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Keep your dog prepared for the coming season

By Tony Robinson | Sportsman

Published: September 5, 2008

For a large number of the state's sportsmen, the last Saturday of February heralds the unwelcome end to yet another hunting season.

To ensure that your dog can perform to your high expectations come the new season, there are many things to take care of during those offseason months.

Not the least of these is the health of your dog. A hunting dog is a working dog. Just like an athlete, dogs require year-round attention. Sure, they are now entering their offseason, but their health concerns do not take a vacation.

According to the staff at East Burke Animal Hospital, you should worm your hunting dogs twice a year, once at the end of the season and once around the first of fall. You should administer the proper worm medication in two-week intervals both times.

Many hunters use electronic shocking collars when hunting with dogs. One of the worst things you can do for the special rechargeable batteries that many of the collars use is to put them on the shelf for several months. It is a good idea to charge these at least monthly for best service.

Hunters with female dogs should take care during the offseason to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

If there is one golden rule that all veteran hunting dog handlers will agree on, it is conditioning for dogs prior to the opening of the new hunting season.

Just as athletes cannot afford to lie around for months prior to a big race, neither can your dogs.

Veteran raccoon hunter Jerry Cline likes to train his hounds almost daily beginning this time of the year by giving them a jog of a couple miles with his ATV through some backwoods roads. This lets him keep a close eye on how the dogs are doing and regulate their times and distances.

Another method Cline likes to use is letting his dogs swim in controlled conditions. According to Cline, the better they are able to run without panting, the better they will be able to stay on the game trail. Dogs breathe less through their noses when they are panting, and therefore are less able to smell a game animal's track.

All dog handlers agree trainers should be mindful of the possibility their dogs might become overheated during training. To avoid this, run or work them early in the morning. It is much better to go in several short sessions rather than a long one.

Winston-Salem trainer Don Stroud of Hunting Creek Retrievers cautions dog owners to be careful of water temperatures when doing preseason conditioning. Pond and lake surface temperatures can still be quite warm for a dog to train in or jump into after a good workout.

Finally, remember to increase the amount of food for the extra work the dogs are now doing. Most handlers use a good quality food in the 26-percent protein and 18-percent fat range.