Cold Weather And Our Dogs

[pearl]

Thought I would put up a post for members to chime in about tips for keeping our dogs safe with the potenial of some cold weather approaching this weekend.

Chime in boys and give us your

[jnicholson]

Neoprene on Bucky when he's hunting and he rides in the truck with me on the way home.

John

[DTSportsman]

Neoprene Dog vest, and a towel ready to go during the hunt. Kennel has been moved into the garage, and straw layed in the bottom for extra insulation.

[jmshave]

Extra water........

[SecondSeason]

i bought my dogs a fur coat. just couldn't let them go through another winter naked

[Sailhuntfish]

Take food and water for the mut, the machine needs fuel. Make sure to towel off their belly; not much fur down there. The neoprene vest help them float more and expend less energy swimming.

[duckboy]

Floatcoat and double chow.


A brace of corndogs on the way home
If the dog starts to act funny and stops shaking.. get it out for a walk on the dry land and get it to move around.... (this helps much more with a neo vest on em)

[whtelk]

My Labs stay out doors 100 % of their lives. They are more accustomed to weather than any dog that gets to stay indoors. Thick blankets and plenty of food,water and exercise every day will keep your dogs healthy.

[jnicholson]

Originally Posted by duckboy

Floatcoat and double chow.


A brace of corndogs on the way home
If the dog starts to act funny and stops shaking.. get it out for a walk on the dry land and get it to move around.... (this helps much more with a neo vest on em)

DOUBLE CHOW! GOOD POINT!!!!!!!!!

BUCKY .... feed the machine!

[chukarchaser]

Even covering the kennel/crate door with a towel really helps to keep the heat in. Of course those insulated kennel covers are nice too but I could never afford one.

CC

[duckboy]

Originally Posted by jnicholson

DOUBLE CHOW! GOOD POINT!!!!!!!!!

BUCKY .... feed the machine!

Alex is all about the hearts and livers.. I cook em up and crush them into his chow with my fist.

Got you use your fist

a hammer or
a bottle end'd crusher
would not pay true respect for a fetch

in near iced over water

respect
for what they do
to do
for us

[DogZilla15]

You gotta be kidding me.....



Motel in ND during the blizzard.....



Condon, Oregon..... chukar hunting.....Aaaarrrgh! Just what is it you expect your dog to endure???? The run, point, fetch.....Dang....give 'em a break....

[haulin'bass]

Hey guys I am fairly new to the waterfowling game. I bought a lab he is 5 months old pretty good dog I have been working with him a lot so I know he can get the job done. If you were in my position would you take him out this weekend, knowing that it is going to be awsome but really cold? And if I do is there anything I should watch for?

[jnicholson]

Originally Posted by haulin'bass

Hey guys I am fairly new to the waterfowling game. I bought a lab he is 5 months old pretty good dog I have been working with him a lot so I know he can get the job done. If you were in my position would you take him out this weekend, knowing that it is going to be awsome but really cold? And if I do is there anything I should watch for?

They don't have enough fat on them the first year. You have to be really careful. I say No unless it's a pond or some kind of controlled environment that you can wrap him up and make it a very short trip.

Be careful with the little guy.

Leave him home, shoot some birds on your own and then do some drills in the backyard with the birds. He'll love you for it.

John and Bucky

[Lucky Guy]

Originally Posted by chukarchaser

Even covering the kennel/crate door with a towel really helps to keep the heat in. Of course those insulated kennel covers are nice too but I could never afford one.

CC

They're not too hard to make. We made a quilted one with a cordura bottom for about $20. Basically you cut one strip of material the length of the kennel and long enough to extend around with 6" or so of overlap, then sew on front and back panels along their top edge. Use velcro to pin the sides of the front and back panel to the front edges of the main material along the side walls and you got it.

I have to add a little piece onto mine, we washed and dried the material once before we made it but shoulda done it twice I guess.

[duckboy]

Originally Posted by jnicholson

They don't have enough fat on them the first year. You have to be really careful. I say No unless it's a pond or some kind of controlled environment that you can wrap him up and make it a very short trip.

Be careful with the little guy.

