The toughest aspect of dog ownership is that all young dogs grow old. However, old age does not mean that your dog’s hunting days are over. As long as he or she is willing, there is no reason to keep your senior dog from the field. However, care should be taken to physically prepare your dog, with a few modifications from years past.
Exercise
A dog that remains active will live the longest and healthiest life. Even after your dog reaches his or her golden years, continue to exercise your pet in whatever capacity he or she can handle. It is important to be vigilant about the level of exercise that is comfortable for your dog, and not to push your pet beyond this point. Your dog’s ability level may be drastically different from even a year ago. Allow your dog to call the shots in terms of exercise, and call it a day at the first signs of exhaustion.
Weight
Keeping your senior dog at a healthy weight is crucial. Older dogs are more susceptible to illness and injury, both of which are more likely to occur if your dog is carrying a few extra pounds. As a dog ages, his or her metabolism slows down, so it is important to adjust portion sizes accordingly. Examine your dog’s body condition and look for a noticeable waist and tucked up belly.
Arthritis
Nearly every senior sport dog will develop arthritis to some degree. If your dog is struggling to get around, visit a veterinarian and talk about options for managing your dog’s pain. There are many arthritis drugs on the market that can significantly improve your dog’s quality of life without busting your budget.
Hunting
When your dog is ready, take him or her for a hunt. Treat your dog the same way that you did as a puppy, and limit the time spent in the field. Be cognizant of your dog’s needs and restrictions. Many senior dogs may only be able to spend an hour or two hunting per trip. Make sure you stick to your plan and put your dog up when he or she shows signs of growing tired. Recovery is most important, and most senior dogs will require 2 – 3 days before they can handle another outing.
Even though your dog might not be as quick or agile as in years past, there is no doubt your dog still has an intense love of hunting and spending time with you. Don’t shy from taking your dog out on hunts, but be realistic about his or her abilities. Ultimately, the time spent together can never be replaced, so as long as your dog is willing, do not miss the opportunity to make the most of your dog’s golden years.
Does a perfect bird dog exist? In short, no. However, there are a number of common problems that hunters face with their bird dogs that can be remedied in order to create a better hunting partner for your needs. Listed here are common problems encountered through each stage of a bird dog’s development.
Bumping Birds
This problem is most likely to occur in pointing dogs, and is indeed their number one offense. Pointers are often guilty of crowding the bird, dancing while on point, overrunning his or her nose and running directly into the bird, or only pointing for a short period of time before flushing the bird. Hunters have many preferences for their pointers, such as remaining steady until given the signal to flush; remaining steady until the bird is airborne; remaining steady until the bird is shot; or remaining steady until a fetch command is given. Regardless of the hunter’s preference, a pointer that is bumping birds by breaking the point or forgoing the point altogether is limiting the hunter’s chance to shoot.
Fixing this problem requires patience and a little bit of help. Recruit a hunting buddy to hold a check cord or e-collar while you flush and shoot a bird. If your dog breaks the point, the second handler will correct your dog. Other solutions include overlaying the whoa command with the correction, using pop traps, or keeping distance between your dog and the bird.
Substandard Retrieves
A second common offense is incomplete retrievals. This problem can include not picking up the bird, not returning with the bird immediately, or dropping short. Fortunately for hunters, this problem is easily addressed with drills. One of the best ways to prevent this problem from occurring is the “trained retrieve” or “force fetch.” However, care must be taken that this technique is performed early and properly. If the dog has already been through retrieval training but has begun to get sloppy, revisiting the trained retrieve process can remedy the problem. There are a number of other drills that address specific retrieval issues. For instance, excitement drills remind the dog that retrieving is rewarding, while delayed retrieves give the dog a sense of urgency. Rewarded delivery and keeping repetitive drills fun for the dog also go a long way in solving common retrieval problems.
Difficult Mouth
Although having a “difficult” mouth – i.e., hard mouth, refusing to give up the bird, chomping, playing tug of war, etc. falls under substandard retrieves, it should be discussed as its own unique challenge. There are many ways to fix this problem, such as with classic techniques involving bristled brushes or dumbbells with nails. Additional methods for overcoming these problems include allowing the dog to occasionally keep possession of the bird, not allowing the dog to stop moving and thereby preventing chewing, providing light corrections with the e-collar, or positively reinforcing the dog for good behavior.
