters. Tollers are extremely alert, intelligent, and patient. They also have a distinctive high-pitched “scream” that sets them apart from other hunting dogs.

Containment challenge: Tollers who don’t get enough stimulation become destructive. They’re also less submissive than other retrievers and can be aloof with strangers — meaning they won’t necessarily come when a neighbor calls them if they’ve escaped your yard.

GPS fence advantage: The consistent, automated boundary enforcement works even when the Toller’s independent streak kicks in. They learn the boundary through repetition rather than relying on owner commands.

7. Boykin Spaniel

The largest breed on this list at 15–18 inches and 25–40 lbs, the Boykin Spaniel has a dense coat for swimming in water of varying temperatures. They hunt pheasants, quail, and waterfowl using both scent and sight. Boykins are known for taking initiative — they’ll flush game without waiting for a command.

They make wonderful family pets and get along well with everyone, including strangers.

Containment challenge: Their independence in the field translates to independence in the yard. A Boykin that spots a bird doesn’t check with you first — they go.

GPS fence advantage: SpotOn’s off-grid mode works without cell service, making it ideal for Boykin owners who hunt in rural areas and need containment at both their home property and remote hunting land.

8. Small Munsterlander

A German breed (not actually related to the Large Munsterlander), the Small Munsterlander is the ultimate all-rounder — pointer, flusher, and retriever equally at home on land and in water. They hunt upland birds, waterfowl, and everything in between. At 20–21 inches and 40–60 lbs, they’re the most versatile breed on this list.

Containment challenge: Versatility means they’ll chase anything — birds, rabbits, squirrels, interesting smells. Their intelligence means they learn how to defeat physical fences quickly.

GPS fence advantage: For a breed this smart, the progressive warning system works in your favor. Small Munsterlanders learn the tone warning fast and self-correct before reaching the boundary — often within the first week of training.

Why Hunting Breeds Need GPS Fences

Hunting dogs were bred to do one thing: pursue game wherever it goes. That instinct doesn’t switch off when they’re in your backyard. Here’s why traditional containment fails for these breeds:

• Scent drive overrides training. A hunting dog on a trail isn’t ignoring you — they literally can’t hear you. The GPS fence’s collar-level warning reaches them when your voice doesn’t.
• Small size = more escape routes. Gaps under gates, spaces between fence boards, and holes dug by other animals are all viable exits for a 15-inch dog.
• They range far. A hunting breed that escapes can cover miles before slowing down. GPS tracking and escape alerts let you find them before they reach a road.
• Multiple properties. Many hunting dog owners have a home yard and hunting land. GPS fences work at both — same collar, different boundaries.

For a side-by-side of the top GPS fences, including which ones work best for smaller breeds, see our SpotOn vs Halo comparison.

Which GPS Fence Fits Small Hunting Breeds?

Most small hunting breeds (20–50 lbs, 10”+ neck) fit both collars. For the smallest breeds like Cocker Spaniels, the Halo’s 8” minimum gives it the edge. For owners who hunt on rural land without cell service, SpotOn’s off-grid mode is the better choice.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smallest breed of dog used for hunting?

The Cocker Spaniel is one of the smallest, standing 13.5–15.5 inches and weighing 20–30 lbs. Despite their small size, they’re energetic flushers that were originally bred to hunt woodcock.

What is the easiest hunting dog to train on a GPS fence?

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers train the fastest because they look to their handlers for direction. Among small breeds, Cocker Spaniels and Small Munsterlanders are the most responsive to GPS fence training due to their intelligence and desire to please.

Can small hunting dogs wear GPS fence collars?

Yes. The Halo Collar 5 fits necks as small as 8 inches and dogs as light as 10 lbs, covering even the smallest hunting breeds. SpotOn fits necks 10 inches and up. Both collars are waterproof (IP67), which matters for breeds that hunt in and around water.

Is a GPS fence better than a physical fence for hunting dogs?

For most hunting breed owners, yes. Physical fences can be dug under, jumped over, or squeezed through by determined small dogs. GPS fences have no physical barrier to defeat, work across multiple properties, and include GPS tracking in case your dog does push past the boundary. The one exception: very small yards under ½ acre may be better served by a traditional wireless fence.