Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Washington, NC
Posts: 3315

What do ya'll do about dogs being wet from hunting in freezing weather? I hunt swamps and pine plantations full of ditches.

I am getting soft, I don't mind the cold but I hate to see the dogs shivering so hard that they can hardly stand up. I used to always try to hunt in a location that they would not be in water on the last turn out but they almost always get wet any how.

My dogs do have good housing and bedding.

__________________
Bill Harper
Washington, NC
252-944-5592

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 6548

shievering thats 1 of the ways a dog stay warm?i have never
hunt when it was cold enough he would shiever hard enough
he couldnt stand.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Howell, Michigan
Posts: 441

It must not be freeezing if the dog is getting wet?.. lol

I dont hunt around areas I know there's rivers or ponds w/ thin ice, or watery bottoms when the weather gets to freezing... don't like the idea of losing a dog through the ice.

__________________
Joey Sexton
810-422-3352

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

We try to hunt the rivers and swamps in the winter....seems to be the best place to get a track going this time of year. I never really gave much thought to them getting wet. I have seen plenty of dogs swim rivers in subfreezing weather and can't recall it ever effecting them that I could tell.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Two Rivers WI
Posts: 996

When you get the dog back to the truck, take a couple handfuls of straw and twist it a few times then rub the dog down good and hard from head to tail. The straw will wick away a good majority of the water and warm him at the same time.

I'd also cover the doors of the dog box nice and tight so it doesn't get a draft and if you can shove two dogs in the same box.

If you don't mind the smell of wet dog have it ride in the cab with you with the heat on.

When I was a kid we'd bring a couple old sweatshirts along and put them on the dog and wrap a belt around it's middle to keep it on. It looked funny but I never had a dog get sick from being soaked thru in the winter.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 6548

i would say he could shake more off than you could ever
dry with a hand full of straw in a week

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Mayer, MN
Posts: 920

ask around for old rag towels or old shop towels and keep them in your truck. Rub them down with those or maybe yourself if you get wet one of those nights. Cold and wet with a draft is not fit for man nor beast.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2007
Location: indiana
Posts: 580

if a coon can cross the water and live so can the dog. keep as much wind off them as you can in the box other than that they should be fine.and use some comen sence too if you think it is to cold for you stay home. when it is to cold to be fun it is time to stop. just my 2 cents but we aint going to get rich at this and most of us have average dogs and a world class dog will still be world class when it warms up a little.

__________________
boy's i tell ya how it is. i'am not here to bs you. i'am here to hunt dogs and get you the most for your money.my door is open for anyone to come hunt, spend the night or the weekend i hunt hard and it shows in my dogs 317-494-1098 danny suttles

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged