What do ya'll do to keep your dogs cool during the heat of dove season?

I was thinking about taking a small kiddie pool with me and and 5 gal cooler with water and ice.

Would like to know what others do.

i freeze a couble of liter bottles of water and throw on the ground and my dog will lay up next to them. also keep them in my kennel.

Just make sure to bring enough water for you and them. They are more resilient than you would believe! As long as they aren't puppies their muscles will let them run for hours.

On really hot days I have let them drink Gatorade. I don't know if this is vet recommended but it seems to energize them.

Dude, that's a day spa!

I have a pointer, we start at the preserve in September and I take a squeeze bottle (like the bike racers use). Teach your pup to drink from a bottle and pour it on their tummy too.

Phil

I've got an empty pancake syrup bottle with a flip-up top that I've retasked and been using to give my Lab water when out and about. I attached a cheap carabiner to the handle to clip it to pack or even beltloop. If I remember correctly, I came across this in Field & Stream. Lilly has learned to drink from it pretty well.

I ALWAYS TRY TO HUNT BY A POND IF POSSIBLE AND I KEEP PLENTY OF WATER FOR HER.

I use a Hershey's Chocolate Syrup bottle. Cleaned out of course.
It is flat and will fit in the pocket of your jeans.

I usually give mine ice from the cooler and or take frozen powerade bottles or 2 liters.

Ditto

At the rate we're going now we may not have any ponds in september.

You must have the world's biggest pockets haha...

I bought a cheap little foldable water bowl from Cabelas that I carry around in my bird bag and just fill it with my water bottle.

I'm talkin about the oval bottle thats about 20 oz. It fits the back pockets of men.

i wet a hancerchiff and put it in the frige the night before.

Put the dog on down in a shady spot. Make sure he has plenty of water.You can freeze some jugs for him to lay beside. Pick up the short retrieves yourself if your worried and send the dog for the longer ones. Your limit is only 15 so he won't be doing a lot of retrieves.

You guys are cheap LOL, using chocolate syrup bottles. I know they might work but you have a $400.00 dog and substituting a $7.00 20oz water bottle.

Keep the dog in shape. Fat dogs overheat.

So true.
Two of the dogs at my house are lean and can run laps around my one that's a chow hound. She wouldn't be considered overweight if she was just a pet but in the field she tires quicker than the other two. Even 5Lbs can make a difference in the dog being able to tolerate working in the heat.

...and keep in the shade if possible.

there ya go, Vern.

Nutrition, conditioning and hydration are the three major components in my opinion.

Agree with ya on that but a tank close by and cold water go a long way also. Like others have said it is not hard to train your dog to drink from a sports bottle and a few of those in the cooler is always a welcome thing

That's the ticket.

Hunting by a pond is good because it's water, but the water is hot in September, so it has little effect on keep them cool and more with Hydration. Really, if they're wet, it's hotter for them, almost like a sauna. It's just hot in September and there is little to do that really helps cool the dogs off. Mine doesn't drink much in the field because he's too focus and/or hot. I have noticed a huge difference though having him in shape when season starts vs. getting him in shape throughout the season. When he was younger, it wasn't as big of an issue, but as he gets older, keeping him in shape is the best way to get him to tolerate the heat.

i read this tip on the ukc forum. if your dog over heats you can rub rubbing alcohol on its ears and chest. the rubbing alcohol will lower the dogs temp a couple degrees within a few minutes. I have not tried it yet but will have a bottle of rubbing alcohol with me this year just in case the dog does get over heated. Prevention is always the best thing but I will have it just in case. I always try and hunt around a pond so the dog can cool herself off. I also run my dog 1-2 miles a day to keep her in shape.

AY

I always take a gal with me to the field and 3 more gal in the pickup for the dogs of water and I get the good stuff (b***)for after the hunt.

I took a gal with me one time but she got mad when I kept making her go to the pickup for water. And three more gals in the pickup waiting, dang dude you do things right. We should hang out.

Sorry. Couldn't resist. No offense meant.