Be Careful!!!! Too Hot For Fido!!!

[uplander]

The temps will be high this weekend for grouse opener so remember to use extreme caution when running your dog!!!!!! Too many times dogs die or suffer permanent dammage because of heat related stress!!! I know most of us know this...but this is just a frienly reminder...Be safe out there for you and your dog!!

If it is going to be this warm I just don't run my dogs..It's hard for them to smell anyway with their tounge dragging on the ground..Once again be careful and have a great bird season!! uplander

[LABS4ME]

Sage advice! Too often the excitement of being out hunting again, foreshadows the common sense of over running a dog. It happens not only in September's grouse opener, but all too often in October's pheasant openers...

Lots of water and cool down periods... hunt early and late in the day, and you should be good.

Good Luck!

Ken

[riverview]

Yes north dakotas opener last weekend was very hot. watch for blue green algea(spelling) carry lots of water for the pup. I carry one of those foldable bowls and a mothers vest with a bladder. I am going over to mn this weekend for opener

[CrowRiverRat83]

Good advice. A permanent cool down would be good right about now.

[Harmonica Bear]

A small cheap frisbee works great for a water bowl out in the field (as long as your dog doesn't want to play with it). It's light and fits nicely into your game bag as well.

[lenny7]

My cousin fills up a small cooler with ice cold water and has his dog drink right out of that. Cooler keeps it cool for most of the day. I'm going to try that this year.

[uplander]

Does he cary that right in the field with him? You need water on you at all times!

[lenny7]

Does he cary that right in the field with him? You need water on you at all times!

I don't believe I said that was the only water available for the dogs. I don't know what he does in the field, but I carry two water bottles, one for me and one for the dog. When you're back at the truck, or being hauled in the back of the truck, a cooler is a lot easier than a water bottle or a dish.

Open the lid.

Let dog drink.

Close lid.

[uplander]

Didn't mean to offend....but you can never cary enough water with you..If you have ever seen a dog go down from the heat you know what I'm talking about....If you are not hunting in an area with plenty of standing water you will be hard pressed to get that dog cooled off with one bottle of water even 2 won't do the trick.

From seeing it first hand let me tell you how helpless you'll feel when it happens, and there is no water in sight and you are a half a mile from the truck.

Some dogs are smart enough to slow the pace down and take their time checking back often for water .....but some are not...and those are ones you must be very careful with. Hope everyone stays cool...uplander

[jeffreyd]

heck here in az still over 100 for the week. makes hunting very hard for anyone. good luck to all.

[MN Shutterbug]

but I carry two water bottles, one for me and one for the dog.

You don't share? Great advice.

[SportFishin']

What I've used all the time in my truck is I have one of those 5gal Drink coolers with a spicket on it filled with water and in my chest freezer I have 1 gal milk jugs frozen and I drop one into the drink cooler to keep the water cool all day.

Then in my hunting vest I carry (3) 16oz water bottles that I have trained my dogs to drink out of. I use the water bottles with good rubber spouts on them(so the leakage is minmal). Out here in Monatana it is still blazing hot yet & dry. So I limit my field searches to a bottle and a half in(usually 30 min) & a bottle and a half to get out to ensure the dog has plenty of fluids for the hunt. Then we rest back at the truck for 20 min. and more water. Refill bottles have a snack and back at it again. Carring plenty of water also conditions the dog to know that water is always available if he ever needs it. I use the water consumtion as gage on how the pup is feeling the heat and never try to push farther if water is low. The birds will always be there!!

Another thing many many people over look is conditioning your dogs continously over the warmer summer months. Conditioning & Plenty of fluids is the key to a happy & successful performance from our best friends in the field plus it doesn't hurt us either!!

Best Regards,

Chris

[lenny7]

You don't share? Great advice.

Heck no! He ain't lickin' my bottle with the same tongue he uses to lick himself!