too cold to hunt with a dog?

This forum is for general discussion that doesn't fit in the other topic-specific forums.
User avatar
jsh164
Regular
Posts: 42
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:04 pm
Location: Madison

too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby jsh164 » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:05 pm

How do you know when it is too cold to hunt with a dog? I have a Black lab that goes on every hunt with me but i am kinda concerned about taking her in the morning. how do you know when it is too cold to take her. She has a vest that she wears and she wont be standing in water. there is a spot of dry land for her to get on
User avatar
Delta Duck
Duck South Addict
Posts: 2334
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2001 12:01 am
Location: The Delta
Contact:

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby Delta Duck » Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:51 am

My dog is going to hunt with me this morning!
"Ducks on the Brain"
It's always better with a good dog and good friends, Ducks and no Terrorist!
http://www.DeltaDucks.com
User avatar
msbigdawg1234
Duck South Addict
Posts: 5145
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 9:07 pm
Location: Vicksburg

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby msbigdawg1234 » Tue Dec 14, 2010 6:34 am

Should be fine but that also depends on the dog...some dogs have more stam/drive than others .....know what ya dog can handle or take it and find out.....I have a Yellow beotch that can handle just bout anything but have not hunted her this yr cause she cut a foot ...will be going soon though...but dont always take her depends on the hunt ...personally dont like taking her when iced over...ice will cut and she has so much drive nothing slows her down when it comes to plowing through stuff....like i said know ya dog
My name is Rick Daughtry.......

Well, I had a lot of money, but to the city went
I met too many good looking girls and that's where my money went
Yeah I know just where it went
No I ain't broke but I'm badly bent.
GulfCoast
Duck South Addict
Posts: 9703
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2001 12:01 am
Location: Pascagoula, MS

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby GulfCoast » Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:42 am

Mine will hunt happy as a clam with the temps in the teens, assuming that there is not an ice problem. Keep them out of the water, and out of the wind if possible.
So many ducks, so little time....

HRCH (500) UH Ellie Mae MH (2005-2017)
HRCH Tipsy MH
Zsa-Zsa Puppy
jdaves
Veteran
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:45 pm
Location: From: Winona, Ms. but now live in Mobile

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby jdaves » Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:26 am

She'll be fine.
User avatar
Bonecollecter1111
Duck South Addict
Posts: 1600
Joined: Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:45 pm
Contact:

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby Bonecollecter1111 » Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:41 am

watch the tail, if it quits moving and starts to just hang, get the he!! outta there the dog is cold.

mine hunted last year at its worst and she had a blast :D

just watch'm, when they getting cold you'll know, be prepared to set'm in front of a heater, or get'm some warm water to drink.
Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy. -Isaac Newton

The problem with communication is the illusion that it actually happened!
User avatar
jdbuckshot
Duck South Addict
Posts: 3821
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2003 12:37 pm
Location: Forest Mississippi
Contact:

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby jdbuckshot » Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:28 pm

take em. they can take it alot better than you can. we never hesitated taking ours in single digits when we hunted Nebraska and SD.
"The rich ..... who are content to buy what they have not the desire to get by their own exertions, These are the real enemies of Game."
Bonehead
Duck South Addict
Posts: 1242
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:06 pm
Location: Brandon, MS

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby Bonehead » Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:45 pm

User avatar
Bonecollecter1111
Duck South Addict
Posts: 1600
Joined: Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:45 pm
Contact:

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby Bonecollecter1111 » Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:43 pm

Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy. -Isaac Newton

The problem with communication is the illusion that it actually happened!
User avatar
brandonvet
Veteran
Posts: 416
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:01 pm
Location: Brandon

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby brandonvet » Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:20 pm

HR Deep Run Delta Blackwater - "Delta"
Dirty Mallard Game Calls Field Staff
"The best thing about a man is his dog."
judge jb
Duck South Addict
Posts: 2378
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2001 12:01 am
Location: walnut ms

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby judge jb » Tue Dec 14, 2010 6:38 pm

when they shake and you hear icicles rattlin it is time to put them in front of the fire place and look back on what a great day you shared..if they are having fun they will adjust.. high protein and fiber...

judge jb
User avatar
quack_a_tack
Duck South Addict
Posts: 2029
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:45 pm
Location: cleveland

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby quack_a_tack » Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:43 pm

When it dips down in the teens I take a propane heater that just screws onto a 25 lb tank, once my dog gets wet I cut it on low and put it near her, she is older though when she was young I just hunted the $#!+ outta her she didn't have time to get cold. Different place less ducks now.
Damn, i thought I had that one

Is that buddy of yours tryin to blow that call or make love to it?
DuckBoat
Veteran
Posts: 205
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:29 pm

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby DuckBoat » Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:57 pm

I don't know how cold is too cold, but it has never been too cold in MS to take a dog. You planning on going up north or something?
Anatidae
Duck South Addict
Posts: 5446
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2001 12:01 am
Location: "Dixie"

Re: too cold to hunt with a dog?

Postby Anatidae » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:36 pm

The most important thing about conditioning your dog for the cold is to make sure you're feeding a quality feed with high protein and fat content. We witnessed a dog that got hypothermic and barley made it to the vet.......dog was way too thin to start with and almost didn't make it.

We hunted 'BJ' in 10 degree weather for 3 days and she didn't even shiver - had her dog vest on and we both have 1"-thick neoprene pads (black sheet pipe insulation) in the bottom of our ground blinds.

It makes a big difference if they're in water (and wind) or not. Last Winter during the freeze-up in Mississippi, we kept a propane heater and a towel to dry her off with when she first got back in the boat - otherwise, she'd stick to the sides.

Don't take a young dog in ice - they have to be exposed to it like any other training drill or they can get in trouble real quick.

Return to “General Discussion Forum”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 200 guests