I agree with what Jnicholson said.. Pup is a pup. Let it beef up
John's dog Bucky knows what to do
and I reckon that he'd recite the rule.
"12 months and under should hide in the thunder and avoid the big big rain.
& @ 18 months they'll show you how to survive it or even revive it
will drag you back in once again

[lentz]

My lab is now almost 7 months old and even though i want to get her as much time as possible in the field, this comming week won't be the time. I really want to spend along time in the future hunting with her so i'm not going to push the envelope and risk her life possibly.

[haulin'bass]

Thanks guys. Another question he is 5 months and 50lbs about how big do you think he will get?

[DogZilla15]

I'd guess 51.....or more..... Winning lottery numbers anyone????

[Northwest Pest]

Looking at 80-100lbs. My black was 52 at 5 months and is a slim 82. I have to laugh at some of todays vets though. My yellow pictured left was 96 lbs at 6 months and I took him to the vet at a lean 121 when he was 3yrs and the vet told me his optimum weight should be 80lbs. I laughed at her and reminded her to look at his past records. She was a little embarrassed when she saw she was the one who weighed him at 6 months old. Not all labs are with in the breed standard.

[chukarchaser]

Originally Posted by Lucky Guy

They're not too hard to make. We made a quilted one with a cordura bottom for about $20. Basically you cut one strip of material the length of the kennel and long enough to extend around with 6" or so of overlap, then sew on front and back panels along their top edge. Use velcro to pin the sides of the front and back panel to the front edges of the main material along the side walls and you got it.

I have to add a little piece onto mine, we washed and dried the material once before we made it but shoulda done it twice I guess.

Sounds like a good plan... I've always figured they'd be easy to make, just haven't got around to it. Thanks for the advice!

CC

[Dave Smith]

Originally Posted by whtelk

My Labs stay out doors 100 % of their lives. They are more accustomed to weather than any dog that gets to stay indoors. Thick blankets and plenty of food,water and exercise every day will keep your dogs healthy.

If you let them in this week, none of us will think any less of you or your dogs. We'll even keep it a secret.

[Amahnee]

You'll know if they get to cold the next day. If they are listless and the tail is drooping down they need some attention. This week is going to be brutal cold.

[baltz526]

outside in their kennel with 12" plus of cedar chips, heated 5 gallon water bucket. fat trimmings off this years deer a couple times a week. they are fine to -15 unless it gets windy

[Quack Attack]

Originally Posted by baltz526

heated 5 gallon water bucket.

Man, that's cheating... I remember growing up having to take hot water to the dogs every morning and trying to get that 5 gal chunk of ice out... sometimes twice a day...

[jnicholson]

"12 months and under should hide in the thunder and avoid the big big rain.
& @ 18 months they'll show you how to survive it or even revive it
will drag you back in once again

great lines!

John and Bucky

[Hunt'nFish]

Periodic food during the day. I take the kid's empty peanut butter jars & toss his food in it.
They usually don't like to eat while hunting, but coat it w/ PB and it'll get gobbled right up!

Chance loves his treestand platform.
Makes a huge differance if you can keep them up out of the water AMAP.



Even a good tree can make all the differance!

[jnicholson]

Great pictures Mike!

Chance is a lucky dog for sure!

John and Bucky

[daleysmith45]

How many people actually use neoprene vests i hear you have to be in close to freezing temps or in cold water other wise dogs overheat

[Threemuch]

I wish I could figure it out. My girl has had cold water tail three times this year, but didn't get it this weekend when I basically had to chip ice off the vest to get the zipper off. Crazy. The coldwater tail is not that big a deal, but it sure makes her uncomfortable.

And I don't know how I could tell hypothermia because she shivers perpetually (with excitement) even when it is 75 degrees out. I basically don't worry about it as long as she keeps her eyes active on the sky. If she stopped paying attention to the hunt or responding to commands I would call it for sure. Fortunately where I hunt most of the time, a warm truck is only minutes away.

I doubled up her food and sweetened it with some chicken fat to get her to eat it all, so maybe the double chow is the ticket. But she is such a light eater, the only way she will down double food is with something on it.

