Squirrel Dogs

JamesT · Jan 17, 2023

Having grown up with coon hounds, rabbit beagles, bird dogs, and hunting squirrels since the age of 8 I have never had any experience with squirrel dogs. I searched here but haven't found any mention of it. Have any of yall hunted with dogs and if so what breeds do you think are most suited. Also do you know of any breeders?
James

Jim K · Jan 17, 2023

Lots of squirrel dog stuff on YouTube. Mountain curs and Fiests seem to be mostly what are used. I’ve never done it but would like to.

Dale Allen Raby · Jan 17, 2023

I had one "squirrel dog", which was the family dog when I was in my teens. Coco was a liver-colored German Shepherd. She wasn't much for birds, but she lived for squirrel hunting! She knew which tree the squirrel was in and would not leave the tree until the squirrel had been shot and put into the game bag. She would run around the tree to keep the squirrel in sight, which made it a bit easier to shoot it, as anyone who has hunted squirrels will attest to.

One find day, she went up to sniff at a fallen squirrel and it locked it's jaws on her nose until she was able to shake it loose. From that day forward, she hated squirrels, so you had to be sure to get to the squirrel before she did, or you would end up with chewed game.

Coco came to live with me and my family when my parents moved to the city and could no longer keep her, so for a few more years, she was my hunting companion. At some point, she started to lose her vision and something started growing on her belly. She was about thirteen at that point and it fell to me to put her down. I shot her with a .22 pistol in the woods where she had frequently hunted.

Sorry for the bummer post.

It is said that every man gets one good dog. I had mine when I was quite young. No other dog would be able to measure up, so I moved on to cats.

skwerleater · Jan 17, 2023

James I have a couple squirrel dogs. They are both Mt Cur. Both tree well. The younger one has a great nose. Both sight hunt too.

david w · Jan 17, 2023

Dale Allen Raby said:
I had one "squirrel dog", which was the family dog when I was in my teens. Coco was a liver-colored German Shepherd. She wasn't much for birds, but she lived for squirrel hunting! She knew which tree the squirrel was in and would not leave the tree until the squirrel had been shot and put into the game bag. She would run around the tree to keep the squirrel in sight, which made it a bit easier to shoot it, as anyone who has hunted squirrels will attest to.

One find day, she went up to sniff at a fallen squirrel and it locked it's jaws on her nose until she was able to shake it loose. From that day forward, she hated squirrels, so you had to be sure to get to the squirrel before she did, or you would end up with chewed game.

Coco came to live with me and my family when my parents moved to the city and could no longer keep her, so for a few more years, she was my hunting companion. At some point, she started to lose her vision and something started growing on her belly. She was about thirteen at that point and it fell to me to put her down. I shot her with a .22 pistol in the woods where she had frequently hunted.

Sorry for the bummer post.

It is said that every man gets one good dog. I had mine when I was quite young. No other dog would be able to measure up, so I moved on to cats.

I never had a true squirrel dog, but when I was a teenager, I took my German Shepherd with me. He could really tree those squirrels!

woodsnwater · Jan 17, 2023

I had a German shepherd lab mix that was death on squirrels. One particular trip he got 3 and I got 2. Who knew shepherds were so good on squirrels?

Dale Allen Raby · Jan 17, 2023

This same dog would run down and catch rabbits... and bring them back to you. You didn't even need a gun to go hunting!

JamesT · Jan 17, 2023

skwerleater said:
James I have a couple squirrel dogs. They are both Mt Cur. Both tree well. The younger one has a great nose. Both sight hunt too.

I like those Mountain Curs. How is the temperment

JamesT · Jan 17, 2023

Sorry for the last post. Don't know why my replies are doin crazy things. Been that way the last few days.

Anyhow, skwerleater, how are the Mountain Curs around the house? Are the aggressive with people or children?

Okie Hog · Jan 17, 2023

JamesT said:
Have any of yall hunted with dogs and if so what breeds do you think are most suited.

Beginning in the mid 1950s i've hunted with several excellent squirrel dogs. All were mixed breed, two had Norwegian elk hound blood. One was also a great rabbit and coon dog.

skwerleater · Jan 17, 2023

I have had 3 total and I keep them in the house. In my opinion they make excellent house and family dogs. I have had them around the kids when they the kids were babies and they were all wonderful. They have been non aggressive and social with other dogs but the two males I had did fight back when attacked by other dogs. The female seems a little softer and submissive. With cats, which are just the wild ones around here, they will pursue them. Other than that, they definitely naturally pursue squirrels!!! I will probably breed the two I have in a year or so. I love the breed, they are very smart dogs and I would like to have several when I get to retirement.

skwerleater · Jan 17, 2023

Here they are, in the woods and in the city. They still go bezerk when they see a squirrel in the city. My neighbors are not amused.

skwerleater · Jan 17, 2023

Both are awesome truck dogs and I take them with me a lot. Good companions when I am camping too. Nothing will come in your camp at night that’s for sure. They will let you know.

