Staying FitĪs humans, we know to stretch and start slow before a workout, but dogs don’t think about self-preservation. Getting into the air conditioning is a smart way to cool down, too. If you have only limited water, DO NOT pour it on his back, as it could overheat him even more. If one isn’t nearby, go to a shady spot and pour water on his belly, paws, or inside his ear flaps (not the ear canal). But if looks like you could pour a Dixie cup of water into his tongue because it’s cupped and curled upwards, he’s overheating and you need to cool him off. If it’s out and he’s breathing hard, it may be time to slow down the work. Two of the tell-tale signs that your dog is tired or dehydrated is a low tail and a cupping of the tongue while the dog is panting. A dog that is one pound overweight is on par with a human who is 10 pounds overweight. You really need to watch your dog in summer, particularly if he has packed on a few too many pounds. Field dogs greatly benefit from living at least part of their days outdoors (with shelter and water) in order to better adjust to the temperatures in which they are required to work. Don’t just walk out of the house on a humid August morning and start throwing bumpers. I’m not saying you can’t bring them into the house, but a dog that spends all day loafing in the air conditioning can run into serious heat exhaustion problems if he isn’t used to the heat and humidity. We all love having our dogs inside with us, but you need to acclimate dogs to the climate before exercising them, particularly during the hot summer months. Staying Cool Don’t overwork your dog in the hot summer months. Stick to the basics Broome outlines below, and your gun dog will excel in the marsh or uplands this fall. If you’re looking for smart and simple drills you can mostly do on your own, you’ve come to the right place. She has some key tips for getting gun dogs primed for the season that won’t take much time out of your day. Jennifer Broome is one of the best gun dog trainers in the country and her kennel QK Dogs is widely respected by hunters and dog handlers.
But in the dog days of summer there are a few drills that can make a tremendous difference in your pup’s performance come opening day. To keep upland and duck dogs primed for the fall, you need to train and exercise them all year long.
Jennifer Broome works a German shorthair pointer.