[jnicholson]

Originally Posted by daleysmith45

How many people actually use neoprene vests i hear you have to be in close to freezing temps or in cold water other wise dogs overheat

NO, wrong, nada

[Hunt'nFish]

IMO, cold water tail is simply hypothermia setting in.
A few precautions can prevent it. Energy & maintaining blood sugar levels are paramount. Chance will shut down if I don't take precautions.
He's an indoor dog and simply doesn't have the under fur to protect him. And he it's a high metabolism field dog to boot which doesn't bode well for him in cold water.

Going for a walk to sniff up an imaginary cripple is also a good way to warm them up.
But IMO, periodic food treats are the key.
Chance has never had a vest, maybe he should but I just worry about them and getting tangled up under water. Sure, a lot of places it simply doesn't matter, nothing to get tangled up on.

I probably should Tye-rap a layer of 1" poly-pro foam on him platform though.
It is DARNED cold out there!
Hunt'nFish

[CombinationLicense]

Originally Posted by Threemuch

I doubled up her food and sweetened it with some chicken fat to get her to eat it all, so maybe the double chow is the ticket. But she is such a light eater, the only way she will down double food is with something on it.

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Energy & maintaining blood sugar levels are paramount. Chance will shut down if I don't take precautions. He's an indoor dog and simply doesn't have the under fur to protect him. And he it's a high metabolism field dog to boot which doesn't bode well for him in cold water. But IMO, periodic food treats are the key.

I don't duck hunt with my dogs much but still have had issues with feeding on hunt days due to their excitement level. They know what's coming when they see "gear prep mode" and get too excited to eat, often times starting the night before a hunt. They usually won't eat regular food during a hunt day either (well, sometimes during the lunch break), so my vet recommended snacks. What he actually recommended was peanut butter on wheat bread folded in half and stuck in a plastic bag. The dogs will NEVER turn it down and it's a fast way for them to get a snack in the field. It's proven to be a good tip over the years so it might work for others.



"CL"

[baltz526]

dogs got to stay in garage last night, tanner was getting foot frost yesterday afternoon from the sqeeky snow. sub zero last night with wind. the other dog "tex" felt like she was being punished. being locked up in the wood stove heated garage was too hot for her likings at 55deg. tanner was trying to sleep on the stove. so i have one dog good for -15deg in the kennel "tex" and one dog ok to +5 deg in kennel. one dog i have to drag into garage, the other knocks me down getting in. matching dogs is a good thing when it gets hot or cold i'm finding

[Chesapeake]

My dogs live outside all year. Even in Alaska in -15 deg weather they never had any issues. Their coats change with the seasons and they are acclimated. I double up on thier feed and give them fish oil when its cold or thier getting worked.

If your dog is a house dog then you probably would need to be carefull in cold weather and cold water. Maybe a vest, a towel to dry them between fetches, ect...... I'm not sure I would ask a dog acclimated to a 70 degree house to fetch birds in 25 degree weather.

[threecreeks]

Originally Posted by jmshave

Extra water........

Yep! People don't realize how much hydration has to do with hypothermia, same with dogs I would think. Staying hydrated helps prevent hypothermia.

[Threemuch]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

IMO, cold water tail is simply hypothermia setting in.

I don't think so. First, she got it opening day, and the week after, but not Sunday. All in a vest. And it was in the 60s. That has nothing to do with hypothermia. But it might be stress.

[daleysmith45]

How often did you guys work with your dogs, to get them to do basic sit stay retrieve?

[blackdog]

Originally Posted by daleysmith45

How often did you guys work with your dogs, to get them to do basic sit stay retrieve?

Every day!!!! It doesn't have to be long or even a formal training session, but not a day should go by that you don't work on some sort of fundamental obedience or throw some marks for your dogs. Especially in the first year, 10 minutes a day, if done regularly, is plenty in my opinion.

Train smarter, not harder!

[Threemuch]

Originally Posted by blackdog

Every day!!!!

Ditto.

