How do you treat/take care of your dogs while hunting

R

retrvrman

New member
In order for us rooster hunters and such with dogs (heck I probably wouldn't have ever gone bird hunting if I didn't have a dog anyway)...we should be more respectful of the place we are staying and that starts with being a responsible dog owner.

If you have a GOOD WAY TO SECURE YOUR DOG IN A LOCKED KENNELso the dog doesn't get stolen (as in a big enough dog box, secured down in the back of the truck or SUV and a lock on the door)....wouldn't work for your plain airline kennels.

I tell you, I don't bring my dogs into the room unless it is bitter cold and windy. And I definitely don't do it until I am back from dinner or whatever and have aired them and they are fed.

I guess I am old school. Yea, they work hard and hunt hard, however they are dogs.

I learned from an ole pro gun dog trainer while stationed up in Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK.

Up there, dogs get used to the cold, sleeping in it, training in it, hunting in it, etc....put some good straw down, keep them dry and plenty of water.

I learned a trick from him. I feed my dogs once a day, in the evening. When I feed them while hunting, I pour water in their bowl with their food.

I guess I get tired of seeing guys baby or pamper their dogs when they are hunting dogs....Just my thoughts,

Greg
 
Not all of us have labs or long hair dogs. I for one have weimaraners which were bred by the Germans to hunt big game all day and sleep by their feet at night. They were not bred to live their lives in a kennel outside.

As for one meal a day and adding water to it. I would never do either with my dogs because studies have shown that both are contributers to bloat in my breed.

I am sure you would consider my dogs spoiled but I guarantee they will work as hard in any condition as any other dog. They are hunting dogs but they are also household pets and bring joy to our family everyday even when they are not hunting and just hanging out in the house.
 
blueweim said:
Not all of us have labs or long hair dogs. I for one have weimaraners which were bred by the Germans to hunt big game all day and sleep by their feet at night. They were not bred to live their lives in a kennel outside.

As for one meal a day and adding water to it. I would never do either with my dogs because studies have shown that both are contributers to bloat in my breed.

I am sure you would consider my dogs spoiled but I guarantee they will work as hard in any condition as any other dog. They are hunting dogs but they are also household pets and bring joy to our family everyday even when they are not hunting and just hanging out in the house.
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I would necessarily say that I would consider them spoiled as they are short haired dogs and as you pointed out, the way they were bred, they are different than alot of other upland and or retriever breeds.

That being.....if you read my post, I only feed with the water while out hunting in the evening after we are done. I will check out the bloating thing. I do appreciate you pointing that out.

What I do know is that it is not good to feed a hunting dog especially while out hunting in the AM.....that's what I meant by once a day in the evening.

Well kind Sir, my dogs don'tl live their lives in a kennel outside. My 12yr old yellow lab sleeps my 11yr old son in bedroom actually. My 6 yr old chcoclate sleeps some nights in the garage in her kennel and some nights in the house....

Mine are part of our family just so you know. I have had labs since 1992 and I have been training, breeding, running them in FT and hunt tests and hunting since. I cried like a little girl when my first lab diied at 13 and we lost our 16yr old chocolate lab (my wifes dog) this past January.

Sir, I think you missed my point.

Meanwhile back at the ranch,

Greg
 
Greg I took your post as all hunting dogs and it sounds like dogs should be kept outside and not just for hunting.
Seems like I misunderstood the meaning. I understand your reasoning for the 1 meal and it makes sense. For me my guy is so slim that I have to feed him 2 times minimum because he just can't eat that much food in one setting but I always try to give hime as much time as possible before the hunting starts, usually 2 hours. He weighs 60lbs but I feed him what the bag recommends for a 120lb dog and you can still see his ribs to well.
 
Roger that....you do what you have to do for your dog, that is obvious. I was just throwing it out there to discuss.

I have a buddy who has a Weim also...nice dog. She didn't like to be left in the room though while we were at dinner. She barked and barked and someone call the front desk...

