Sunday, September 30, 2001

Bird dog days of summer

David Sikes/Caller-Times

Mike Converse waits his turn while a yellow Labrador owned by Craig Simmons, retrieves a dummy during a pre-season practice session.

Everyone loves a good bird dog yarn.
   That's because everyone loves a good bird dog.
   So when we hear a dog story that ends in heartbreak, the impact is especially sad. And when neglect or ignorance is to blame, that sadness can quickly turn to anger or regret.
   Thankfully, most bird-dog problems involve embarrassment rather than a trip to the vet or worse. Overworking or inadvertently mistreating our most loyal hunting partners in the field is rare, but certainly not unprecedented. And while owners are ultimately responsible, the secondary antagonist in many local hunting dog horror stories is the South Texas heat.

David Sikes/Caller-Times

About a month before the first hunt of the season is a good time to start a pre-season regimen to get a bird dog in shape.

   Don't learn this the hard way. We've heard enough sad tales.
   Prevention is easier to deal with than the alternative. Many dog owners have already begun a regiment to ease their retrievers into shape. Hunters who use their dogs for doves are ahead of the game.
   An overweight dog is a dog in jeopardy.
   Usually summer training involves a few minutes of running and retrieving either before the heat sets in or after the sizzle has subsided. Pat Kenny, champion field-trial trainer, has a simple rule. He works his dogs in water before the sun gets high and on land in the evenings.

David Sikes/Caller-Times

Working a bird dog in water is best done in the morning, before the sun has warmed the bays and ponds.

   Summer afternoon sessions in shallow water are like hot showers after a workout. It's just not healthy and definitely not refreshing. If you don't consider your hunting dog an athlete then you're not on the right track. It's too bad hunting season isn't like baseball, preceded by cool springtime.
   I see evidence of the coming hunting season everywhere I go, from the beach at sunrise to the bayfront parks. The other day, among the late-afternoon football and soccer practice sessions at King High School, a yellow lab working off a pre-season bulge with a tennis ball held my attention for a while. It was a pleasant sign of autumn.
   All it takes is 15 minutes a day several days a week, at least a month or so before the first hunt.

David Sikes/Caller-Times

The bond between hunter and dog is best nurtured year round to achieve the highest degree of satisfaction in the field.

   Endurance training and toning for your dog is essential to its health and performance. A pre-season obedience refresher for retrievers will enhance pleasure in the field and stave off aggravation for you and your hunting partners. The two activities are best combined.
   Veteran dog trainer Ray McBride suggests that if we can't actually practice at the location we intend to hunt, we should make retrievers cross ditches and work in similar terrain and under similar conditions.
   McBride also suggests that whenever possible we use real birds for training. Set aside one or two birds from the previous season in your freezer.
   And find a friend to practice with. Several dogs work better together, while spreading the workload. If you're looking for other folks with retrievers, contact the Coastal Bend Retriever Club at (361) 790-8011 or e-mail skenny@pyramid3.net.

David Sikes/Caller-Times

A de-snaking clinic is recommended before each hunting season.

Better yet, get involved in the club's year-round field events, such as hunt tests and field trial competitions.
   Kenny suggests we begin pre-season training gradually and not expect our dogs to honor audible and hand signals as crisply in September as they did at season's end. Allow your dog to acclimate to heat and basic obedience, then ease it into a routine leading up to the season opener.

Dogs and heat stroke Signs a dog is dangerously close to heat stroke: Excessive panting Excessive drooling Hot to the touch Excessively rapid heart rate Difficulty in breathing Reluctance to retrieve or unresponsive to commands Bloody vomiting or diarrhea Seizures Source: Lloyd Rieger — veterinarian De-snaking clinics Hugo Ford — 949-2040 Luther Young — (361) 296-3331 Coastal Bend Retriever Club (361) 790-8011 or e-mail skenny@pyramid3.net.

   And remember; if you're dripping with sweat and burning up, your dog probably is suffering even more from the heat. Drinking water is essential even during brief practice sessions. This is particularly true during actual hunts, when workouts lengthen, excitement levels are high and your attention is divided between real birds and your dog.
   Often there's a fine line between a mildly overheated animal and one with potentially deadly heat stroke, says Veterinarian Lloyd Rieger. Pay attention to your dog and be aware of the symptoms of heat stroke and exhaustion. Generally, a dog will tell you went it's had enough. I've listed the signs with this column.
   While a retriever is in training, it's a good idea to cut down on a retriever's food intake for a leaner hunting machine. This also cuts down on heat-related problems.
   Whenever possible, bring a shotgun or starter pistol to the duck blind you intend to hunt, to simulate actual hunting conditions. And take a partner along to remind dogs to ignore other shooters.
   In the Coastal Bend, some of the most frequently treated ailments for hunting dogs are cuts to their paws from oyster shells. If you plan to hunt ducks over oyster reefs, please put booties on your dog. They're available at most sporting goods stores.
   Another good idea is to take your dog to a de-snaking clinic to renew its fear of rattlesnakes. And always have a first-aid kit on hand for your dog. Make sure it's equipped with a disposable staple gun to close cuts. Ask your veterinarian about antibiotics and other drugs that could be administered in the field.
   Follow these guidelines and your field experiences could turn into one of those touching hunting dog stories we all love.
  
  
  
  

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