Gun Shyness
Few dogs are truly naturally gun shy, However, it is not uncommon for dogs to develop a sensitivity to the sound of gunfire due to improper introduction to the sound of a gun, or due to a traumatic experience with loud noises such as thunderstorms or fireworks. In many instances, gun sensitivity can be overcome with careful training. This process involves a controlled increased gun volume in combination with decreasing distance from the sound, as well as positive associations and distractions.
Considerations
When addressing common bird dog problems, there are a few considerations that can be made which will make life easier for both hunter and dog. For instance, what are the resources you can use in overcoming your dog’s problems? Are there professional dog trainers, experienced hunters, or hunting breeders in you area that you can turn to for help?
If money is an issue, consider the cost of trainers or training clinics. What is the cost of pen-raised birds, if this is something to which you have access. Do you own the proper equipment for training? If not, do you know someone who could lend you the necessary items? Are there areas in which you can shoot pen-raised birds, and do you have the proper permits?
Another consideration is time. If you do not have unlimited time to fix your dog’s problems before the next bird season, hiring professional help might be most cost-effective. Certain problems are best left to the professionals, such as severe gun shyness, lack of steadiness, training regression, and bird mutilation.
Ultimately, working with a professional trainer will not only save you time and money, but will also help you learn more about training. However, it is important to find the trainer that best fits your needs, as every training method is different.
Of course, the best way to solve these common bird dog problems is to avoid them in the first place. Exposing dogs to live birds from an early age is important, as well as proper introduction to gunfire. Building a strong retrieving foundation is crucial. A close bond between hunter and gun dog helps develop a good work ethic and better cooperation, as well.
McHenry County Dog Boarding and Finding a Kennel for Boarding Your Dog
Your dog is a member of the family, which is why going out of town and leaving your pet behind can be stressful. Finding a kennel for boarding your dog that puts your mind at ease is important. McHenry County Dog Boarding options are slim, but there are a couple good choices. Here, boarding your dog will be discussed.
What is a Boarding Kennel?
There are many options available when it comes to leaving your dog in someone else’s care. Most commonly, dog owners choose boarding facilities called kennels. A boarding kennel is a business that has been licensed to care for animals. Unlike at-home dog sitters, boarding kennels are subject to a number of rules and regulations to ensure the health and safety of your pet.
How to Find a Kennel
Finding the kennel that fits your needs is important. Three ways to search for a kennel include:
Word of Mouth
Ask your friends and canine professionals for recommendations. Veterinarians, dog store owners, and trainers can all provide trusted recommendations.
Phonebook / Internet Search
Next, search in your phonebook or online for kennels in the area. You can also find reviews and ratings for the facilities that you find.
Choosing a Kennel
Once you have a list of possible boarding kennels, do some homework. Suggestions include:
Availability
First and foremost, inquire with the kennels about their availability for the dates you will be gone. There is no use going through the hassle of interviewing a facility if they are unable to accommodate your pet.
Personal Tour
Next, schedule a walking tour through the kennel. Avoid any facility that does not allow personal tours. During your tour, make notes and ask questions about the following key points:
Appearance: is the kennel well-kept, neat, and orderly? Are there any offending odors or obvious messes?
Security: are fences high enough to contain your dog? Are animals supervised when they are outside of their living quarters? What protocols are in place to prevent escape?
Relaxation: are there dividers between pets to minimize noise and distraction? Is the kennel loud and chaotic, or relatively peaceful?
Safety: are kennel personnel trained in pet First Aid and CPR? How often is the well-being of each dog checked?
Health: are the dogs provided clean water? What are the feeding procedures, and what type of food will your dog be fed? How are instances of illness and injury handled? Which immunizations are required? Can medications be administered? How are parasites controlled?
Comfort: is the temperature inside the kennel comfortable? Are dogs protected from the elements? Are ventilation, lighting, and bedding appropriate?
Exercise: is the exercise area an appropriate size? How much exercise time is provided? Is exercise time solo or in a group of other dogs?
