taking pets with ice fishing

[30 inch eyes]

How many of you take your dogs with you out ice fishing? I would like to take my lab out fishing, but I use a flip over style house and i don't want him sitting on the ice, and i'm not sure about letting him sit in the tub and stepping on all of my gear and breaking it.I took my chocalate lab with me once in a siutcase house and he didn't know what to think about the crappie I caught.He did give it a kiss though, before I let it back down the hole.He looked at me like,HEY where did that thing go, it was here just a second ago.

[Redlantern]

My dogs take me fishing and they have no trouble sleeping on the ice. If you're concerned about it though, why not take an old blanket for him to lay on?

[Ryan Berger]

We took my buddies lab with that we use for hunting, I think he was more interested in fishing than he is in duck hunting,, be carefull, you might not be able to convert the dog back

[frabillfisher]

take my yellow lab with me all the time and he loves getting the exercise running around he usualy just sits in my sled in the back of my portable

[Captain B.R.K]

Cool if you decide to bring your dog along, just make sure it doesn't get any of that YELLOW snow next to my trap:)

[The Grebe]

In my opinion, no, no and no! There is plenty of area for dogs to excercise, besides on the ice where others are fishing.

To many pet owners let their dogs run all over the ice and not everyone is happy with this, not even us fellow dog owners!

I watched a Black Labrador turn an ally into an enemy last winter and wound up getting whacked in the noggin with an ice ladel by an old grey haired gent that had had enough!

The dogs owner was happily fishing in his house while the dog made everyone else who was fishing outside, miserable.

On another lake I seen a big dog just about walk over a guy, actually knock him off his bucket, while trying to take a sandwich he was eating, right out of his mouth!

Again, the dogs owners were happily fishing in another area and the dog was'nt bothing them.

You may like your dog to high heavens, but that does'nt mean that I, or anyone else does, not out on the ice anyways! In the field, or back at the homestead maybe, but we are there to fish, not babysit someone elses dog.

I guess that if your canine friend is really well trained and will stay in the truck after a run on the ice, a controlled bit of excercise, or stay tethered by your house while you are fishing, I guess thats okay, but this does'nt seem to be the case very often!

But if you let him run and to many times I have seen this, he is grabbing fish people have on the ice, biting at there lines and/or fish they pull up, getting into their gear, tangling up lines, getting hooked, grabbing the minnows out of the buckets, stepping on and tipping things over, eating your lunch, [PoorWordUsage]ing on your cooler, crapping a pile where you are fishing, incessantly barking, crawling into your fish house, or vehicle, fighting with the dog that is tethered, or having to sit there all day listening to the owner yelling, "Shep, common Shepp, Shepp, Shepp, here boy, Common, common boy, Shepp, Shepp, Shepp, good boy, common Shepp, Etc. Etc. In my opinion, leave the dog home!

If the dog needs excercise, take him to the pond, or an area where no one is fishing and then he can run to his hearts content.

[KidWalleye]

I agree, don't bring the dog unless it is WELL behaved. I had one grab a fish I had on the outside of my trap. Also had one TRY to lift his leg on it once. Needless to say he got a boot in the face. All this while the owner was yelling at the top of his lungs. I like seeing dogs out there as long as they behave and don't disturb anyone. Mine comes with me but doesn't go more than ten feet away. Also if I have him I don't fish by anyone.

[efgh]

I too have had the pleasure of someone elses dog aggervating me while ice fishing, leave old Shep home and you will make someone elses day.

[Greg Clusiau]

I agree with Grebe! Leave home without it!

[walleye_boy]

I say bring them with everyone enjoys a great day on the ice even your pup.

[walleye_boy]

I say bring them with everyone enjoys a great day on the ice even your pup.

[upnorth]

I bring my dog if I am going to be in an un-crowded area. She is very friendly and not obnoxious, but she is also very social and wants to go visit everyone and figures they want to see her too.

I have yet to see anyone get upset with her, but I don't take if I am going to be where there going to be more than just a few people around.

[LocalGuide]

I myself like dogs and to me them being on the ice isnt a problem unless they are not taken care of very well and are really being a pest.

I would say if there is going to be a lot of people around then dont take your dog along. Unless he/she is very well trained and wont go around causing lots of heck.

