How to Train Your Dog to Catch Moles

Start playing tug of war with your mole decoy/toy each day. Spend 10-15 minutes playing around and encouraging him to get his teeth into the toy. You can even use the occasional treat to emphasize this is the behavior you want to see.

Start walking him around the yard and any mole hills and tracks. It is important he becomes familiar with the smell, so really encourage him to sniff around their tracks. Walking him around the yard will reinforce to him where the boundaries are and show him where the territory is that he needs to protect.

Spray the mole scent on the toy and continue to play with it. You need to get him used to the sight and smell of moles so his natural reaction will be to chase one if he sees one. You can use verbal praise and treats to reinforce signs of aggression towards the toy.

Keep an eye out for moles and if you see one and run towards them in the yard. Dogs often mirror their owners’ feelings and actions, so this is a case of lead by example. Really encourage him to run alongside you when you see any movement out there. He will start naturally chasing moles of his own accord as the steps above will create a habit.

Reward him with treats and verbal praise whenever he catches a mole. Now that he will naturally seek them out, you just need to reinforce how happy you are with him when he catches one. The greater the reward and praise the more keen he will be to catch one again.

Place a live rat in a wired cage and hide it out in the yard. Before he tackles moles you want to build up his interest with another pesky creature. You can use a live rat trap to catch a rat or you can purchase one.

Spend 10 minutes a day walking him around the rat. As you do this, reward any signs of aggression and interest with treats and verbal praise. You really want to bring out your dog’s predator instinct. As he sees the rat each day he will also get increasingly confident and comfortable around small animals.

Create scent tracks to the cage with rat droppings. You need to ensure he will not only catch a rat/mole, but that he will also be able to sniff them out. Walk him along the scent trail each day and encourage him with praise and treats.

When you are confident he will attack the rat, release it in the yard where your dog will be able to quickly catch him. Then let him play with the dead rat. This experience will be so stimulating he will look to repeat it again.

Now repeat that entire process but with a live mole. Take him to a trapped mole each day to encourage the same aggression. Follow scent trails of moles together and give the impression you are hunting as a team. Then when he shows the same signs of aggression that he did with the rat, release the mole and let him catch it. You will now have a dog who actively seeks out and hunts moles. Just be sure to reward him with treats and praise each time he catches one!

Start encouraging him to spend more time outside in the mole infested area. Start spending 10-15 minutes a day playing with him in the yard. You can take toys out there and have other family members play with him. It is important the area starts to feel like his territory then he will naturally want to protect it.

Walk him around the perimeter of the area that needs protecting twice each day. This will reinforce where his territory starts and ends. He will quickly learn where he is supposed to guard.

This may sound like a bizarre concept but he will respond to training swiftly if the thinks you are hunting as a team, with a pack mentality. That means encouraging him to sniff out mole trails and investigating mole hills. You can even use mole scent spray to create tracks and places to hunt.

Constantly reward him with praise whenever he takes any interest in mole hills and traces. You need to reinforce to him this is the behavior you want to see. If he knows he will get a reward he will actively seek out moles.

Never punish him if you see new mole hills have appeared that he didn’t prevent. Training through fear only leaves you with a terrified dog who is too scared to try and please you. Negative reinforcement is simply not as effective as positive. So consistently encourage mole interest and by following the steps above in a matter of weeks he will be chasing moles all on his own.