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re: Training a Feist to Squirrel Hunt
Posted on 4/3/25 at 2:40 pm to duckblind56
Posted on 4/3/25 at 2:40 pm to duckblind56
quote:
5. Catch a squirrel in a life catch trap....tie a rope to the handle, throw rope over a tree limb and let the pup "tree" it. Hold on to the pup, turn the squirrel loose, wait a few seconds and turn the pup loose.
I did this for quite a bit when my Mountain Cur was a pup. This was the #1 thing that got him hooked. He's been an awesome squirrel dog.
0
Posted on 4/3/25 at 2:43 pm to reggierayreb
Good looking pup. Just some advice. A dog can have all kinds of registration and bloodline credentials. They mean absolutely nothing without putting the work in with the pup. Some of my best squirrel dogs were one's from the pound. Best one I've ever seen was half cocker spaniel and half boxer.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 3:32 pm to reggierayreb
My second home when growing up was a family down the street that had squirrel dogs and beagles. The only training new pups got on the squirrel front was being taken to the woods with an established dog. They picked it up in no time.
Posted on 4/4/25 at 8:29 am to AlxTgr
Gus meets me at the door when I get home from work ready for our afternoon walk in the Wolf River bottom. Even with all the rough weather we've been getting it didn't rain a drop from 5-7p yesterday and we had the woods to ourselves. I can see now how people say they get a little better each time. He sprinted up ahead of me 25 yards yesterday and did some solo exploring and sniffing for the first time. His confidence grows a little every time we get out there. Purchasing a squirrel trap this weekend. I assume any run of the mill varmint trap will do but if anyone has any recs it's always appreciated.
Posted on 4/4/25 at 8:42 am to reggierayreb
I had a Welsh Terrier once and I have never heard of those being used for squirrel dogs, but she took to it almost immediately from just walks through the woods. The only issue was, she wasn't keen on giving up the squirrel.
Posted on 4/4/25 at 11:50 am to reggierayreb
My great Uncle had a Feist and it was a great squirrel dog. But it will bite you if you reach for the squirrel without giving it a piece of chicken liver first. I am guessing this is how the dog was rewarded when it did good when training it.
This post was edited on 4/4/25 at 11:51 am
Posted on 4/4/25 at 1:44 pm to TigerDeacon
quote:
We always had two. An older dog and a younger one. That way the younger would learn from the older and pass it along to the next generation.
That's what my dad did for decades. He would also drag tails/hides around when they were really young and try to teach them to trail it.
If his dogs saw him walk out of the house in hunting gear and/or holding a gun, they would go crazy with excitement. Time to go!
When he got too old to hunt them, he sold his last pair--which were fairly young but well trained--for several thousand bucks. The local hunters knew how good they were and were willing to pay.
Posted on 4/4/25 at 2:28 pm to reggierayreb
Put him in the woods with really good squirrel dogs, some learn, some don't.
It is an absolute blast, either way.
It is an absolute blast, either way.
Posted on 4/4/25 at 7:37 pm to Twenty 49
Damn I’m jealous. I love dogs and hunting. I always wanted a squirrel dog. My current catahoula would have been a great one. I had a job for a few months while she was a pup. We would ride a big estate in a side by side. I’d wack squirrels with a red rider until they finally jumped. She would shake them a time or two. It was big fun for this redneck. She’s now a damn fine blood dog. I hope to get after squirrels more this season with new woods to walk.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 4:35 pm to reggierayreb
I have BMC's and I've never "trained" any of them. If it's in them they'll tree and once you show them that's what you want them to do, they will live for it. My neighbor ask me one time if I was gonna work with a pup to train her to tree. I said nope she'll either get it or she won't, it's bred in her so she'll get it.
You can actually over train them especially a Feist. Once you've showed him what your hunting leave him alone. When you take him in the woods leave him alone except to guide him in the direction you want to hunt. No petting, no encouragement unless he's treeing, just act like you're not there while he's hunting.
If it's in him he'll get it. Needs time in the woods to figure it out. It's pretty amazing to watch their switch come on. You can tell pretty quick if they have it or not.
One other thing, the discipline training and commands need to start ASAP and at home. Don't take them in the woods for this.
You can actually over train them especially a Feist. Once you've showed him what your hunting leave him alone. When you take him in the woods leave him alone except to guide him in the direction you want to hunt. No petting, no encouragement unless he's treeing, just act like you're not there while he's hunting.
If it's in him he'll get it. Needs time in the woods to figure it out. It's pretty amazing to watch their switch come on. You can tell pretty quick if they have it or not.
One other thing, the discipline training and commands need to start ASAP and at home. Don't take them in the woods for this.
This post was edited on 4/6/25 at 4:36 pm
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