Breeds of burrowing dogs: Dachshund, Jagdterrier, Yorkshire Terrier. Description, characteristics, training

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

All breeds of burrowing dogs were bred at different times with the sole purpose of helping people hunt game. Due to their small size, these animals easily penetrate the burrow of a badger, fox, raccoon dog.

Breeds of burrowing dogs: Dachshund

Today, many pre-existing breeds of dogs that once helped their owners in burrow hunting have partially or completely lost their instincts, turning into sweet and kind pets. Dachshunds also often live in city apartments, but the dog remains an excellent, if not the best, burrowing dog.

Description of the dachshund can be found in many publications for animal lovers: an unusual exterior, cheerful disposition of funny "elongated" dogs attract many. Today they are more often used as companions, but experts know that this is a real dexterous and fearless hunter. The origin of dachshunds is not known for certain.

Today there are several varieties of the breed, each of which has its own standards and characteristics. Taxi appeared firstsmooth-haired. Later - long-haired, which arose as a result of crossing a dachshund with a spaniel. And then rough-haired individuals appeared. Their ancestors were dachshunds and wire-haired terriers.

The description of the dachshund, which is given in publications on domestic dog breeding, presents us with a kind of sissy who loves warmth and comfort. But this is only one feature that the dachshund has. The hunting dog of this breed is good because it is universal. A dog can perfectly bark a hare, serve ducks from the water, follow a bloody trail, work on black grouse, and can be a charming pet. But her main strong point is working in a hole for raccoons, badgers and foxes.

Dachshund easily catches up with the raccoon and captures it. Quite often, raccoons dig very simple holes, but when a dog overtakes them, the raccoon does not come out, but defends itself in the hole. In this case, the hunter is forced to dig a hole in order to get the beast.

Harder to hunt a badger. This is a rather large and strong animal that builds complex holes. It can pose a serious danger to the dog. Therefore, it is better to hunt him after the animal has hibernated or when it comes out of the hole to hunt. The dachshund in the hole only barks at the badger, and the hunter digs a pit up to one and a half meters deep.

The main specialization of the dachshund is fox hunting in winter or late autumn. The fox seeks to escape from the hole, so the final result of the hunt depends on the accuracy of the person. A dachshund is able to strangle a fox in a hole, but it is not always possible to pull it to the surface - you will need helphunter.

Terriers

These are numerous breeds of burrowing dogs that were bred in Britain. Their name comes from the word terra, which translates as "earth". Initially, they were formed as small working dogs, possessing viciousness towards the beast. They were kept, as a rule, at the stables, and were also used to control rodents. Terriers were mainly bred for burrow hunting.

Today, out of more than thirty breeds of these dogs, only a third is suitable for burrow hunting. All these animals are united by a mobile and tireless character.

German hunting terrier (jagdterrier)

These animals have long been well known to dog lovers all over the world. However, the opinion about these glorious dogs has developed very controversial. Some believe that these are magnificent burrowing dogs: the Jagd Terrier is a decisive, independent and independent animal, endowed with excellently developed hunting abilities and lightning-fast reaction, absolutely fearless in a fight with the beast.

Others are sure that this dog has a rather complex character and requires a special approach to education. This dog came to Russia from Germany, where it was bred several centuries ago. This is a mobile, strong and very ferocious animal. Its main purpose is hunting. More precisely, helping a person in the extraction of animals living in holes: raccoons, foxes and badgers.

The Jagdterrier achieves the best results in a pair with another representative of this breed or with a dachshund. Such a team can easily overcome andto drive out of the hole not only a fox or a badger, but also without fear to attack a more dangerous and larger animal, for example, a wild boar. Two small dogs will not be able to defeat him on their own, but they are quite capable of keeping him in one place, not allowing him to escape from the hunter.

Today, some breeds of burrowing dogs are increasingly used as gun dogs, for tracking down and further raising the animal from the lair, for baiting foxes and hares, for feeding shot game, for pursuing a wounded animal on a bloody trail.

