Take extra care with retrievers on early season hunts

Published 3:06 pm Saturday, August 26, 2017

They do not call them the dog days of summer in Texas for nothing. Come late July or August, even early September, and neither man nor beast really wants to move from the shad of a tree or the coolness of the blowing air conditioning.

By Texas standards this has been a relatively cool summer. In Tyler for example there has been one day when the thermometer climbed above 100. This year it has been all about the humidity.

While those lack of 100-degree days and even days that were in the high 90s have been nice for man, dogs have been hot. And probably lazy. Experts say anything above 70 degrees can be taxing on a retriever, and there are parts of Texas where during the summer even nighttime temperatures do not fall that low.

With just days until hunters start looking to their dogs for help finding dove or teal, the last minute rush is on to get them in shape.

The key, though, is to condition the dog without killing it. Alex Brittingham is a relative newcomer to the world of dog training. Just 27 years old, she got into it through hunting and because of the quality of work she demands from her own dogs – whether hunting geese in the Texas Panhandle or ducks in the marshes near her Beaumont home.

Like any trainer, she knows it takes daily training to keep dogs in shape, whether for competition or hunting. She also knows that most hunters cannot or do not put in the time dog deserves. That can lead to a dangerous situation with the heat of the early season or through dissatisfaction in the quality of dog work.

“Ten to 15 minutes a day, five days a week at your local park or soccer fields should do the trick,” Brittingham recommends for the final pre-season push.” Ready your dog and be careful not to overwork them. Some dogs that are out of shape and overweight can only work for five minutes at a time.”

Along with making sure the dog is following commands, Brittingham said it is just as important to watch the dog physically this time of year.

“I watch for wobbly back legs, a curled tongue, and heavy breathing. A dog with a foamy mouth and curled or swollen tongue is probably getting close to overheating. If their back legs start to sway back and forth in a clumsy motion like they are losing control, cool them down immediately,” she warns.

Not only should a workout last no more than 15 minutes, but water should be available to a dog. The best time to train is at first light when it is coolest, but it can also be done at the end of the day if temperatures are dropping.

Stamina drills do not have to be difficult, but even the simplest can be done to get the dog in shape and to teach it something. Brittingham said to get dogs ready and in shape to hunt, she likes a drill called “walking singles,” which are four to six single marks thrown at distances of 40 to 150. That is a reasonable distance for most early season retrieves.

“This marking drill can be done with a friend or on your own, and is a quick way to get some marks in after work. If you plan to do it on your own, you must first teach the dog to return to a place board once he brings you the bumper. He must also be steady and comfortable with a remote send,” she explained.

Brittingham uses a number of other drills like the five-handed casting drill and Y drill, all of which can be found on online videos.

“Five Handed Casting and Wagon Wheel are both done at a very short distance, so I would say if you want to work on stamina it is better to do a marking drill at longer distances,” she said.

Come opening day, the concern of the dog overheating does not end. It is up to the hunter to be as cognizant of the dog’s health as they are the birds in the air. Brittingham suggests taking along a large water bowl into the field that is always available to the dog.

Also, sit in a spot that provides the dog some shade on a hot day.

“Try to sit near a shaded area or water trough, but be very careful not to let your dog stay in the water for too long. Small bodies of water like ponds or troughs are usually very hot and can do your dog more harm than good if they stay submerged,” she said.

Ice can be used to cool down a dog, but Brittingham recommends using just a few cubes to rub on the pads of its feet and its belly.

“If they are having a heat stroke, too much ice or cold water at once can send them into shock. If you have running water available, run cool water over the pads of their feet and belly,” she explained.

If a dog gets too hot and is kenneled or not used for an afternoon hunt because of the heat, the kennel needs to be well ventilated and kept in a shady location.

When it comes to age and heat, there are no rules. Brittingham said an obese 2-year-old Lab is going to have problems much faster than a fit 9-year-old. It all comes back to getting the dog ready in advance.

However, age does matter when it comes down to what to expect come opening day with a young pup.

“From a training standpoint, expect the very worst. No matter how much training you do with your dog, every first-year pup will have so much learning to do once they get out and try the real thing. I recommend leaving the gun at home and focusing on the dog. Try to go with friends who aren’t bringing other dogs,” Brittingham said.

No matter its age, the trainer warns again to keep a close eye on a dog during early season hunting.

“Stop any dog at any age before it gets too hot. I hear of at least one or two dogs dying during dove season from heat stroke each season, and that is just in my area. The best thing to do is err on the side of caution and don’t push the dog too far,” she said.