I squirrel hunt quite a bit in season, but I have never done it with a dog. I was offered a trade on some Rabbit cages I am selling for a 2 year old Feist that has been ran before, and needs a little more work. I have considered getting a squirrel dog before, but have never done it, but I am considering getting one now. Anyone here run squirrel dogs? Will I be able to hunt them effectively with only one dog? I know how long it takes to train a dog, but is there anything in particular I should consider about this one? Cost is also a factor, other than feed, and general upkeep, is there anything to consider cost wise? I don't think I will need any expensive collars/tracking devices, like we would use on Coon/Bear dogs in my limited experience. I just want to know how much time, and expense I will be getting myself into before I even consider it, and never having squirrel hunted with hounds before, maybe some of ya'll can jump in, and let me know what it is like.

I have had several squirrel dogs over the years. My best was a Feist when I was a kid. She was a squirrel treeing machine. I've had a few coonhounds that would tree coons at night and squirrels in the day. I would rather have a feist type dog because the ones I had treed by sight and smell. If I couldn't find the squirrel I would just look where they were looking. As far as training one I have no clue because it just came natural to them. I just play with a squirrel tail and get them to treeing it. Before long they are treeing on their own. I spend a lot of time and effort training my hounds on coon but the feist just did it from the start. I have had to tighten them up on the tree some when they are young but I like them. A GOOD squirrel dog is worth its weight in gold to me. I wish I had one now.
As far as cost on upkeep I don't think it will be a problem. No more expensive than any other dog.

IMO is all you need often times they will screw each other up when you have more than one

I agree with that Kirk. I like hunting one dog whether on Coon or squirrel unless I'm with buddies and they bring theirs along.

Both of my dogs tree squirrels. A redbone, and a cur. Contrary to the post above, the hound trees by sight just as well or better than the cur does. A squirrel dog NEEDS to be able to follow a squirrel in the tree as they will timber from tree to tree and a dog treeing only by scent will be about useless as a squirrel dog. This should be no problem for a good feist.

As far as cost... as you said, feed... and vet bills... and a collar with a name tag, and a lead should be about all you'll need.

Yotetrapper, I have no doubt a hound can/will tree by sight because mine did. I had a buddy that had a little redbone female that was hard to beat on squirrels. I guess I worded it badly because what I meant was the hounds I had forgot about watching the squirrel once they freed. They were belly up on the tree, head back treers. The feist I have had would circle and watch the whole time. I just prefer a feist for squirrel.

I have a fiest and love him not much training with him just put him in squirrels. He is still young my problem is he won't stay tree when a squirrel just sits up in the tree, but have seen him timber over 50 yards more excited and doesn't bore him I guess. He is a wirey thing a lot of energy. I wish he tone that down a notch but he us still a pup

only ever hunted behind a single dog for squirrels.
have hunted with hounds, feists, curs, jack russels and elkhounds.

all we ever did was get them started with tails and get them out there alot, especially as pups.

I had one as a kid. Sure helps the hunter and the dog if the leaves are off the trees.

It's a lot of fun and really helps with getting kids involved since they don't have to be quite.

I have two fiest as pets. I could hunt them and I should. They are self taught. They'll follow squirrels through the trees. If it moves they are on it. They are a gritty dog, but not jack russel hyper. Unfortunately, the wife's new cat got outside one night. We have other cats and as long as they don't try and run their ok. I heard the wife screaming bloody murder outside one morning. Went out she had the other cat trying told hold it high with a fiest hanging off each end of the cat. I find dead squirrels, flying squirrels, moles, snakes, etc. in the yard. I came home from work one morning with 3 bear cubs up the tree and the fiests going crazy. Can't say enough about a fist. I have been told a fiest is not a breed but a type of dog?.?.

My 2nd favorite pastime now that deer hunting has become what it is.Trapping is first!

When I was a kid we hunted over a Black and Tan and a Collie. When we arrived at the tree the hound was chewing bark and the Collie was 50 yards away looking at the squirrel.

We killed hundreds of squirrels over those dogs using pellet guns.

We hunt with dogs.usually 2 at a time because some of them can be jerks.they all tree great.jerry has a jack russel. And a feist.i have 2 russel feist mixes and a rabbit beagle Black and Tan mix. He sounds like heaven when he's got one treed.

There's nothing like Huntin squirrels with dogs.two of mine will bring them to me and drop them at my feet

I'm interested in a squirrel dog also. Saw a picture of nice looking dogs on another forum (Moody Hollow Treeing Feist) in Williamstown, Ky. anyone know of this kennel? Contact info.?

Have had 2 dogs for 6 years. one uses his nose and the other one is all eyes works good for me. I get a lot of enjoyment hunting squirrels with dogs.

My Kemmer Cur hunts squirrels by day coon at night, Plus decoys coyote and comes along on the trapline. As a bonus he sleeps with my wife so I don't have to.

That is a good dog