Greg
 
I hunt with English Setters and the fear of having my dogs stolen is much stronger than my fear of cold. I have the bottom of my dogs boxes lined with Flexgard Wash Rack Matt, on top of that I have a couple of polar fleece blankets and on top of the blankets I have a bed of the cedar ribbons, with 2 dogs to a box they stay pretty warm. I offer my dogs water at every stop in attempt to keep them hydrated. I try to hunt 2 dogs in the morning and 2 dogs in the afternoon. If I know I am not going to let the morning crew have another turn later in the day I offer them food as soon as they are back at the truck and done hunting. At the end of the day I feed and water all the dogs and clean their eyes, dry them off and put them in the box for the ride back to the motel. As soon as I get to the motel I put water down for the dogs and get them out of the box to pee & poop before I unload the truck and go eat. I get them out of the box for water and another pee & poop opportunity between 9pm and 10 pm, I sleep with my loaded pistol on the bedside table and if my dogs make any noise during the night I am up quickly to check on them. I make every effort to stay at motels where I can park in front of the door to my room. If it is really cold near or below zero Fahrenheit and the innkeeper approves I'll bring them in the room with me but that is the exception rather than the rule. Not to be a smart alec but if this is pampering or babying so be it. It works very well for me and it appears to work well for my dogs.
 
Dog Gun Time said:
I hunt with English Setters and the fear of having my dogs stolen is much stronger than my fear of cold. I have the bottom of my dogs boxes lined with Flexgard Wash Rack Matt, on top of that I have a couple of polar fleece blankets and on top of the blankets I have a bed of the cedar ribbons, with 2 dogs to a box they stay pretty warm. I offer my dogs water at every stop in attempt to keep them hydrated. I try to hunt 2 dogs in the morning and 2 dogs in the afternoon. If I know I am not going to let the morning crew have another turn later in the day I offer them food as soon as they are back at the truck and done hunting. At the end of the day I feed and water all the dogs and clean their eyes, dry them off and put them in the box for the ride back to the motel. As soon as I get to the motel I put water down for the dogs and get them out of the box to pee & poop before I unload the truck and go eat. I get them out of the box for water and another pee & poop opportunity between 9pm and 10 pm, I sleep with my loaded pistol on the bedside table and if my dogs make any noise during the night I am up quickly to check on them. I make every effort to stay at motels where I can park in front of the door to my room. If it is really cold near or below zero Fahrenheit and the innkeeper approves I'll bring them in the room with me but that is the exception rather than the rule. Not to be a smart alec but if this is pampering or babying so be it. It works very well for me and it appears to work well for my dogs.
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Roger that....you do what you have to do for your dog, that is obvious. I was just throwing it out there to discuss. :rolleyes::p
 
Great Topic! Care and feeding are just one aspect of preparing your dog for peak performance. Bird dogs are the greatest athletes in the world and my dogs deserve a lot better than what I can give them so I am very interested in learning all I can about improving their capabilities.
 
Let's not forget wintergreen alcohol to keep feet from swelling.
I can't keep my pointer fed enough while out hunting she just won't eat much so anytime she'll eat a bite I let her eat.
Boy it sure seems like some want to argue a lot and are quick to put down others.
Of course you are an idiot if your dog goes nuts in a hotel room you left it in.
 
retrvrman said:
What I do know is that it is not good to feed a hunting dog especially while out hunting in the AM.....that's what I meant by once a day in the evening.
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Indeed. You really shouldn't feed your dog in the a.m., but if you feel you have to, do it early as possible, and the bare minimum. If dogs go out hunting with a full stomach, there is a possibility their stomach could turn, resulting in Gastric Dilatation.

http://www.2ndchance.info/bloat.htm

I do feed my dog a larger than usual portion at dinner. It's also not uncommon for me to pick the dog up something good to eat while I'm out. I typically try to get her something high in protein, carbs, and fat. Believe it or not, a cheeseburger meets these criteria quite well. If some consider it pampering, so be it. I call it rewarding my dog for a hard day's work.

Other than that, I'll usually give her 1/2 of an aspirin at night to help with body aches and swelling.

Since my dog is aging now, I also supplement her diet the entire year with fish oil for the heart, and glucosamine chondroitin for joint health.

If I stay in a motel, I stay in one where pets are allowed. First of all, she's a shorthair, so staying outside in freezing temperatures is a no-go. Secondly, she's more than just a hunting dog, she's a great companion the rest of the year when she isn't hunting. She's like my kid, and I'd never ask my kid to sleep outside in the cold while I was under the covers and warm.
 
