🐿️ What Makes a Good Squirrel Dog?

• Excellent treeing instinct

• Sharp eyesight and scent ability

• High energy and stamina

• Strong prey drive

• Loud, persistent barking

• Independence paired with trainability

⭐ Best Squirrel Dog Breeds

🐕 Treeing Breeds (Top Squirrel Dogs)

These are the most commonly used and purpose-bred squirrel dogs.

• Treeing Walker Coonhound

• Treeing Tennessee Brindle

• Treeing Cur

• Mountain Cur

• Feist (Mountain Feist, Treeing Feist)

• American Leopard Hound

• Plott Hound (also used for big game)

🐕 Cur Dogs (Very Popular for Squirrels)

Curs are among the best squirrel dogs due to intelligence and control.

• Mountain Cur ⭐

• Black Mouth Cur

• Stephens Cur

• Kemmer Stock Mountain Cur

• Catahoula Leopard Dog (less common, but capable)

🐕 Feist Dogs (Small, Fast & Agile)

Feists are excellent for squirrels because of their speed and agility.

• Mountain Feist

• Treeing Feist

• Barger Stock Feist

• DenMark Feist

🐕 Other Capable Squirrel Dogs

Not traditionally squirrel dogs, but often successful:

• Rat Terrier

• Jack Russell Terrier

• American Foxhound

• Beagle (scent-focused rather than treeing)

🏡 Squirrel Dogs as Pets

✔ Loyal and intelligent
✔ Great for active owners
❌ High exercise needs
❌ Strong chase instinct
❌ Can be very vocal

They do best with:

• Large yards or rural environments

• Daily mental and physical stimulation

• Owners experienced with working dogs

🦴 Training Tips for Squirrel Dogs

• Start young with exposure to woods

• Encourage treeing behavior

• Use positive reinforcement

• Recall training is essential

• Channel prey drive into structured work

🌳 Are Squirrel Dogs Legal in Australia?

Squirrel hunting is not legal in Australia (squirrels are not native and are protected in many regions). However, these breeds are still kept as:

• Active companion dogs

• Sports dogs (tracking, agility, scent work)