jamesqf Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I realize most people want to teach their dogs not to do this, but for me one of the "chores" my dog should do is to chase the rabbits & ground squirrels out of the yard. My old dog, along with those of the neighbors, did this on her own and well enough that I didn't have a problem until this year. Last year, when I was walking Niki on a leash 100% of the time, she'd try to chase squirrels (& chipmunks, lizards, etc) that we'd see along trails, and I'd usually try to keep up. This year she's graduated to mostly off-leash, with me usually shooting balls for her to chase. That seems to have erased her desire to chase anything else (except of course the neighbor dogs along the fence). Today there was a big squirrel sitting by the shed, maybe 30 feet away, and she just ignored it, and all my increasingly-excited "squirrel, get the squirrel, chase the d*mned squirrel!". She's also gotten to where she hangs fairly close to me in the yard, or mostly stays inside (usually right next to my desk) while I'm working, so I'm wondering if there's any way to get her to go out every once in a while, and roam around patrolling the yard & chasing off the critters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wolf Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Be careful of what you ask! A friend had taught his dog this and while sending the dog from one tree to the other he managed to have the dog going so fast he blew out a couple discs in his back. Took many trips to the vet specialist to get him even going straight again and constant 'fixing' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon M Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 If you are around roads this isn't a good idea either. I've had a couple very close calls with my dogs chasing squirrels/rabbits/cats across the street. To teach 'em to chase is easy though. Use a GTFO sound ( like the sound you use to shoo a cat away "spssss", or something similar, when you see the animal) your dog will quickly get the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesqf Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 If you are around roads this isn't a good idea either. Sure, but I'm not. The road I'm on dead-ends a couple houses up, and the back yard (we never spend time in the front) has 3-board pasture fencing with wire mesh all around. She probably could get over if she really tried (the former neighbor's Rottweiler could clear it with ease), but she apparently thinks she's still too overweight & out of shape to jump. Even makes a production out of jumping into the cab of the pickup, which is only about a third as high.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painted_ponies Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Today there was a big squirrel sitting by the shed, maybe 30 feet away, and she just ignored it, and all my increasingly-excited "squirrel, get the squirrel, chase the d*mned squirrel!". Did the squirrel ever move? My dogs, like the T-Rex in the monster movie, tend not to be able to see still critters. Once the critter moves, though, the chase is on. You know what I wish mine would ignore? Moles. Yes, the little mole furrows were annoying - but nowhere near as annoying as falling down the mine shafts that my dogs have excavated in my yard in an attempt to Leave No Mole Alive. *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BustopherJones Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Squirrels = tree rats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Just a shot in the dark here - one thing you might try is to teach her to drive to a stationary object, like a ball, on cue. I taught Dean to run to a "dead" ball to retrieve it and he understands that when I point to a ball and say "getit!", he's to run to it, grab it and bring it back. I'm thinking that if the dog knows to do that, she might make a connection between "charging" a "dead" object and a live animal. Once the animal starts to move, I would imagine that instinct will kick in and you won't have to direct the chase part. I am taking for granted that you are confident in her recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesqf Posted July 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Squirrels = tree rats. Not around here (northern Nevada). These are ground squirrels, evil little vandals that dig up your plants, not to eat (because there'll be maybe one or two bites taken), but for the sheer joy of destruction. We do have the occasional tree squirrel, but they're no problem compared to the ground squirrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesqf Posted July 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Just a shot in the dark here - one thing you might try is to teach her to drive to a stationary object, like a ball, on cue. Sounds like a good idea in principle. The problem is that I've never really had to/been able to teach her anything, in the sense of actual training. It seems as though she either picks up a thing immediately if she sees the sense in it - like the "back around" command for when we get the leash on opposite sides of a tree - but otherwise she just doesn't want to get it. I am taking for granted that you are confident in her recall. Not as confident as I'd like to be :-( It's that not training thing again. She comes to the whistle, and did from the first time I tried her on it. (And got/gets rewards, petting, etc.) But is she coming because she's actually "trained", or because she's thinking "Hey, interesting noise the human's making - guess I'll go see", and might decide not to if there's something more interesting? However, the only thing I worry about are deer. Outside the yard she's on leash near roads or other dangers, and squirrels & such go for the nearest tree or under a rock, so no long chases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooky Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Not around here (northern Nevada). These are ground squirrels, evil little vandals that dig up your plants, not to eat (because there'll be maybe one or two bites taken), but for the sheer joy of destruction. We do have the occasional tree squirrel, but they're no problem compared to the ground squirrels. Actually, they clear vegetation without eating it for predator avoidance - they like to maintain a clear line of sight between entrance holes and from foraging locations to entrance holes. What you see as "destruction" (which I'm assuming also includes the holes) they intend as a purposeful manipulation of the environment for their benefit, much like humans will change the environment to suit their own needs. There is some suggestion that prairie dogs, a close relative of ground squirrels, actually cull species of plants they don't like due to toxicity or palatability reasons, thus not allowing their colonies to be overrun by the plants they don't like to eat over time. Not worried you want to have your dogs chase them, or if anyone wants their LGDs to eat them (WAY preferable to poisoning, IMO). They are a good prey base. But I do feel these guys -- who are in many respects keystone species or at least "environmental engineers" that a lot of other species depend on -- really don't get enough respect and are villanized a bit more than necessary. But I wish you luck in your training - maybe sighthound or lure coursing sites would have some good ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.