Burrowing dogs: description of breeds, features of keeping and training

Historically, hunting was one of the first uses of dogs in human life. And until now, it remains an important specialization of these animals. Particularly noteworthy are those pets who are able to get animals hiding in the ground.

Burrowing dogs stand out even in relation to other hunting breeds. The definition itself shows what their specialization is. It consists in the search for wild animals and in their capture directly in the shelter.

Buried dogs most often suffer from:

• spinal deformities;
• malfunctions of the heart and blood vessels;
• visual and auditory disorders.

The main prey for burrows are:

• raccoon dogs;
• foxes;
• otters;
• badgers.

The dog’s action strategy is not always the same. Usually, after entering a hole, she needs to bark at the victim and grab it. In other cases, potential prey is driven out, where it is already in the trap or under the gun.

After special training, bred dogs can be used both in land and in water hunting. Some breeds are suitable even for:

• wild boar and elk works;
• feed shot birds;
• search for beavers;
• checking beaver tents.

But nevertheless, their nature is decisively influenced by their main scope. These animals should be extremely brave and be angry with wild animals.An important feature is a certain level of independence (after all, in the hole, you can’t count on the help of the owners and even their tips). However, this independence should not turn into a loss of controllability.

And even the most daring, persistent dog will lose a deadly battle with prey, if it relies only on its own character and the will to win. A mandatory requirement for them is a strong physique and solid physical development. The dog must also be hardy. The animal must be unpretentious and resistant to any weather conditions (including not only negative temperatures, but also wind, rain, fog, high humidity). Hunting often takes place in autumn and winter, so weather resistance is critical. She, in turn, depends on the condition of the hairline.

But even if the pet is completely reliable, that's not all. He needs to have excellent eyesight, smell and hearing in order to quickly find prey. A dog for normal hunting is obliged to instantly adapt to urban and rural life, to long hikes - more than once it will have to be rebuilt between regimes in a matter of hours.

Another mandatory feature is Suitability for long trips on cars and trains, motorcycles and motor boats. But you have to carefully select a pet, because even among formally suitable breeds there are too many “couch” individuals.

Although the "assortment" of norniks is expanding, the main varieties of these dogs have remained unchanged for several decades. The very first dog described will be dachshund. Although it was bred about 400 years ago, the popularity of this animal is not declining. Its characteristics were only further honed by prolonged use. The hunting instincts of the breed are even hypertrophied.

Standardized rates are heavier than 7 kg, sometimes up to 15 kg. The height of such animals can reach 0.23 m. They are characterized by a powerful, dense exterior. The front of the body clearly outweighs - the chest is much wider than the pelvis. Shortened paws are still strong enough and have a curved fit.

The muzzle, like the whole body of the dachshund, is elongated. Ears usually hang, and their tips are rounded. There are also long-haired dachshunds, which differ from the standard ones only in hair length. As for rabbit dachshunds, they almost completely correspond to larger individuals, however, they are much smaller and lighter - a maximum of 5 kg.

Any of the branches of this breed is excellent at home maintenance. All of them are unpretentious. At the same time, they are able to instantly switch from a "sofa" to a "field" mode. Dachshunds understand teams instantly and are easy to learn.

They will execute only those orders that seem appropriate to them at the moment. No punishment here helps: the animals are proud, independent, and even the obstinate. Dachshunds are considered excellent partners. But their descriptions invariably indicate that loneliness by such pets is poorly tolerated, rivalry with other pets is also not perceived very well.

At the same time, untimely training and its late start can lead to self-will and attempts to subjugate the owner.

In second place after dachshunds yagd terriers. In their descriptions, a combination of dexterity and courage is invariably noted. Such dogs will perfectly cope not only with small prey underground, but also with birds and even individual artiodactyls. Jagd terriers have been used since the beginning of the 20th century, and this time was enough for them to reliably win the hearts of hunters.

The advantage of this breed is the maximum hunting-oriented exterior:

• dry, small trunk;
• weight on average 10 kg;
• highly developed muscles;
• powerful limbs;
• elongated muzzle;
• wool divided into two layers;
• powerful undercoat.

As for the character, the amazing combination of courage and aggressive behavior is characteristic of the yagdterrier. The breed is very concentrated and can behave purposefully. Fear of such a pet is almost unknown. Therefore, the yagd terriers penetrate into the burrows of animals without hesitation, motivated only by the desire to realize their own potential.

A good alternative to yagd terriers are core terriers. They are characterized by a combination of powerful hunting instincts and good looks. The height of an adult dog is 0.28 m, and the weight is about 6-7 kg. The core feature is wool, which seems to be disheveled in appearance.

Complete the rocks review appropriately at fox terriers. As their name suggests, this species was bred purposefully for fox hunting. The animals are very compact: their growth is not more than 0.38 m, while the mass reaches a maximum of 8 kg. Fox terriers are divided into long-haired and smooth-haired varieties, both of them are characterized by endurance and impressive courage.

First you need to understand for yourself which properties of rocks are advantages, and which are obvious disadvantages. A very bad feature is the desire to enter burrows without the permission of the owners. The size of the pet should not be too small - it can cause many problems. But slow progress through dense tall grass is often an advantage.