I could be the worst. Merle, my 7 month old GWP, has pretty much taken over my life. It's funny to me because prior to getting her this past summer I was dead set on having a "working dog" but she now sleeps in bed with my girl and me. If she wasn't so damn cute, I would like to say this wouldn't have happened but it's too late now!

She hunts her little heart out and for that I make sure that she is pampered. Sure, I'm embarrassed but I don't really care at this point because she's turning into such a great bird dog and best friend. It's pretty crazy how attached you can get to an animal!

She's the kind of dog that would hunt until she dropped so while hunting, I make sure to monitor her behavior and make sure to water her as much as needs and stop when I think she's had enough. She's still a pup but goes like hell already. As far as feeding is concerned, she's a snacker so I try to feed her as much as possible the night before and give her the occasional biscuit while hunting.
 
My gun's a tool, my dogs are not. Last time we stayed in a motel it had a king bed, they ended up on the bed with us, just like they do sometimes at home. If they would have to be left in the room, it would be in the kennel, though.

I've held them out of a field when everyone else was running their dogs - they'd just sprayed it a day or 2 prior. I've invested money & a lot of time getting them to the level their currently at, & enjoy hunting because of them.

As far as once a day feeding; it may work for some but not me, & as far as food, I'd rather skimp on cheaper shells than I would a cheap dog food.

But then again, my dog box is the back seat of my 4 door Dodge.
 
i treat my dog as the way i want to be treated. i dont haul my dogs in a box. I haul them in the truck WITH me. i know dogs have fur... but pointers dont have much hair and i know for one thing, i wouldnt want to ride in the back end for hours in 20-30 degree cold air.

my dog sleeps where i sleep. my dog eats and drinks water when i do. however i tend to feed lightly before the hunt or feed 2-3 hours prior to running, should be easier on her stomache and of course when she pushes one out of her.. arse. she probably feels better now. my dog gets her pro plan no matter where we go or what season it is. changing the food upsets the dog's stomache instantly giving you a poor result of hunting skills. you wouldnt want to continue if your stomach created a dirrarea situation.

right now, my dog is crashed on the couch next to me as im typing this message. if i had 3-4 dogs, they would probably be in kennels as i thats like having candy filled 4 5 year olds kids running around non stop.
 
-Wildcat- said:
Indeed. You really shouldn't feed your dog in the a.m., but if you feel you have to, do it early as possible, and the bare minimum. If dogs go out hunting with a full stomach, there is a possibility their stomach could turn, resulting in Gastric Dilatation.

http://www.2ndchance.info/bloat.htm

I do feed my dog a larger than usual portion at dinner. It's also not uncommon for me to pick the dog up something good to eat while I'm out. I typically try to get her something high in protein, carbs, and fat. Believe it or not, a cheeseburger meets these criteria quite well. If some consider it pampering, so be it. I call it rewarding my dog for a hard day's work.

Other than that, I'll usually give her 1/2 of an aspirin at night to help with body aches and swelling.

Since my dog is aging now, I also supplement her diet the entire year with fish oil for the heart, and glucosamine chondroitin for joint health.

If I stay in a motel, I stay in one where pets are allowed. First of all, she's a shorthair, so staying outside in freezing temperatures is a no-go. Secondly, she's more than just a hunting dog, she's a great companion the rest of the year when she isn't hunting. She's like my kid, and I'd never ask my kid to sleep outside in the cold while I was under the covers and warm.
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I agree with everything you say except for the aspirin. It's not good for dogs stomachs and there are much better alternatives like Rimadyl and others. I've talked with four vets on this subject and all agree that they would rather see a dog on Rimadyl or similar and none of them recommend aspirin.
 
