Squirrel hunting is a popular small game pastime that many people enjoy every year. Squirrel hunting with a trusty dog by your side could help to bring you even more success on your next outing. From choosing the right dog to teaching them how to hunt, let’s go over how to get started!
Choose the Right Dog
While any breed of dog can be trained to hunt for squirrels, there are some that seem to do better than others. It really all comes down to the properties that you plan to hunt, and how much ground you will cover. For smaller properties and short distances, smaller breeds tend to work best as they are quick and can hunt close. For longer distances and larger properties, larger breeds will work better as they will not tire out as easily while covering more ground.
As far as breeds go, popular squirrel hunting dog breeds include curs, terriers, coonhounds, and elkhounds. Again, the breed is not as important as the intended work you plan to put them through, so choose the dog breed according to your hunting style.
Introduce Them Early to Squirrels
A good squirrel dog will be familiar with squirrels long before you ever take them out to the woods. Tie an old squirrel’s tail to a pole, and drag it around the yard. This will teach your dog to follow their instincts and hunt for prey, and it also helps them to become more familiar with the scent of squirrels. Lastly, this is also a visual training tool for the dog. Unlike hounds and bird dogs that hunt almost entirely by their noses, a good squirrel dog must also learn to use their eyes in conjunction with their noses.
During these early sessions, keep the training short and simple. Let the dog chase the tail by sight as well as by smell throughout the yard. Once the dog starts to lose interest, end the training session for another time. You want to keep them as excited and interested as possible, so do not overdo it.
Get in the Woods As Much as Possible
A good squirrel dog will be at home in the woods, so try and get your dog out there as much as possible. Do your training sessions out there, and practice with live squirrels whenever you get the chance. This real-life training will do more for training your squirrel dog than anything else and will give them real hunting scenarios to learn with.
Interested in learning more about hunting with your dog? We’ve got you covered with our assortment of articles. Check out our collection of information that will take you one step further as a hunting expert:
Here Are The Unique Characteristics of a Hunting Dog
Pointer, Flusher, And Bird Retrieval Dog Hunting
7 Tips for Training Hunting Dogs
Final Thoughts
Getting a squirrel dog can quickly change your entire view of squirrel hunting. Even if you are not much of a small game hunter, hunting behind a good squirrel dog can change that!
You can learn more about hunting dogs
For more great ideas on how to fish and hunt from the experts, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Hunting & Fishing Blog for more great tips & tricks.