These moments are peculiar to any breed. The choice between the individual varieties should take into account:

• various manner of action of animals;
• uneven temperament;
• behavior features;
• the appearance of the animal.

If the need for the first three points is logically clear even to non-professionals in hunting, then the latter needs explanation. Unsuitable aesthetic tastes of the owner, the appearance of the pet will cause irritation alone. No matter how hard a person tries to keep such negative emotions in himself, they will invariably be expressed in a relationship with a four-legged helper. Therefore, the effectiveness of educational work will be much lower than we would like. And the necessary trust will not be achieved.

But the matter is not only in the nuances of character and psychology. Welsh terriers and fox terriers with hard coat are wonderful dogs in their own right.

Another subtlety is that very long and very short hairs are equally poor in hunting. In the first case, the animal will continuously get dirty, in the second - there is a high risk of hypothermia. To avoid mistakes, you must always consult with professionals from dog training centers.

The rarity of some animals affects not only their price. Sometimes it’s impossible to find a certain breed in any locality for any money. As for animals for keeping in outdoor enclosures, then the choice is clear - only a terrier is suitable. Dachshund cannot be grown in an aviary even in the southernmost regions of the country.

Recommendations regarding the sex of the animal are contradictory, and most breeders, as well as hunters, have their own opinion on this. “Men” are determined and not too inclined to compromise.They are characterized by the desire to take leadership positions in any “flock”. Another important feature of such pets is increased viciousness (which is very good for an animal that hunts burrowing creatures).

Quite a few owners note that on the street the male burrows seem completely uncontrollable and lose all desire to obey. Running away for the slightest reason (and sometimes without any reason visible to people) is a common thing for them. But still such dogs in capable hands are a real treasure. On the hunt, they show all their best qualities:

• physical endurance;
• ability to experience severe emotional stress;
• ability to work throughout the season (if there are no injuries).

As for the females, they are more soft and plastic behavior. From them it is much easier to achieve the necessary actions. Such animals immediately recognize a leader in a person, and very gross errors must be made so that such obedience is lost.

You should also consider:

• the origin of the puppy (his pedigree);
• reputation of nurseries or breeders;
• the results that the animal shows when working in artificial burrows;
• the presence of physical defects;
• compliance with external requirements of the standard.

If the pet is sufficiently resistant to cold, then it can be placed in the aviary. This room should not be located near drain pits, trash cans, or toilets. It is best to put the booth on the sunny side, under a canopy, where dogs can take shelter from sunlight. In the city, of course, the four-legged must walk strictly in a collar. But on the hunt itself, this is unacceptable - there have been cases when tragic cases happened because of it.

In most cases, burrows are kept at home or in the apartment. There they should immediately allot a permanent place where the beast can rest. As a place for leisure, usually use small wooden frames covered with fabric, or low trestle beds on legs.

The hunting norn is obliged to eat fully; meat and vegetables should always be introduced into the diet. The maximum amount of salt for them is 20 g per day.

When selecting collars, you need to focus on:

• subjective comfort;
• lack of dangling threads and protruding parts;
• the presence of expansion under the throat (it relieves pressure during sharp throws);
• ease of cleaning from dirt;
• adaptation to various temperatures;
• the ability to accurately fit under the neck of the animal.

Other accessories may come in handy whistles for calling and wraps on chairs for transporting dogs. An important condition for the selection is always the ease and convenience of the items purchased. The circle of toys is determined by how the leisure of the animal is organized and how actively it will take place.

Serious questions from hunters are often related to the age when you want to start training a dog. There is no universal answer to this question. Even experienced specialists always indicate that the puppy should get used to the changed situation, and only then should classes begin. You should not immediately take the dog to the engraving polygons. First, a full-fledged home preparation must be made in moral and physical terms.

At first, puppies in the new house show a nervous disposition. And this is almost normal. In this case to calm the pet, take the usual rugs or parts of them from sellers. A familiar smell will allow the animal to stabilize the psyche faster.

As soon as the nornik begins to whine for the first time, you need to immediately pay attention to it (by playing or simply by affectionate treatment). Games with normal dogs should contain as many active elements as possible. The animals themselves must be made to feel like winners. But you still have to make sure that they do not overwork. The accumulation of stamina in outdoor activities will greatly help later on in the hunt.

It is required to accustom the pet to actions in the dark (using the same game elements). Imitation of a hole at home is simple - a trench is digging, which is blocked by boards. Experts advise to bring this structure as close as possible to the usual natural landscape in the area where it is planned to hunt.

One of the best training methods is as follows:

• pets are tied;
• digging a hole;
• put your favorite toy there and fall asleep;
• let the dog go;
• podzadiruyte her, thereby stimulating more likely to dig up a valuable item.

Training at the hauling stations should begin no earlier than 8 months. The first engraving is made in an artificial hole where the fox is. You can take as a partner a more experienced nornik, but always the same breed and the same gender, preferably close age. Training should be carried out systematically, and only then can a good result be achieved.

About how the burrowing hunt, see below.