Feist dog

**Jman5626** · 07-31-2023, 08:11 AM

Anyone here use feist dogs for squirrel hunting? I’ve seen a ton of videos on it and I’m very very interested. I found a guy local who hunts with them and just had a litter. They will be ready to bring home in the next 2-4 weeks. I’ve never trained a hunting dog before. Does anyone here have experience with these dogs or have any tips to get me started? The guy who has the pups says he hunts with both the mom and dad of the pups. I’m getting a male (I’ve only every had female dogs and want a male now). I’ve got a ton of questions, but don’t know anyone local (except for this guy) who has any or uses them. I’ve heard the best way to train them is to let them run with other dogs who know what they are doing, but again, don’t know anyone. Any advice y’all got would be much appreciated!

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**Jman5626** · 07-31-2023, 08:12 AM

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**MCG1** · 07-31-2023, 09:06 AM

A good squirrel dog is fun to hunt with. Have no idea how to train them or deer prove them though. My brother in law had a Jack Russell that was amazing. The feist have a great reputation.

**Jman5626** · 07-31-2023, 09:48 AM

The pup in the box on the right is the one we are getting. My gf got me started watching MASH. I’d never watched it before and now I’m hooked. Currently rewatching it all for second time now. Lol. Anyway, we have narrowed the names down to Hawkeye or Radar lol

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**MCG1** · 07-31-2023, 10:14 AM

Those markings look like eyes on his back. Hawkeye makes sense

**Snubby** · 07-31-2023, 12:58 PM

Best squirrel dog I've ever had the pleasure to hunt with was a fiest. Friend of mines dad had 5 of them swore by them on being squirrel treeing machines. I kind of chuckled cause didn't look like hunting dogs to me. Boy was I wrong, we didn't ride but walked one fall evening with one of those dogs and we each shot a limit in under 2 hours. This was 25 years ago, old man been gone a few year's. Before that the only way I ever hunted squirrels was by still hunting and just ambushing them. So I can attest to the breed. Don't know much about training but should be easy to research. Hopefully the dog you pick has it in him. Some are just naturals right from the get. I don't squirrel hunt anymore but have a duck dog. Labrador retriever of course and he's a goofball in general but a duck / goose retrieving machine! I think Hawk for short would be a great name!

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**Jman5626** · 07-31-2023, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Snubby

Best squirrel dog I've ever had the pleasure to hunt with was a fiest. Friend of mines dad had 5 of them swore by them on being squirrel treeing machines. I kind of chuckled cause didn't look like hunting dogs to me. Boy was I wrong, we didn't ride but walked one fall evening with one of those dogs and we each shot a limit in under 2 hours. This was 25 years ago, old man been gone a few year's. Before that the only way I ever hunted squirrels was by still hunting and just ambushing them. So I can attest to the breed. Don't know much about training but should be easy to research. Hopefully the dog you pick has it in him. Some are just naturals right from the get. I don't squirrel hunt anymore but have a duck dog. Labrador retriever of course and he's a goofball in general but a duck / goose retrieving machine! I think Hawk for short would be a great name!

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Great share! Thank you! Looking forward to the experience

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**DockShootinJack** · 07-31-2023, 01:43 PM

Handsome pup. I would bet if the pup got opportunity to hunt with the parents it would pick it up really quick.

**RobertFL** · 07-31-2023, 01:52 PM

50 years ago my grandfather had an long haired Orange female dog that was kinda barrel shaped...her name was pumpkin.. She loved to tree squirrel's, once we walked up to tree she would go to the other side of tree and make noise and pace around..most times the squirrels would come to our side and get shot.. My grandfather said he did not train her to hunt she was a natural. He had another dog that did not care to hunt with us. One of my friends had a Jack Russell that he trained to blood trail I never had to use him but I heard he did a really good job.. Its possible your new dog has some natural abilities and you can help him along. Maybe find a stuffed squirrel toy for him to play with

**Jman5626** · 07-31-2023, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by RobertFL

50 years ago my grandfather had an long haired Orange female dog that was kinda barrel shaped...her name was pumpkin.. She loved to tree squirrel's, once we walked up to tree she would go to the other side of tree and make noise and pace around..most times the squirrels would come to our side and get shot.. My grandfather said he did not train her to hunt she was a natural. He had another dog that did not care to hunt with us. One of my friends had a Jack Russell that he trained to blood trail I never had to use him but I heard he did a really good job.. Its possible your new dog has some natural abilities and you can help him along. Maybe find a stuffed squirrel toy for him to play with

I had tried this with another dog we have. A 2 year old collie/curr mix. Bought a realistic looking squirrel toy and some squirrel scent from online. She had no interest. Even brought her a fresh killed squirrel. She just wasn’t interested like I had hoped. I’ve got much better higher expectations for this one

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