jgiles
Veteran Tracker
Reged: 04/19/07
Posts: 2300
Loc: Grapevine
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With dove season right around the conner, whats everyone opinion on the heat, and at what point do you leave the dog at home?
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kbobbjr
Pro Tracker
Reged: 07/01/05
Posts: 1551
Loc: Rowlett, Tx
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If I get the chance to go I won't be taking my dog. It's not worth the risk.
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jgiles
Veteran Tracker
Reged: 04/19/07
Posts: 2300
Loc: Grapevine
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I was thinking I might mornings only, by the pond. I agree its a very thin line this time of year
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easton1025
Pro Tracker
Reged: 09/02/04
Posts: 1376
Loc: carrollton texas
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mornings only unless its cloudy and overcast..Pond water really does not help that much if at all..Dogs expell heat through panting and the mouth..I usually get a old 5 gallon pickle bucket full of ice water and a beach towel and keep it in the back of the truck just in case..
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steel shot
Light Foot
Reged: 07/18/08
Posts: 41
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This year my dogs,Max and Sam, are going to have to wait until duck season to go hunting. It is just too hot to be out retrieving doves.
I train them both in the mornings, and by 10:00 am they are already hot.
Like kbobbjr said, "It's not worth the risk."
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scattergun
Outdoorsman
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 67
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I've been semi-training at least every other day in the heat and boy has it been hot. They do a few water retrieves and I just basically let them explore the area around the pond. I haven't had any problems and they seem to really enjoy it. Plenty of shade around and they don't seem to get any hotter than they do at home. Keep in mind, I'm not doing any full bore field work.
I always make sure they are wet before they are loaded in the well ventilated dog box and put a frozen 2 liter bottle of water in each side. Half the time they are asleep and not even panting when I get home.
Mine are going huntin'! With the dove population around here, there is a very slim chance of over working them. I am going to set up at a pond and try to make most of my shots over water. Would this not be excellent training for duck season? I have DD's BTW.
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Sniper John
Pro Tracker
Reged: 08/31/05
Posts: 1949
Loc: Farmers Branch
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Here is a good write up by a bird dog vet on canine heat stroke.
http://birddogdocschronicles.blogspot.com/search/label/Canine%20Heat%20Related%20Injuries
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I do not hunt to enjoy nature. I enjoy nature because, through hunting, I have become part of it
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Chet
Bird Dog
Reged: 09/07/05
Posts: 341
Loc: Ft Worth
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When the combination of temp and humidity is over 145 a dog is at risk. Be careful.........
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5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions..
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kirkw
Bird Dog
Reged: 12/24/04
Posts: 463
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Gus will be going. only light am or late pm hunts. no excessive running around. heck it shouldn't take long to get a limit of birds.
kirk
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FETCH_UP
Tracker
Reged: 09/12/07
Posts: 616
Loc: Angleton, TX
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If your dog is properly conditioned throughout the entire year it should not be a problem for it to retrieve a limit of doves...we have used our labs extensively during dove season and had no probs, but they always have water to drink and they are trained(hard) bout everyday, it will also vary based on the cover you are hunting, thick south texas brush is a lil different than a crop field...just watch your dog and use your head.
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HRCH ACE MH
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westtexaswatkins
Tracker
Reged: 05/31/07
Posts: 752
Loc: Anton, TX
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I have outside dogs use to the heat. I dove hunt only about 40yrd from my front door next to a pond. I may be one of the lucky one's though. Plenty of water is my best answer to keep them safe.
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WAL1809
Pro Tracker
Reged: 08/26/05
Posts: 1513
Loc: Texas
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We keep a baby pool next to the truck and empty the ice chests into the baby pool. By the time we get to hunting the water chill is gone. The dogs know where the water is and we send them to it at the first sign of the tongue is hanging flat and low and the breathing is major. It can take only minutes in the heat, dogs conditioned fair better than others but can be stricken before an owner can recognize the danger. For those trips where the pool is not with us we carry bottles of alcohol. If you see the bad signs we dump the alcohol on the chest and get to water. There aint nothing in this world worse than seeing the extremities on a dog shutting down. They wobble themselves to the ground. This happened to my black bitch who was working daily, hard. It was just something wrong on that particular day and she lasted only minutes. Her feet came out from under her and down she went. So those who believe because their dogs can handle it because they work hard, stay outside whatever-it can happen. Once it happens they are more and more prone to get afflicted.
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www.snakebreaker.com
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westtexaswatkins
Tracker
Reged: 05/31/07
Posts: 752
Loc: Anton, TX
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"For those trips where the pool is not with us we carry bottles of alcohol. If you see the bad signs we dump the alcohol on the chest and get to water."
