Prep for your field dog this fall
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While soaking up the last rays of the summer sun on the cabin deck and watching the boat of four anglers explore the breakline just out from the dock, that familiar loud "slurp, slurp, slurp," of my old lab drinking water broke the afternoon silence. Of course it wasn't from the elevated, shiny bowls filled with tap water next to the door. Rather, his hydration source was the roughly half inch bottom of a beach toy basket that had accumulated slightly off-colored water from whenever the last rain fell in the area.
"Well, at least it's not the foot-wash tub," I said to my wife, thinking of the green algae skinned container sitting at the base of the deck steps that I forgot to tip out after our last trip to the lake. Being the last warm day for what looks to be a while, the incident served as a reminder to get ready for the upcoming hunting season, especially the early days where warm walks -- even in the mornings -- can present a challenge for dogs in the field. Sometimes it seems that dogs will find water anywhere they can and may even prefer a drink from a creek, stock pond, or lake over your water bottle or their collapsable dish while in the field. While water remains the primary field ready item for keeping dogs hydrated, healthy and in the hunt, there are many things to consider ahead of fall's openers to ensure a solid season afield for your four-legged friend. In addition to water, a totable bottle in your vest and a bowl back at the truck, making a checklist now of the other necessary supplies to deal with any issues in the field can be crucial.
Electronics
Most field dogs utilize some form of electronic collar in the field, not only for control of younger pups learning the ropes, but for dogs of all ages to simply know where they are and to bring them back or correct hyperactivity or lapses in behavior, especially early on in the season when they might not be as sharp as they were at the end of the last one. Make sure that field collars are in good working order and fully charged for your opener and every hunt thereafter.
Emergency needs
From the mundane to the major, having a field dog first aid kit in the truck, and a portable pack in a vest helps address problems as they come up. Items like small scissors and tweezers secured in a small pack will help with removal of debris, thorns and cactus spines that may affect your hunting buddy in the field. A couple wraps of self-adhesive gauze in tow can cover scratches and scrapes as well until you get back to the truck. Have pain meds and other prescriptions ready in a labeled pouch back at the vehicle if your dog needs them. Another good addition to a vest pouch is a pair of heavy-duty zip ties. These can be used in addition to your hands or feet to open and secure body traps designed for furbearers, in the unlikely but unfortunate case that your dog encounters one.
Keep in contact
Have your veterinarian's information on hand when hunting locally, and if there is an additional phone number for weekend or closed hour emergency service, make sure to program that into your phone as well. When traveling for a hunt, note the nearest town with a veterinarian, and record that business's name, contact information and address ahead of time, just in case. Let others know where you'll be hunting and when you'll be back, more so for your own safety, but if a dog becomes lost in the field, it also provides a great starting point for a search if you need some help from family or friends on the way out to assist.
Hopefully, stagnant water sources will be your only concerns this fall when it comes to your field dog's well being. Have plenty of your own fresh water on hand and dispense it liberally, prepare a canine emergency kit for your vest and your truck, and know where to go when the situation with your dog escalates above your capabilities. The preparation put in now will save on problems for your pup down the road this autumn and in the fields ... of our outdoors.