| Keeping Them Warmby R. Michael DiLullo
Keeping your hunting dog warm and dry, especially during the later part of the hunting season, means knowing the signs of cold-related illnesses and injuries and how to prevent them.
The stillness of the predawn silence was breached by the sound of frozen ground crunching beneath our wader boots and of soft muffled whispers. Our flashlights found the path into the dark New York woods. Through an early morning mixture of frost and mist our small troupe made its way down the hill towards the hidden beaver pond. The mixture of frozen mud, frost covered leaves and twigs breaking beneath our feet and the sting of the morning air assured me that we would be "cracking" ice in order to set out our decoys spread. The thought of entering that frozen water sent a cold shiver through my spine.
The pulling on the end of the lead interrupted my train of thought. My English springer spaniel "Bess" was straining at the bit, in anticipation of the morning’s hunt. I began to consider her well being in these late season conditions. As we approached the pond I could see that my instincts were correct, the pond was iced-over with only a small section of open water near the middle. We could break a path to the open water with minimal effort. However, the thought of my dog slipping under the ice in an effort to retrieve a duck or shivering wet and cold between fights made me reconsider. Neoprene dog vests had just recently appeared on the market, and not having one, I did not want to take the risk. This hunt ended with me bagging several big Canadian greenheads, while "Bess" waited in her crate in the truck. Discretion is definitely the better part of valor when it comes to your dog’s health and comfort.
Today all my springers wear camouflaged neoprene vests while waterfowling. The only exception is during September teal and early resident goose season, when the temperatures are still very warm. I also use an old treestand converted for the sole purpose of duck hunting in shallow waters, such as flooded timber. The stand is camouflaged and has an insulated pad attached to in. It acts as a platform where the dog can rest and remain out of the water between retrieves.
 A camouflaged neoprene vest will help keep your dog warm, add buoyancy and help break-up his outline. An old tree-stand can be converted into dog platforms for hunting shallow waters like flooded timbers, keeping your dog out of the water will help to keep him warm. Photo by: Author | |
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