Squirrel dogs - anyone have one?

[Ugly Sauce]

In the North West, not much squirrel hunting going on. Pretty much mostly little Pine Squirrels. However, a Yorkshire Terrier would make an excellent one. I have found them to be perfect on Grouse. Contrary to popular belief, they are tough outdoor dogs with lots of stamina. As you know, originally bred to catch rats. EDIT: This is our two year old Yorkshire, "Sir Charles Horatio Mackenzie-Lopez". Yeah, we just call him "Charlie". One year old in this pic.

 

[Thomasss]

Lilly is my squirrel dog. DNA says she is Beagle, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Australian Cattle dog and Sheltie. She doesn't catch them. She chases them up a tree and then barks until they come to my side for an easy shot. When it's over, she moves on to the next tree looking for another. She'll do that all day if I let her. She's also an excellent house dog protecting everyone from my wife to the youngest grandchild from intruders. She tolerates all ages, but dislikes vacuum clears and door to door salesmen.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

The previous Yorkie we had, "Killer" could find what tree the birds landed in after flushing them up, and would stand under the tree and bark. That was quite effective and quite a game-changer. When alone and flushing them up, I'm usually just lucky to see what tree they land in, if I can see them land at all. Somehow the "Killer" could do it.

Here he is in his old age before he passed on. Look at the grey around his nose! The Killer was one tough dog and would hunt all day.

Next fall will be the first year using Sir Charles, I hope he can do half as well, which I think he can. But of course there will never be another Killer.