Shorthanded · Jan 17, 2023

skwerleater said:
Both are awesome truck dogs and I take them with me a lot. Good companions when I am camping too. Nothing will come in your camp at night that’s for sure. They will let you know.

I have a female Fiest ,She is a very good house dog and loves everyone she meets. She is a squirrel fanatic, by sight, sound or scent. Squirrel dogs are mixed breeds. Terrier, mountain curr etc. I got mine from a shelter and had no idea she was a squirrel dog. All I have to is say squirrel and she goes nuts. See my avatar to see what she looks like.

Stub · Jan 17, 2023

Dale Allen Raby said:
I had one "squirrel dog", which was the family dog when I was in my teens. Coco was a liver-colored German Shepherd. She wasn't much for birds, but she lived for squirrel hunting! She knew which tree the squirrel was in and would not leave the tree until the squirrel had been shot and put into the game bag. She would run around the tree to keep the squirrel in sight, which made it a bit easier to shoot it, as anyone who has hunted squirrels will attest to.

One find day, she went up to sniff at a fallen squirrel and it locked it's jaws on her nose until she was able to shake it loose. From that day forward, she hated squirrels, so you had to be sure to get to the squirrel before she did, or you would end up with chewed game.

Coco came to live with me and my family when my parents moved to the city and could no longer keep her, so for a few more years, she was my hunting companion. At some point, she started to lose her vision and something started growing on her belly. She was about thirteen at that point and it fell to me to put her down. I shot her with a .22 pistol in the woods where she had frequently hunted.

Sorry for the bummer post.

It is said that every man gets one good dog. I had mine when I was quite young. No other dog would be able to measure up, so I moved on to cats.

I loved your story in a sad sort of way. I had to put down my bird dog 3 years ago, he was the best friend I ever had! Strangely enough, I have also moved on to a cat.

andy52 · Jan 17, 2023

I've hunted squirrels with dogs but to be honest I can kill way more squirrels without one.

Spikebuck · Jan 17, 2023

I grew up with "squirrel" dogs. The earliest I remember as a very little kid was a Beagle/American Foxhound mix. That dog had it all because a really good squirrel dog needs to be both a scent and sight dog. Scent dogs can smell out the game but can be poor at following them if they run from tree to tree. Sight dogs can bypass hiding game. Freckles was good at both plus had an unending desire to hunt. If you hunted her in the afternoon you could expect to wait at the truck for awhile after dark to give her time to give up and come back.

Have hunted with several terriers which are natural rodent haters and do well on squirrels. My Golden Retriever was an exceptional squirrel dog and my black lab is also good.

Lastly, my current German Shepherd Dog is one of the best sight hunters I've been around.

Net, I think many breeds can be exceptional natural squirrel dogs. In addition, individuals within the same breed can vary quite a bit in their natural skill and interest level.

One picture...Kaiah, the Golden Retriever, was at a tree indicating a squirrel and I shot it. She didn't break away and low and behold there was another squirrel in the very large oak. As you can see, she is still looking up there, but I'll be darned if I could find a third...

On another hunt.

rusticbob · Jan 17, 2023

I don’t have any hunting pictures, but my Wire Haired Fox Terrier has a squirrel obsession! He has already caught 7 or 8 in the back yard, pretty hard to do, they are very fast. The only problem I have with Ben is he will NOT give them up. If anyone else owns a terrier, they will know what I am talking about.

sheriff john · Jan 17, 2023

Herbie, my 11-pound chijuaha /dachsund mix is getting old, but he's death on squirrels, rabbits, possums, snakes, moles, & rats. Now deaf, he responds to the hand signals I used with my K-9's. Unlike some dogs, he will climb any tree or limb of about 45 degree angle. Surprised a possum and barn cat when Herbie ran up, grabbed them and "rode" them down to the ground. Killed the possum. Don't rule out mixed breeds.

Right now, he's mentoring Max, my basset pup. We have a long way to go but they're funny.

deermanok · Jan 17, 2023

We have a half dozen dogs at our place. All mixed breeds and every one is a natural squirrel dog.

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