Good Subject, lots of opinions, here's my two cents: I value and treasure everything I have because I had to work for it. Nobody gave me it and that includes my lab Oakley. There isn't anything or anybody else that I would rather be in a field with then him. When we pull up to a field he's ready to go and he doesn't quit until I tell him it's time to stop.
I take good care of my vehicles, my weapons and my family (not necessarily in that order) because they take care of me. Oakley is part of the family so he gets taken care of also. He rides in the back seat of my crew cab when we go anywhere, he gets brushed at least once a week and regular visits to the vet. I don't know how much money I've spent on him but every penny is worth it. I can't do what he does and he'll never quit doing it until that final dreaded day comes. You can call him pampered, you can call him spoiled, you can call him whatever you want, but the only thing that matters is that when I call him he comes to me.
I feed him once a day at night. He get's all the fresh water he wants and treats when he deserves them. Being a lab he'll eat all day if he could so I monitor his food intake and only feed him high quality stuff. He sleeps in the house but he does spend alot of time outside to keep him acclimated to the cold. He's my right hand man with a bird hunting plan. Heck, after a hard day of rooster bustin', I'd bring him his slippers and a cold beer if he asked me to. As far as barking and bad behavior goes, well that's a sign of the owner and the training the dog received. You get out of it what you put into it and if that's what you got then that's what you deserve.
Unconditional love, a companion who'll stay by your side, and a nose that can scent a bird in the middle of a haystack. I didn't even have to ask for these things. What more could I want from my dog. Yeah, he's spoiled.
 
blueweim said:
As for one meal a day and adding water to it. I would never do either with my dogs because studies have shown that both are contributers to bloat in my breed.
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I don't believe this is true, I always feed my dogs once, after the hunt, you don't run a race on a full stomach, I will give them treats during the day with there water breaks.
 
Ha i have some dogs in my kennel that are worth more than my truck!!:) They are stayin with me.....Had some big offers for Jake, Allie , and Chelsea, They are pampered as they should be, with the work that they do for me...:cheers:
 
Taking care of the dogs

Lots of opinions out there. In my current daily driver/hunting/skiing/camper towing rig-Dodge 2500 MegaCab Cummins with a shell, my labs Cody and Logan ride in kennel boxes on the flat platform left when the rear seats are folded down. That was one of the reasons I picked the MegaCab, since nobody makes a full size SUV with a diesel. My boys deserve the same HVAC comfort that I expect.

I feed them twice a day at home and twice a day if we're hunting---if there is enough time in the morning before they hunt-1.5 hours. I bring lots of water in the truck and carry it on me in the field, along with a Leatherman and first aid kit (for the boys and me). I've got a bigger dog kit (and people kit) in the truck.

At the end of the day I check them over carefully and was using a small spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide on scrapes, cuts and their pads. I'm now carrying another spray bottle of Vetericyn that came highly recommended. It's a wound & infection treatment that does not sting. I use it on the dogs and on me. I'm starting to use that in place of antibiotic cream. I also got some eye salve from the vet and put a dab of that in their eyes after wiping them with a damp warm cloth. The dogs wear skid plate chest protectors.

I stay in pet friendly motels and the dogs stay in the room. I bring two king sized sheets to put over the tops of the beds for when the dogs eventually sneak up there in the night. If I leave the hotel, the dogs come with me in the truck. I bring lots of plastic bags to clean up after my dogs on the hotel grounds and wish that more dog owners would display the same courtesy. You clean up after your dogs in your yards--you should have the same courtesy and respect for other's yards. And I hate stepping in stuff when I'm out at night getting my guys to pee and poop.

That's my 2 cents.
PairOfLabs
 
Fenway said:
I don't believe this is true, I always feed my dogs once, after the hunt, you don't run a race on a full stomach, I will give them treats during the day with there water breaks.
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Fenway there was a very large study done by Purdue University on bloat risk factors and steps to take to minimize the risk. I am always very concerned because my dogs build makes him more at risk. If you do a google search for the Purdue bloat study you will find the info.

Now only while hunting I agree it is better to feed only once vs right before but for day to day one big meal is more of risk.
 
My dogs are great companions just like everyone elses on here. My dogs are kennel dogs most of the time. But when we hunt they hunt hard. Their treat at the end of the day is to relax those sore bodies in the house. I usually let them stay in the house even a few days after hard hunts to let them feel good again. The only thing I noticed different from u guys is my dogs wont eat when being hunted. Especially if I am out of town. So what I do in the evenings is blend wet food with the typical dry food and they will eat extremely well. If I dont mix in wet food they will go days without eating. SO this is my little trick to know they get a good meal. Also my dogs are getting older so I give a rimadyl in the morning and one in the evening to help with all of the aches and pains of getting older. Good luck out there!!!!
 
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