The History of the Cajun Squirrel Dogs
In the 80s, two Americans, Robert Kemmer and Calvin Boutee started the Original Cajun Squirrel Dog through a process of line bred feasts and cur crosses. Later on, Carlton Savoy of St. Amant opened a foundation and acquired Boutees stock, and by doing so he started his own breeding program with the assistance and cooperation of the original fathers of the breed.
The Physical Description of the Breed
Even if it is not a rule, in general the Cajun Squirrel Dogs length is somewhere between 30.5 to 45.7 cm (12-18 inches) with a weight of 9 to 13 kg (20-30 lbs). This makes them a medium sized dog. In terms of looks, they resemble the Labrador Retrievers, but at a smaller scale. They have medium length fur with a soft under coat, usually colored in white and red, yellow, red, brindle or a mix. Their bodies are narrow with long legs and a bobtail or docked tail. Their eyes are black or dark brown with pink outlines and their noses can also be brawn or black. The Cajun Squirrel Dogs have long ears and folded over at the ends. These dogs do not have a fancy type of fur; therefore, they do not require frequent baths or a large amount of grooming or special care. The hope of life for this breed is somewhere between 12-14 years.
The Activity of the Cajun Squirrel Dogs
The Cajun Squirrel Dogs are energetic and alert, both qualities making them great squirrel and tree raccoon hunters. And precisely because of these same qualities, these dogs need regular and constant physical exercises. Usually, anything that means outdoors works just fine for them. It does not matter if the yard where the Cajun Squirrel Dogs play is small, or if their physical exercise means just walking around in the neighborhood, as long as they exercise those details are not important for them. But, they will be most definitely happier if they could run in a large yard with plenty of room for them to “hunt” and “track”. One thing to remember though is that the Cajun Squirrel Dog will always be walked only on a leash.
The Temperament and the Personality of the Cajun Squirrel Dog
In terms of temperament, the Cajun Squirrel Dogs are a very loyal and loving breed. They coexist well with children and other canines, especially if they grew up together. If not, in a short time they become friends with everybody in the house, especially youngsters of all ages, due to their very friendly personality. Unfortunately, the Cajun Squirrel Dog cannot coexist with smaller animals, since they were intentionally bred to hunt them.
