Texas Hunting Forum

Cold Temperatures and English Pointers

Posted By: TruckMan66

Cold Temperatures and English Pointers - 11/15/18 02:25 AM

Ok, so me and my hunting partner went to Beaver River WMA in Oklahoma this past weekend. We hunted Saturday and only moved 2 coveys. We decided to hunt Kansas the next day but got hit with a snow storm and had to leave and come back home to DFW. My question is this, what is the lowest temperature can I hunt my EPs? I don't want them to get sick and have heard some stories where dogs will hunt even with hypothermia (not sure if that is true.) Just want to be safe. I know these dogs were not intended for the colder climates like long haired dogs so was just curious.
Posted By: kindall

Re: Cold Temperatures and English Pointers - 11/15/18 02:23 PM

I've ran vizslas (same coat as EP) in some pretty cold weather. My husband got the sleeve of his coat wet on a hunt, and it turned to ice.
With that said, each dog can be a little different. Them getting wet, their age, physical condition, and wind chill also plays a part in it.
I use Mushers secret on their coat for some duck hunts. Heard some upland guys, use Vaseline on the dogs coat on cold wet pheasant hunts. I would check on them often. And anytime a dog starts to slightly slow down, when hunting in the cold. I would pull them from the field, and let them warm up.
Posted By: nate33

Re: Cold Temperatures and English Pointers - 11/15/18 03:16 PM

Can't figure out how to post a pic of my truck and the ground covered in snow-------- but ---- the answer to your question is to feed the dogs --------- mix LOTS of canned food and ground meat with their dinner----------- actually while hunting I dont even give them dry food,,,, they need lots of protein to stay warm and run for 3 or 4 hours a day. The pic I wanted to post ,the temp was still 17 degrees at 10 am, when we left the camp to hunt.
Posted By: nate33

Re: Cold Temperatures and English Pointers - 11/15/18 04:06 PM

Here are the pics.

Attached picture 33-1 (3).JPG
Attached picture 33-2 (3).JPG
Posted By: First_Chance

Re: Cold Temperatures and English Pointers - 11/15/18 05:55 PM

In my experience, it's usually the moisture that plays more of a role in this than the actual temps. I've hunted dogs in dry sunny low teens weather and they never had a problem and I've hunted them in 38 degree drizzle and had them seizing up and cramping from cold every 20 minutes. I use a "tailored" neoprene vest when the moisture gets involved and that seems to make a big difference.
Posted By: TruckMan66

Re: Cold Temperatures and English Pointers - 11/16/18 01:01 AM

Cool, thanks for the replies. I do feed heavy when we hunt (i.e. Canned Food, Duck Fat.) Never thought of Mushers on their coat but I would think that would do same thing as the neoprene vest. Will consider all that was given to me. Thank y'all very much!!
Posted By: blanked

Re: Cold Temperatures and English Pointers - 11/17/18 12:17 AM

Run my pointers in 10 deg. No moisture. 20 degree lots of moisture. No issues. I would be more concerned about your dog box in your picture. Out in the elements like that. No insulation covering the front door minimum but also the whole box. I run my truck with a topper. Dog crates under the topper out of the weather. Individual ruff tuff crates with mud river insulation. I can zip up the door. Crates stuffed with hay as much as I can get in so half the crate is half full. When I unzip the front zipper to let them out the heat rolls out of the crate. The hay absorbs any wet off the dog

It’s when there sitting around not running is when they get cold
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