With the turn of the calendar page into September, the dog days of summer will soon be behind us, and the real dog days of fall can begin. With grouse openers in mid-September, primary waterfowl seasons starting later in the month, and pheasant season kicking off in October, those hunting seasons where our canine friends shine are just around the corner. Being prepared for those outings and expecting the unexpected is key in keeping hunting dogs at their peak for the entire fall.

Move it

Just like people need a little pre-season training to get into shape for fall hunting, especially uplanders tackling rises, hills and areas of heavy cover, so too do dogs need a little conditioning and cross training ahead of their respective openers. For grouse and pheasant dogs, this means hitting the pavement or the hills around town prior to the season’s start to get in shape. Use the remaining few weeks to condition your hunting buddy by putting an extra mile or two in each day so they’re physically ready to hit the field. Additionally, for those retrievers, take some time while waters are warm to practice retrievals with a dummy or a bumper to get them prepared for what should be a good fall filled with ducks and geese.

Plan ahead

Additionally, now is a good time to set the stage for those outings to come be they in pursuit of upland birds or ducks. Mark your calendar up appropriately and finalize any hunting trips to be taken with your dog. For the safety of your hunting companion, consider locating the veterinarian’s office nearest to your location for the weekend so that in case of emergency, you’re able to know where to go when you’re both away from home. Program the office’s phone number into your cell phone so it’s on hand in case of any injury or illness that might occur to your pup in the field. The best part about planning is that the effort put in often seems to negate any need for the information; but in that moment where things get serious, you’ll be happy you put in the legwork for your four-legged friend who does most of it in the field.

Pack it up

Make a checklist now of all the things you dog requires in the field, from the commonplace items to those specific to your breed. From a water jug and a dish, to an electronic collar and transmitter, on down to pain medication and glucosamine tabs for those older dogs, setting out what your hunting buddy needs in writing will help ensure that everything can be easily assembled, packed and deployed as needed on a hunt.

Don’t forget to bring along a canine first aid kit and a trap kit in case your dog finds its way into a predator trap. The first aid kit should contain tweezers for removing cactus spines (or worse, porcupine quills) along with gauze for wrapping minor cuts and abrasions, and antiseptic spray for treating wounds in the field right away. The trap kit should have a sheet of printed instructions for disarming an array of predator traps and some heavy-duty zip ties for securing them in an open position which will allow for extraction of your dog. While the hope is you’ll need neither item each fall, being prepared can mean the difference between a quick escape and disaster.

On that front, as a final note, keep an eye on the weather and know when things are too hot to hunt and have ice and water in a cooler when things look to get above 70 degrees to prevent dogs from overheating and treat any overheating or exhaustion before they get bad.

Soon hunting seasons will roll out across the region, with good opportunities for your dog to find success in the field. Prepare your pup with a little extra exercise now, and be set with the information you need in your hunting area and those you’ll visit. Plan out and pack the items that keep hunts safe, and your dog will likely have everything it needs for another great autumn…in our outdoors.