actually he could solve your ground squirrel problem lol
my female is a "champion" chipmonk and grey squirrel chaser/killer shell follow them up trees and into ground holes (she can dig like a demon!) (and by up trees i mean literally she botls STRAIGHT up trees when in full run!) shes also good with rats. she hasnt killd a chippy yet, but shes killed many rats/greys.
the male, hes a great mouser he also goes after chipmonk squirrel and rabbit...hes only 5lbs but hes taken out an adult rabbit in the past and has killed a few chippies...he wont go up the trees like ruby does so the squirrels usually manage to evade him if they can get to the tree before ruby joins in.
mice...well forget it, ive seen him and the cat argue about who gets to kill it...he loves mice.
both dogs are regulars on the lure coursing track (though we cna only run for fun as cresties arnt recognized as sighthounds, i think the sighhound people are just upset that my girl outrund the whippets LOL!)
funny part is. both LOVE chickens, my female kind of ignores them unless she things theres danger at which point she bounces at them barking so they run away lol...the male has tried to herd them, but most of them are bigger than him and he gets intimidated if they decide they dont want to go where hes trying to make them go lol.
kinda funny cause the neighbor warned me that theres always been Mouse problems in this house...siad nothing got rid of them, hed hear them in the walls all the time...
between the cats and the dogs, ive had 2 deads indoors and no more scurrying sounds LOL. they all vacated wheni moved 2 cats and 2 ratters into the house!

they're not stupid.
i told him i wasnt worried about mice or rats...and he looked at me like i was crazy..."fall is horrible, they come in lookinf for somewhere warm" he tells me...
i explained if they survive the cats late night hunting parties...there not gonna survive the dogs. LOL!
so far so good. im hoping theyll manage to keep the squirrels out of the pecan trees this comming year...aparently the squirrels always get the pecans before they are ripe enough for people to harvest...
i should put a "squirrel beware" sign up lol
i knwo the money aspect though lol, belive me! lol.
im one of those "cant be without my dogs" folks, so not having at least one in my house would kill me...
dozer wasnt exactly panned but i dont think i could be without him now lol.
and if it wasnt for the fact i have dozer id happily keep the little male lol