Border Terrier

Another representative of burrowing dogs is the Border Terrier. Border is translated from English as "border". The history of this breed began in the border regions of Scotland and England. These animals do not have a very presentable appearance, which is explained by the fact that the original goal was to breed dogs with excellent performance, not paying much attention to appearance. Border Terriers appeared in our country relatively recently and immediately won the hearts of hunters.

These dogs are indispensable hunting helpers and excellent companions, true friends at home. The Border Terrier has a great temperament that allows even beginners to keep them. A dog can chase prey for hours. She is not characterized by a "dead grip", as a rule, the dog works with her voice and assertiveness.

Yorkshire Terrier

Another terrier that is well known in our country as an indispensable attribute of socialites. Any Yorkshire Terrier kennel that can be found practically inevery city, positions this dog as indoor-decorative. And indeed it is. The breed, which arose at the end of the 19th century, was bred in Great Britain. But perhaps not everyone knows that initially small terriers were used as hunters for small rodents.

The owners of these animals were mostly the poor, who were not allowed to have large dogs that were used by poachers. Breed researchers believe that the Waterside Terrier, known in the 18th century, is the closest ancestor of the modern Yorkie. A description of such a terrier has been preserved: a small dog with long, silky blue-gray hair.

Over time, the aristocrats of England paid attention to the little rat-catcher terrier: its nobility and stature were admired. Over time, the country began to breed smaller representatives of the new breed. Today it is not at all difficult to acquire such a “hunter”, for whom hunting is reduced to running after a butterfly in the park, to pick up a well-established nursery. Yorkshire Terriers are bred in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Krasnodar and Rostov-on-Don, Voronezh and Saratov and many other cities of the country.

Hunting with burrowing dogs

Fox hunting with burrowing dogs is very popular in Russia. The hunting season starts in mid-autumn and lasts until spring. The fox hides in a hole before a change of weather or when it snows. In winter, the fur of the animal becomes thick and shiny. Hunger and cold push foxes in winter to take very risky and daring actions, attacking domestica bird, for example.

For a successful hunt, you need to know the location of holes in the ground. Fox hunting in winter is most effective if your assistants are wire-haired and smooth-haired fox terriers and welsh terriers, jagd terriers, and, of course, dachshunds.

The fox always comes out of the hole quickly and unexpectedly, immediately starting to run away. The hunter needs an excellent reaction and a well-aimed shot. It happens that the dog manages to pull the fox out of the hole. But you should always have a second dog ready to help keep the prey.

Training

To make hunting with a dog successful, it is necessary to prepare your assistant in advance, to train. Dogs must unquestioningly obey the commands "Take!" and “No!”, appear to the hunter on a sound signal or the first command, be able to walk without a leash at his leg, follow the command “Stop!”. To carry out these commands, training is common to all breeds.

And there are special requirements for burrowing dogs. A good burrowing dog should come to the owner on a silent signal, search for and serve objects and be calm and quiet in the shoulder bag.

Approaching a silent signal

Such a signal is needed in a hole when you want to call the dog. In this case, the dog is called by beckoning movements of the fingers or palm. Young dogs are taught this requirement only after they begin to approach the owner on command or signal. The silent signal is initially given simultaneously with the sound signal. Throughthree lessons of the dog begin to approach the silent signal. The process is especially fast when using a treat.

Search

Dogs and the command "Search!" (in three or four lessons). In the first session, discreetly place a treat in an open area and, keeping the dog on a leash, walk towards the lying treat against the wind, at the same time giving the command and pointing the dog at it. This is enough for the dog to understand what is required of it. With each lesson, she will follow the command more willingly.

Get in

For burrowing dogs, calm behavior in a shoulder bag is very important. Dogs learn this command quickly and climb into the bag themselves. They are taught this from an early age. The first lesson is held when the young dog has had a good walk and is even tired.

The owner gives the command "In place!" and puts his four-legged helper in the bag. At first, the dog will toss and turn in it, and perhaps even whine, but when you repeat “In place!” and stroking the bag, he will quickly calm down. Two or three lessons are enough for the dog to master this command and be able to stay in the bag for a long time.