|
Forums46
Topics538,282
Posts9,735,291
Members87,078
| |
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
 How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
#1131823
12/28/09 03:36 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 29
simek
OP
Light Foot
|
|
OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 29 |
This is my first year to hunt my lab. She's doing great, but wanted some advice on how cold is too cold to take her out. I know that shivering is normal, but don't want to put her under conditions where she could suffer unnecessarily. I'd like to hear what some of you all have to say.
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: simek]
#1131946
12/28/09 04:38 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,352
duckboy007
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,352 |
I've had Sable out into the upper teens, but only on sunny days that are warming quickly, and with her vest. I get nervous below 28 or so. Think about water temp too. Sometimes the air might be really cold, but the water hasn't cooled yet, takes a couple days.
My dog snores.
Secret Agent Custom Calls
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: duckboy007]
#1132059
12/28/09 06:07 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228 |
When there is ice on their ears. Its cold. I dont know about Labs, but a Chessie has enough sense not to go out any more when he thinks its to cold.
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: Jeff Elder]
#1132133
12/28/09 12:59 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 38
deadbird8
Light Foot
|
|
Light Foot
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 38 |
When its cold, keep the dog from standing in the water as much as possible (use a stand or hunting from the bank). Give it protection from the wind and a vest helps- when the ground is frozen I use my padded decoy back pack for the dog to sit on off the frozen ground. I've hunted mine in the teens many times where he has icicles on the fur around his neck. Even when the air temperature is not too cold, having a dog stand in the water for a long time can kill it from hypothermia.
I do keep an old wool army blanket in a bag in the the boat just in case (for me or for Jesse James).
Last edited by deadbird8; 12/28/09 01:02 PM.
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: deadbird8]
#1132147
12/28/09 01:28 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,916
TreeBass
Old Weller
|
|
Old Weller
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,916 |
When its cold, keep the dog from standing in the water as much as possible (use a stand or hunting from the bank). Give it protection from the wind and a vest helps- when the ground is frozen I use my padded decoy back pack for the dog to sit on off the frozen ground. I've hunted mine in the teens many times where he has icicles on the fur around his neck. Even when the air temperature is not too cold, having a dog stand in the water for a long time can kill it from hypothermia.
I do keep an old wool army blanket in a bag in the the boat just in case (for me or for Jesse James). good advice there  after her first retrieve saturday mornin, she had ice form across her back. She ended up busting some ice as well on a couple retrieves, but was fine. we got up to search for a bird that hit the ground, and hse romped all over having a blast.
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: TreeBass]
#1132389
12/28/09 04:08 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,352
duckboy007
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,352 |
Keeping a dog out of the water almost goes without saying. They will get hypothermia QUICK if they are standing in cold water. Gotta to have a stand or something. I use the foot section of my treestand, or I have a few dog stands built on my private land.
My dog snores.
Secret Agent Custom Calls
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: duckboy007]
#1132686
12/28/09 06:08 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,928
FowlDreams
Extreme Tracker
|
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,928 |
it was 13 here in NM this morning. Cali just loves it though!
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: FowlDreams]
#1133171
12/28/09 10:03 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,922
cable
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,922 |
Even when sitting on the bank a wet dog can get dangerously cold. If Mav is shivering constantly I usually get up and take him for a quick walk. This gets both of our blood flowing again and it really seems to help him shake off the chills.
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: cable]
#1133404
12/28/09 11:45 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 605
Tuoms
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 605 |
how normal is shivering? My dog will shiver when it's like 50 degrees. I figure dogs shivering is more normal than when humans shiver?
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: Tuoms]
#1133422
12/28/09 11:50 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,509
Guy
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,509 |
Very normal, now shivering aggressively, you need to watch for that. The main thing is to read your dog, recognize a normal shiver and a shiver that does not look normal. I have never been in any kind of cold weather in Texas that had me worried about my dog.
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: Guy]
#1133749
12/29/09 01:58 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 165
twiztedlemon
Woodsman
|
|
Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 165 |
I went to a hunt test at my buddies kennel in Revinna(up around Bohnam) and saw a few of the trainers using "sham-wow"towels. They say it takes most of the water off of the dogs and seems to help them aid the weather.
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: twiztedlemon]
#1134005
12/29/09 03:49 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
Fooshman
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278 |
My dog shivers when she sees birds no matter how cold or hot it is. 
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: Fooshman]
#1134017
12/29/09 03:52 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,916
TreeBass
Old Weller
|
|
Old Weller
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,916 |
My dog shivers when she sees birds no matter how cold or hot it is. funny how that works out 
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: Fooshman]
#1134019
12/29/09 03:52 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 633
scott1071
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 633 |
what about on a pup? Any different? I have a 5 month old Pudel Pointer that is tall, lankey and skinny. He likes the water and loves the snow. Just don't know if I need to watch him more closely than a mature dog with a little fat on him.
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: scott1071]
#1134207
12/29/09 04:56 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,509
Guy
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,509 |
what about on a pup? Any different? I have a 5 month old Pudel Pointer huh? If it is not a lab, all bets are off!! 
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: Guy]
#1134260
12/29/09 05:09 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228 |
what about on a pup? Any different? I have a 5 month old Pudel Pointer huh? If it is not a lab, all bets are off!! You ment Chessie
|
|
|
|
Re: How Cold Is Too Cold for the Dog
[Re: Jeff Elder]
#1134602
12/29/09 02:31 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 633
scott1071
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 633 |
Oh, trust me Guy, a lab is my favorite dog of all time. But I am highly allergic to dogs and a PP is very easy on the allergies and plenty capable for me.
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|
![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2022/03/full-3050-341110-boat_sig_2022.png)
![[Linked Image]](http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu163/r2me24/Gunner-WaterColor.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://filedn.com/lueWmb5Q4dR5HbLjYC8Moxp/smallersig.gif)