Wednesday 23 April 2008

Nuts For Dog Squirrel Training - What Dog Breeds Are Born To Hunt Squirrels?

Dog squirrel training for the sport of squirrel hunting is becoming more prominent as squirrel hunting gradually grows into one of the most popular canine sports for outdoors enthusiasts. Breeds like purebred Dachshunds and Terriers are often perfect candidates for squirrel training because it comes to them on instinct. There is also a broad group of dogs known as Curs and Feists, both of which have been bred for centuries specifically for squirrel hunting.

Rural southern states in the U.S. develop Feists for absolutely nothing else but squirrel hunting. There is little consistency in looks among Feists since there is no intention of them becoming show dog breeds. There is some similarity in appearance to a Jack Russell Terrier but Feists generally have shorter tails than the Jack Russell. Their legs are also longer than the Jack Russell. A Feist lacks the barkiness of a Jack Russell Terrier. Also, Feists get along fabulously with other dogs because their dog squirrel training trains them to hunt with other dogs in packs. Jack Russell Terrier's tend to be very combative and unfriendly when it comes to sharing space with other dogs. So, while there are obviously similarities between the two, there are also many noticeable physical and behavioral differences, partly because the training develops a quieter, friendlier dog.

A Cur is also bred solely for its hunting ability, which is why most Cur breeds are considered "types" rather than a certain breed. This is because they are without a complete breed appearance standard that identifies them as one particular breed. They can look remarkably different from one another and a new Curd breed seems to appear every couple years. Several kennel clubs do register various Cur breeds based on their ancestry. It's generally agreed upon that a Cur and Feist have terrier ancestry in their bloodline. The most well known Cur breeds include the Mountain Cur, the Leopard Cur, the Treeing Cur and the Black Mouth Cur. Mountain Curs are said to require very little dog squirrel training because they have an instinctual understanding of hunting for squirrels and they learn by watching the other dogs around them.

It wasn't until recently when purebred Dachshunds and Terriers took to the sport and began dog squirrel training with experienced professionals.

The primary role of a squirrel dog is to cruise the woods, seeking out the scent of a squirrel, listening for scratches on the tree bark or the sound of tree branches moving as the squirrel leaps from tree to tree. The dog will bark at the base of the tree when they sense a squirrel.

Scott Jackson has been in the Pet Industry for over ten years. He has managed large Pet Specialty Retail stores and has worked as a distributor rep in the pet industry. He is a pet owner and lover who has extensive knowledge in pet nutrition and care. He runs a website http://www.coloradopetresources.com and http://www.dogandcatarticles.com where he gives information on pet care, location of Colorado independent pet retailers, vets, breeders and a general meeting place for pet lovers.

Visit http://www.coloradopetresources.com and find the information you need.

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