You are on the right track. There ia a book on training squirrel dogs entitled Squirrel Dog Basics by David Osborn that outlines the training program of pups. It's a very useful book and you should be able to find a copy online. You need to take the pup into the timber as much as possible. Try to get him out three times a week or more if you can and just let him get used to the timber. The time out doesn't have to be too long, just often. It will help get the pup familiar with the scents, sights and sounds of the timber. Tease the pup with the squirrel pelt or tail by having him chase it around and up the side of a tree. Try to keep the training sessions short so as to keep the pup from losing interest. Over time, once the pup gets the hang of "killing" the tail or pelt and whines/whimpers at it (any interest in the tail or pelt should be immediately praised!) try live trapping a squirrel in a cage trap if it is legal where you live. Show the pup the caged squirrel on the ground (the pup might be fearful at first) and praise him when he shows interest. You can put the cage up in a tree (a lot of people pull the cage up a tree with a rope) to let the pup get the idea to look up for these critters! You will eventually get the pup to the point that he will bark at the caged squirrel and then you can hold the pup back while you release the squirrel toward an isolated tree (if possible) so the pup can see the squirrel. Release the pup and have it chase the squirrel which will make it to the tree well ahead of the pup if you give it a head start. Great care should be taken not to let the squirrel bite the pup or for the squirrel to be kept in a cage too long because both events can be bad for everyone involved. If a pup gets bitten, it could be irreversibly afraid of squirrels...And that's not good! You will eventually get to the point where you should be able to release the squirrel so it has a very good head start and the pup will track it using his nose. All of this can take varying amounts of time in progression. It could be days, weeks or months depending on your pup. The point of the caged game is to let the pup know what it's after. If he knows this already, just take him out in the timber and let him chase squirrels (you should be doing this anyway as much as possible.) Best of luck with your feist pup. I hope this helps you out. Keep in touch. I really enjoy talking to other feist people.
PS - There is a great website dedicated to squirrel dogs: Squirrel Dog Central (
http://www.sqdog.com/). Folks on there will be more than willing to help you out with any questions you might have.
Feist Training Help Needed
