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Jesse's Hunting > A Gun Dog's Life > Articles > Working Out in the Off-Season Heat
Working Out in the Off-Season Heat
Bryce Mann - JHO ProStaff
- Tollhouse, CA
July 17, 2008
Well it is the off season for the hunters and the gun dogs. The quail are nesting, as are most of the other upland game birds. The days are long and here in the west the temperatures are rising to triple digits in some places. Training has become an early morning adventure. Water-work for the versatile dogs and retrievers can be a little later but keep in mind that 20 minutes of water-work is about equal to an hour in the upland, so do not over-do it with your dog.
Bullet and the Cool Down Vest
The Cool Down Vest by RuffWear helps to keep the dog from overheating during hot weather. |
When cooling down your dog pour cool water slowly over their back, catching the water with your other hand and splashing it up on to their chest and belly. Squirt bottles are good but not enough, so provide shade and a lap bowl for the dog to use during breaks, which should be taken often. If your dog is panting hard or fast, he is exchanging air too rapidly and cannot use his nose efficiently; so cool him down.
I recently acquired a new product to test from the folks at Ruff Wear called a “cool down vest”. It fits over the dog’s back, covering the top line and sides of the dog, and is held on by a harness system sewn into the vest itself. The cool down vest is soaked with water and then wrung out and put on the do. It provides cooling by evaporation of the water from the dog’s skin and the vest’s porous fabric. So far in my testing, it seems to work well. I’ll let you know more as the testing goes on.
In the meantime, remember these basic tips for working your dog in the summer season.
Practice your retriever drills with limits so as not to over work your dog in the heat. Work on track and trail drills in heavy cover, the shade offers some relief while honing the dog’s ability to locate cripple and lost birds. Do your field training early in the mornings to beat the heat. Practice your shooting skills after your training session so you can make the most of your next time in the training field.
Hopefully all of this practice helps to make your next season more efficient and enjoyable for you and your four legged hunting buddy.
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