But like (upnort h) said, if its going to be in an uncrowded area bring the pet along. It would be really stupid to not bring your dog along if your the only person fishing in that area or even on the lake.

[M.T. Bucket]

I'll admit, I'm not much of a dog lover myself, but I've fished (and hunted) around some great dogs that don't bother anyone and some AWFUL dogs that just run around, jump on strangers, bark incessantly, and basically irritate everyone in the vicinity. If you have even the slightest idea that your dog might be the latter, leave it at home!

Also, please, please, please don't let your dog dump on the ice--in the woods away from the lake edge is much better. Or you might have to plan ahead with something to scoop it up with. Besides being nasty to everyone else (who wants to set their trap down on a terd?), doggie doo is terrible for lakes--it just adds to the nutrients that contribute to algae blooms.

[chunkytrout]

It's come up before. Thing is, if you can't control your pet there's no reason why others should have to put up with it. At the lake, on ice, friends party, or really anywhere. I have some friends with dogs that it wouldn't seem right without them around. My pup isn't allowed to run free anytime unless my attention is only on her. Otherwise she's on the tether. My old dog wouldn't go 5 feet from the shack unless I was with her. Don't blame the dogs, blame the owners.

[MinnesotaMuskie]

I have a Golden Retriever...she would just as soon kick the bucket than see the boys and I drive away.

She is extremely well behaved and NEVER wanders from our house. I would much rather have a four legged dog pay me a visit instead of some of the two legged dogs who visit and leave thier markings; ie. beer cans, wrappers, junk. The same dogs are running around on wheelers and sleds...much more bothersome.

What ever happened to "Mans best friend?"

[Northlander]

I am a dog owner but I dont bring my dog because I dont want to have to worry about who she may upset or watching her all the time. She is a pup still. Also I have had dogs pee on my house and that upset me big time. I also hate barking dogs when Im trying to fish. So unless your dog sits next to you and can stay quiet my vote is keep them at home. Plus ice holes arent a good mix with dogs legs.

There are times where I will run my dog on the ice but not when people or holes are present.

[Blaine]

I never go ice fishing without my lab(s). I lost my first lab nearly a year ago and introduced my new pup to the ice last year. She is very well behaved and obey any command given, so bothering others is never an issue. She gets all the exercise she can handle throughout the day chasing a tennis ball or chunks of ice the entire day. She runs so much that her nails never need clipping...Hell when we get home, you can't even hear her walking on the hardwood floors

If you bring a dog, give them some place to get off the ice. Normally she will hop up in an unused chair of if it's ral windy, I'll bring a blanket and put it in my jet sled. Also make sure they have some high calorie food to keep the enegy level up so that they don't get cold

[folke2000]

Blaine,

Great pic's of your dog.....If they are well trained there should be no issue with dogs on the ice. Like an earlier post stated, blame the owner, not the dog.....

[Seabass77]

Just like every other situation with our pets, you have to be in control of them. If your pet won't respond to verbal commands, they leash them. I had a lab take a leak on my portable 3 years ago and I wasn't happy.

I bring my dog with me all the time but only in less busy areas. I leash him up if there are others around, I pick up his messes, and bring him in the portable at night.

Just basic common sense stuff really, but it is amazing how quickly people forget that stuff on the ice so quickly.

[CrappieJohn]

Seabass, Chunky and Steve have all hit on some real solid points. Dogs wander and can become a problem for anglers who are not fishing in shacks....some of us do that. I personally have had peoples dogs come over to say hi and end up wrapped in my lines and even had one take food off my grill. It is my opinion that if I want to see a dog, I'll go over to where the dog is. Otherwise they should be tied to the shack or portable. Or better yet, if you brought the dog for companionship, keep it inside with you.

[JHansel7]

If they can be well-behaved and stay around the owner then its fine, but I've had a few dogs last year make me pretty mad. Blaine, nice pictures of your dog, looks like you two have a great time, good luck this winter everyone.

[upnorth]

What you are talking about is why I don't bring my dog to places that are gonna be kinda busy. I don't want to have to keep her tethered and I don't want to have her pestering people that don't want a dog around. She won't steal a steak off your grill but she will steal a little kiss if you bend over to check your line

[Bearfish]

I say bring your dog if you're a responsible owner. I have not owned a dog for many years, but is there any type of leash law(s) that apply to being on the ice?