Hunting dogs have become invaluable aids, making hunting a more enjoyable and convenient sport. Hunting dogs often lead a more vigorous lifestyle than your ordinary household pet, therefore more care should be afforded to these faithful canine companions. They often are exposed to harsh environmental conditions and incur more running and jumping that require more attention when it comes to proper conditioning, diet and overall care. Below are some tips to help ensure that your dog will stay happy and healthy despite the job it has been assigned.
• Make sure that your hunting dog receives an annual rabies vaccination along with all other booster shots and is wormed on a regular basis. Since he will be operating outdoors he is much more susceptible to catching a variety of diseases.
• Longhaired breeds should have their hair shortened. Out-door activities promote the fast spread of fleas, mites, ticks and other parasites. Also longhaired breeds are much more susceptible to picking up stickers, cockleburs, twigs and other elements of nature that could hamper their mobility and cause discomfort.
• Make sure you are feeding your hunting dog a well balanced high-protein diet. Protein is a vital energy source, and with all the running that you expect out of him he will need all the energy he can get. Besides just protein your dog also needs other essential nutrients which will allow him to have better health and serve you for a longer amount of time.
• Make sure your dog has access to fresh drinking water at all times. Be sure to always bring water with you when out hunting as hunting dogs exert more energy and need fresh water to replenish themselves. Dehydration is a common occurrence among hunting dogs especially while hunting upland birds.
• Purchase special equipment for your hunting partner. Many Companies are now manufacturing specialized equipment such as dog booties and hunting
vests for your hunting partner. Booties protect your hunting dog’s paws against the rough terrain that is often experienced. Several versions of vests are available both as life jackets for waterfowl hunters and orange reflective vests for up-land hunters.
• Prepare a collar with your contact information if needed, in the event he would get lost while in the field.. Collars that have this info embroidered onto them are often safer than tags attached to the collar, so there is no risk in the tags becoming hung up on vegetation and creating a potential for strangulation.
• Always carry a first aid kit with you. Your dog is susceptible to many injuries while out in the field with you. Your first aid kit should include: bandages, medication, ointments for cuts, and a variety of multipurpose tools such as tweezers and scissors. You can never be too sure, so better to be prepared.
Dogs not only serve as investments to improve the efficiency of the hunt, but should also be valued as a loyal hunting partner. A well cared for hunting dog will provide you with many, many enjoyable years of hunting experiences.
Information taken from the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area’s October newsletter from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.