If I remember correctly, my wife worked at a Vet. for several years, and said most dogs release heat from their feet and that is the best place for the alcohol. It is supposed to pull the heat out the fastest. You might check with you local vet. though.
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gr_elliott
Veteran Tracker
Reged: 01/19/06
Posts: 3388
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Quote:
"For those trips where the pool is not with us we carry bottles of alcohol. If you see the bad signs we dump the alcohol on the chest and get to water."
If I remember correctly, my wife worked at a Vet. for several years, and said most dogs release heat from their feet and that is the best place for the alcohol. It is supposed to pull the heat out the fastest. You might check with you local vet. though.
your right about the paws, alcohol on the paws and chest will knock down some heat 
or you guys need to quit buying those furry fat labs and get real gun dogs 
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TexasEd
Pro Tracker
Reged: 09/27/07
Posts: 1094
Loc: Cedar Park, Texas
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Quote:
or you guys need to quit buying those furry fat labs and get real gun dogs
No fat on my lab. A lean 60 pound girl who gets exercised at least once a day.
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sureshot29
Outdoorsman
Reged: 08/28/08
Posts: 95
Loc: north tx
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Quote:
my black bitch
haha! sorry couldn't resist.
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fowlplayr
Tracker
Reged: 08/03/05
Posts: 517
Loc: Prosper, TX/ Hunt in Haskell C...
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I'll only take my black lab on morning hunts. If I was hunting on or very near to a tank, I would take him every hunt.
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308hunter
Woodsman
Reged: 08/10/08
Posts: 131
Loc: Greenville, TX
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Wont be hunting mine till later in the season when it slows down due to shes still to young. but father in-law and a friend will be bringing there dogs out to my place to hunt but only early morning and late afternoon right over the stock ponds.
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"When you wrap your hands around something, you wrap your heart around it. Somebody else said that, but I believe it," John Glader.
www.DUCKDOGCONNECTION.COM
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Guy
THF Trophy Hunter
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 7729
Loc: Dallas, TX
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I think you need to be able to read your dog. My dog seems to be fine as long as I keep her in the shade inbetween retrieves, she has plenty of water, and just make sure she does not run too much. The past 2 days hunting, there were many times I retrived the dove myself just to give my dog a break, and funny it was like she knew she needed to rest.
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duckedupboys
Outdoorsman
Reged: 08/12/08
Posts: 66
Loc: East Texas
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very good post!
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kill em and grill em
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Flwdonater
Outdoorsman
Reged: 08/26/06
Posts: 59
Loc: Plano, TX
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Quote:
We keep a baby pool next to the truck and empty the ice chests into the baby pool. By the time we get to hunting the water chill is gone. The dogs know where the water is and we send them to it at the first sign of the tongue is hanging flat and low and the breathing is major. It can take only minutes in the heat, dogs conditioned fair better than others but can be stricken before an owner can recognize the danger. For those trips where the pool is not with us we carry bottles of alcohol. If you see the bad signs we dump the alcohol on the chest and get to water. There aint nothing in this world worse than seeing the extremities on a dog shutting down. They wobble themselves to the ground. This happened to my black bitch who was working daily, hard. It was just something wrong on that particular day and she lasted only minutes. Her feet came out from under her and down she went. So those who believe because their dogs can handle it because they work hard, stay outside whatever-it can happen. Once it happens they are more and more prone to get afflicted.
Your right about once it happens it seems to happen easier!
I have a 4 yr old black male who has more drive than sense, a neighbor was playing with him once when he was around 2 and overworked him (my wife told them sure, I was out on the lake)When I pulled up I saw his back hips & legs failing, pitiful sight and never wat to experience it again.
we cooled him down but it took awhile and during the whole experience all he could really do was lay there and watch.
Since then if it is warm/hot outside he cant last but a few retrieves and I see the signs and he gets put up while I work the other one.
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junfan68
Light Foot
Reged: 05/15/08
Posts: 47
Loc: Dallas
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Not worth the risk here. Been there done that.
My young dog is on the hunt test circuit now anyway so I don't want to break her rythm...she's on a roll 
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reeltexan
Woodsman
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 205
Loc: red oak - TEXAS
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I will:
Restrict my hunting to early and late.
Keep the dogs hydrated thoughout the hunt.
Take positions that include shade.
Insist that the dogs "sit" between fetches.
I have been:
Working my dogs some throughout the year so that they are in top physical condition and somewhat heat conditioned.
Providing top quality feed.
Keeping their coats trimmed as short as possible.
Hopefully, this will help. Certainly something all dog owners should approach with caution.
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