What Makes a Good Squirrel Dog?
When selecting a dog for hunting squirrels, you should think about its disposition and personality. Sonny Conwill describes the perfect dog as having “just enough nose” – an expression that implies an innate sense of smell. A dog with too much or too little nose will likely smell a squirrel hours before it actually appears. Natural nose factor also comes into play when the dog detects squirrels through air currents. The same concept applies to “winding” – detecting squirrels on the ground or near the base of a tree.
Fiests
The Fiests of a squirrel dog are known for being particularly alert and protective of their owner. They are often used as pest control dogs in rural settings. Despite their small size, they are highly intelligent and very good at hunting. In addition to detecting suspicious activity, Feists are also good at chasing rodents and other vermin. Their bloodlines are from the rural wilderness of the South. In addition to their ferocious hunting instinct, Feists are also known for their loyalty and love of human companionship.
Originally, Feists were used to hunt rodents. Their hunting style involves tracking prey by using their ears and eyes. They then circle below the prey until the owner can shoot it. Though these dogs are usually not suitable for show competitions, their intense hunting instincts make them a great companion for people who hunt for fun. Fiests are small to medium sized, and their eagerness to hunt will surely win you over.
Mountain curs
A Mountain curs is one of the more recent breeds to be developed as a hunting dog. Its open mouth and longer ears reflect its hound ancestry. While these dogs are primarily used for squirrel hunting, they can also be trained to hunt wild hogs, cats, and livestock. Feists are similar to cur, but differ in appearance, with broken ears and a tendency to bark only when treed.
The Mountain Cur is a highly intelligent, lively dog. Originally bred as a guard dog, they are now excellent hunters. This breed’s keen sense of smell and work ethic make it a desirable hunting dog. However, the breed is typically reserved around strangers and is not very affectionate. Despite this, however, the energetic, happy, and well-behaved temperament of this breed makes it a wonderful hunting companion.
Feists
In the past, hunting squirrels with a dog has been a regional specialty. Today, this practice is widespread, particularly in the southern United States, where squirrel dogs are commonly used in hunting. A squirrel hunting dog has two main attributes: feist and cur. While the cur is a younger, more athletic dog, the feist relies more on its eyesight and nose to find squirrels. However, both types are excellent squirrel hunters and both will range ahead in the woods barking until their owner comes to pick them up.
The feist, also known as a treeing terrier, is a compact breed that weighs between 10 to 35 pounds. It has short ears and long muzzles. It can be black, red, blue, or white. Its coat may be black, gray, or another color. While it is rare to see a feist catch a squirrel, it is expected to chase after it until it leaves sight.
Siberian laikas
If you’re looking for a great squirrel dog, consider a Siberian laika. The West Siberian laika is an excellent choice for this purpose. These dogs are natural bark pointers and will often chase an animal until it reaches the treetops. While this dog is extremely versatile, its hunting abilities have made some regions more specialized than others. Here are some advantages to owning a Laika:
The Laika’s hunting ability is the basis for their popularity. They can be highly effective at detecting the scent of flying squirrels and birds. The dogs are evaluated during trials and are awarded points for hunting success and form evaluation. Hunting trials last one hour and the dogs are rewarded for spotting raccoons. If the dog runs back on the trees, it will lose ten to fifteen points.
Fiests make good “buddy” dogs
Historically, fiests have been used to hunt raccoons and squirrels, although larger versions may also be bred to hunt mountain lions and bears. Both cur and fiest are good hunters of squirrels, but fiests make excellent companions, making them ideal for a variety of hunting situations. Fiests make great squirrel “buddy” dogs, although some people do not consider them good enough for the job.
These versatile, energetic dogs make excellent companions for households with squirrels. Although their main target is above ground, they are generally tolerant of strangers, making them an ideal choice for families with children or elderly people. These dogs have excellent noses and can even be trained to hunt squirrels in the backyard. Fiests can live to be about 18 years old, making them an ideal pet for any household.
Training a squirrel dog
Train a squirrel dog to hunt and to detect scents with its tail. You can train your dog to track squirrels by tying their tails to poles and dragging them around the yard. Using squirrel tails is an effective visual training tool, since hounds and bird dogs hunt almost exclusively with their noses. Squirrel dogs, however, need to learn to hunt using their eyes. For this purpose, you should start training your dog when it is about eight weeks old.
To train your dog to hunt squirrels, you can attach a piece of hide to an eight-foot stick and attach a tail to one foot of string. Once your dog has learned to associate a squirrel with a reward, you can let it go at its own pace. Make sure to reinforce the training process with lots of praise and positive reinforcement, and you’ll soon find yourself with a squirrel dog that hunts squirrels with aplomb.
What characteristics are important in a good squirrel dog?
A good squirrel dog should be intelligent have a good nose be athletic have a lot of energy and be eager to please.
What is the best way to train a squirrel dog?
The best way to train a squirrel dog is to use positive reinforcement such as treats and praise to encourage desired behavior.
What is the best way to use a squirrel dog in the field?
The best way to use a squirrel dog in the field is to let it run ahead of you and use its nose to find and flush out squirrels.
What should you do if your squirrel dog treed a squirrel but you can’t see it?
If your squirrel dog treed a squirrel but you can’t see it you should give the dog a command to come to you and then circle the tree until you find the squirrel.
What should you do if your squirrel dog won’t tree squirrels?
If your squirrel dog won’t tree squirrels you should try using a different type of bait such as a squeaky toy or a piece of food to get the dog’s attention.
What is the best way to handle a squirrel dog in the field?
The best way to handle a squirrel dog in the field is to keep it on a leash so you can control its movements and keep it from running off.
How can you tell if a squirrel dog is good at its job?
You can tell if a squirrel dog is good at its job if it is able to find and tree squirrels on a regular basis.
What are some of the benefits of having a squirrel dog?
Some benefits of having a squirrel dog include having a companion in the woods having help in finding and harvesting squirrels and getting exercise.
Are there any drawbacks to having a squirrel dog?
Some drawbacks of having a squirrel dog include having to care for another creature having to train the dog and having to take the dog into the woods with you.
How much time and effort does it take to have a successful squirrel dog?
Having a successful squirrel dog takes a lot of time and effort as you need to train the dog and take it into the woods with you on a regular basis.
What if I don’t have enough time to take care of a squirrel dog?
If you don’t have enough time to take care of a squirrel dog you should consider getting a different type of pet.
What if I already have a dog that isn’t a squirrel dog?
If you already have a dog that isn’t a squirrel dog you can try training it to become one.
How much space do I need to have a squirrel dog?
You need to have a lot of space to have a squirrel dog as they need room to run and play.
Do I need to live in the woods to have a squirrel dog?
No you don’t need to live in the woods to have a squirrel dog but it helps if you have access to a lot of space for the dog to run and play.
What if I don’t want to hunt with my squirrel dog?
If you don’t want to hunt with your squirrel dog you can still use it as a companion in the woods and for exercise.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