She gets at least one steady memory blind for the paper each morning, and I throw at least a few marks every day during one of our two walks. And we work steadiness for everything. Food, treats, walks, fetch, going into her crate, coming out of the crate, everything. I send her on blind retrieves for things lying on the floor from the couch. I make her hold strange objects (magazines, hairbrushes, kid's toys) until I ask for them.

Good hijack. To bring it back around, it's tough to train for cold.

[Linejerk]

Everyday for sure get up 45 min's early before work and run down to the park/school and put in 30 min's of training EVERYDAY I also take my dog to work with me everyday and he stays in his kennel and at lunch time I take him to this field behind my office and I run him and have some play time/bathroom time to keep him in good shape, well the bathroom time does not keep him in good shape but the play time does

[James in Idaho]

Cold tail has nothing to do with "cold", it's a stress injury. An aspirin morning and night will fix it in a couple of days. Letting the dog "warm down" before crating for the ride home helps prevent it.

'Peake and I have real dogs, but even my peake hunts waterfowl this time of year in a vest. Watch moving water and ICE'd over areas, seems like evey year around here we loose a couple of dogs under the ice. A boat hook is not a bad addition to your gear, that way you both don't have to be on thin ice. If you have to go out on the ice, spread your weight and stay away from the edge, use the hook to snag the collar. If your dog gets too cold, stop hunting. Last really cold day I hunted from a blind was -14, we'd shoot a few birds and then put the dog in front of a propane heater with an old coat on to warm up. Long tough day, but Bob came thru just fine.

Extra food, food during the hunt, and most importantly keep water to them! Be careful out there, just how cold is it supposed to be over there? I'm not hunting this weekend, Bob is recovering from an emergency surgery last week (damn russian olive trees) on his elbow, that was a nice $300 afternoon at the vet!

[jnicholson]

seems like evey year around here we loose a couple of dogs under the ice.

OMG, one of my worst fears!

[Hunt'nFish]

Kurt, Humm...I see what you mean. So you don't think Cold Tail and hypothermia are related at all. Maybe your right pressure can trigger it as well. So Cold Tail Syndrome simply means they lost their drive....for whatever reason. I can buy that.

But keep in mind she might have been sick on that 60F day and body not regulating temp right.....maybe.

I will say this I don't think Cold Tail is good for their attitude. I WANT mine to go in cold water and chase down them ducks for me. He's no use if he's shut down and curled up in a ball. So frequent treats and a dry place to hop up out of the water is how we deal with it. Probably still should get him a vest even though they make me nervous. Besides how is he supposed to dive under after those divers?
Boy now THAT makes a guy nervous!!!
Hunt'nFish

[Chesapeake]

According to the researchers it isnt because the dog is cold. I've never seen it before.

The three most common causes for limber tail are climate changes, especially exposure to wet, cold weather, underconditioning or overexertion, and being confined in a crate for long periods of time," Steiss says. Veterinarians tend to see limber tail in sporting dogs during certain seasons. It commonly is seen in retrievers and pointers as they start back into heavier training in the fall or in young dogs out for the first time that come down with limber tail from overuse of the tail muscles."

http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/limbertail-update704.html

[SecondSeason]

DogZilla i have the same pic of my dogs but it was the hotel at halfway gotta love the dogs life for sure.

Originally Posted by DogZilla15

You gotta be kidding me.....



Motel in ND during the blizzard.....



Condon, Oregon..... chukar hunting.....Aaaarrrgh! Just what is it you expect your dog to endure???? The run, point, fetch.....Dang....give 'em a break....

[James in Idaho]

Originally Posted by jnicholson

OMG, one of my worst fears!

Jim on the -14 day that I talked about there was one lost under the ice and one lost to hypothermia. I just can't get my head around the idea that a duck is worth it. One more thing, have a ROCK SOLID RECALL if your going to hunt cold weather/water. You have to be able to call a dog off a cripple, long swims in slush are very hard, very cold and very tiring. We were hunting a spring but even then there were a couple of retrieves that scared me, that's when I decided that a boat hook would be a big help. If the water's deep and you're dealing with shelf ice it damn tough for a dog to pull themselves out.

Oh and for the ethics police, yeah mr. game warden I'll take the ticket for wanton waste over killing my dog any day.