![]() ![]() “By reaching out to long-standing members of the tree dog community, as opposed to reading and buying into internet hype, most buyers can separate the puppy-millers-in it for the money-from those that are genuinely interested in improving the breed,” Morriosn said. “In short, be wary of those breeders that pursue quantity over quality. He has won world titles in tree dog competitions, and owned Mountain State Apache, a famous stud dog amongst the mountain cur breed. Morrison has been active in the cur dog world since 1990 and served on the Original Mountain Cur Breeders Association (OMCBA) Board of Directors for 10 years. “A buyer should look to an experienced and established breeder with a track record of turning out healthy, well-socialized pups from an established line of proven tree dogs,” said Mark Morrison of Canton, Miss. How to Shop for a Squirrel Dog Puppy Picking the right breeder is important. ![]() That can be in your yard, a nearby running trail, or a golf course (make sure you go in the evenings when golfers are gone). And you have to get them on squirrels as much as possible. They have to be exercised daily, which can be challenging if you live in a subdivision or apartment. Leaving it in a kennel all day, and paying little attention to it doesn’t create a good hunting dog.Īlso realize that both cur and feist breeds are high prey-drive dogs. But you have to spend time with that dog for the bond to develop. Most good dogs catch on and will want to please their owners. This helps when the dog learns what you are hunting and how you are going about it. The pup grows up with you and becomes part of the family. While pups can be troublesome, starting with a puppy is the best way to bond with a dog. House breaking (if you decided to keep your dog inside) and chewing on everything but the kitchen sink is just the start. Puppies are cute and do cute things, but they can also be a big headache. So You’ve Decided to Buy a Squirrel Dog Puppy ![]() Ask if the breeder has video of the pup’s parents hunting before you buy. Ask around about the kennel, and also ask the breeder for references-hunters who have bought his dogs previously. Don’t buy a dog before you do your homework on the breeder. That’s why it’s so important to check into the backgrounds of breeders to make sure their dogs are legit. Remember that every dog is a little different, and breeding plays the biggest role in how effective your dog will be in the woods. Some feists may hunt more with eyes and ears than nose. Curs are known to hunt with their eyes, ears, and nose. If you think you need a smaller dog and may hunt small woodlot areas where you don’t want the dog to venture out more than a hundred yards or so, the feist is a better choice. The differences between the cur dog and the feist go like this: In general, the cur will be a larger dog than the feist and will usually have a greater “range,” (how far he will travel out in front of you while hunting for squirrels). They both have long histories, and fiercely loyal followings. ![]() But the mountain cur and the feist are the two main squirrel-hunting breeds. There are many breeds that can either naturally hunt squirrels or can be trained to do so. If you have never owned a squirrel dog, I’ll keep it simple. The Best Squirrel Dog Breeds The author with his mountain cur Dotzie. Here’s how to decide which is best for you. Each option has some benefits and drawbacks. There are three routes you can go: buy a pup, get a started dog, or purchase a finished dog. There are so many breeders of curs and feists (the two most common squirrel dog breeds) that it can be intimidating to know who to buy from. Because many of these dogs are relatively inexpensive (under $500), you might also think they all perform in a similar capacity, but that’s not the case. A lot of folks think that it doesn’t take much to train a good squirrel dog, and it doesn’t, but you can still ruin a good one (just like you could a retriever or pointer) if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you’re in the market for a squirrel dog, there are some things you need to know. Think of an NBA game that’s one long fastbreak. Then it’s up to you to make a quick shot with a rimfire, air rifle, or shotgun. First you watch the dogs dash through the forest with their noses to the ground, treeing a gray or fox squirrel. I also think that squirrel hunting with dogs is the absolute best way to introduce new hunters, regardless of age, to the sport. Plus, squirrel hunting is still one of the most accessible sports in terms of acres to hunt and the costs associated with it. You’ll have more consistent encounters with squirrels, because your dogs’ nose, eyes, and ears are all better than yours, which allows them to locate game easier. Larry Caseįollowing behind a good squirrel dog is some of the most fun you can have in hunting. Buying a squirrel dog isn't overly expensive, but you still need to do the work and find a legit breeder. ![]()
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