Anyone use an earth dog to "go to ground" - i.e. a terrier of some sort go into a fox den/rabbit den and flush them out?

I currently have a Brit - great bird dog but she can't fit into the snowshoe hare dens.

I was thinking of getting a Border Terrier and was wondering if anyone has actually use/trained one for field use.

Thanks

Most AKC bred terriers are too big to fit down a fox den much less a rabbit hole. Snow shoes weigh 3-5 lbs and lay in a form like most hares instead of a hole. Hares use speed to elude pursuers. What I'm saying is if you want to drive rabbits, a mini dachshund would be the best, maybe a yorkie, but they don't hunt. Fox needs a dog that either bays undrground and you dig or engages and you dig or it drives it out. Most borders are hard and will engage. The problem is they are too big. I use a jagdterrier to hunt barns and brush piles for coon. This is similar to what you want. The jagd can fit down some fox holes but not all. The dog to drive fox should have a chest no larger than 14" so it can manuever in the hole. Again, snowshoes don't live in holes much, fox need a smaller dog. I suggest a Patterdale. Maybe a Lakeland, or a border if you can find one small enough. A mini-wirehaired dachshund from hunting lines is not a bad choice .

Dr Fatguy