Preparing your Dog
When you have chosen a kennel, the next step is to prepare for your trip. First, be sure to make reservations well in advance, as many kennels run out of availability. Next, make sure your dog’s immunizations are up to date. Some vaccinations require boosters, so it is important to make sure you schedule immunizations well in advance. Finally, prepare your dog for your absence. If your pet has never been boarded before, consider dropping off your pet for a short overnight visit, or for kenneled day care, if available. When you drop off your pet at the facility, do not treat the visit as anything out of the ordinary to avoid alarming your dog.
Picking up your Pet Always pick up your pet during normal business hours and be sure to call if your travel plans change. Don’t forget to ask about your pet’s visit. Did he or she show stress or anxiety, or have an upset stomach during the stay? If your dog is hyperactive and excited upon your return, limit access to food or water in order to avoid the possibility of bloat. In addition, understand that your pet may be tired for the first 24 – 48 hours you are home, as there was probably lots to do, see, and sniff while you were away!
Finding a kennel for boarding your dog is not always an easy decision but your search for McHenry County Dog Boarding can be resolved with call to us here at Bull Valley Retrievers & Kennels.
What many hunters overlook is that they would never need to spend time handling their dogs if alignment drills were practiced. However, many hunters neglect these drills because they do not understand just how easy they are. Here, wagon wheel drills will be discussed.
A wagon wheel drill is a simple and easy exercise that can be used for practicing proper alignment when going after marks. This exercise gets its name from the way that it would appear from an aerial perspective. Hunter and dog are the center of the wagon wheel, while the lines that the dog runs to retrieve thrown bumpers represent the spokes of the wheel.
There are a few things to remember before initiating this drill. First, if your dog heels on your left as most gun dogs do since shotguns eject shells on the right, then you want your dog’s body aligned with your left leg. You will use your left leg to gently position your dog’s spine and tail, while your right leg will be used for fine tuning your dog’s head position. This drill does not rely on pressure; rather, repetition is most important.
Once you and your dog have perfected positioning, the next step is to throw the bumpers. Start with 4, and throw them at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00, as if your wagon wheel were a clock. Each time you throw a bumper, make deliberate pivots and make sure your dog follows you accordingly.
Perhaps the most important part of this drill is talking and communicating with your dog. Provide plenty of praise when your dog is properly aligned and runs the perfect line, while also verbally correcting your dog when the alignment is not ideal.
Once the final bumper has been thrown, turn to one of the other bumpers on the wagon wheel and re-align your dog. Be meticulous and ensure that your dog’s alignment is perfect, all the while giving cues. Use your knee to push / pull your dog as needed. For instance, when you pull your leg back, your dog should move backwards. Alternatively, when you push your leg forward, your dog should move forward. This aspect of the drill is best learned through repetition. Once you are happy with the alignment, send your dog after the bumper.
An important component of this drill is that you throw the bumper back after your dog retrieves it. Not doing so is a common mistake. After the bumper has been returned to its starting point, move to another point on your wagon wheel and repeat the drill. Once your dog has mastered this drill with 4 bumpers, move up to 8. Some hunters even use 12 – 16. Ultimately, the wagon wheel drill is all about repetition. If you complete this drill 2 – 3 times for the duration of your dog’s life, hunting will become much easier.
Nutrition is a Huge Part of Your Training – Nutrition in Your Dog
Choosing a balanced, high quality food for your sport dog has never been easier. More research than ever before has gone into nutrition in your dog, specifically as it relates to sporting dogs. One company that has led the industry in scientific research of canine nutrition is Purina Pro Plan.
Why is nutrition for your dog important? A balanced diet for your sporting dog provides all of the energy that he or she needs to make it through a day in the field, performing retrieve after retrieve. The food that your dog eats affects his or her ability to stay warm in the blind, as well as its coat condition. Research has even shown that the quality of a dog’s diet affects the animal’s scenting ability. As a top-tier athlete, your dog should consume the best diet possible.
Once you have found the highest quality kibble for your pet, the next step is knowing how to to properly use the product.
First, hunters should float their sport dog’s food. Simply add warm water to the your dog’s kibble and allow it to sit for a few minutes before feeding it to your dog. Canines are notorious for being dehydrated, especially dogs that work hard day in and day out. Dehydration can limit their performance, so adding extra water to their diets is essential for optimum health.
Next, make sure your dog is eating the proper portion sizes. An overweight sport dog will struggle in the field and be limited in his or her performance. Feed toward your dog’s body condition. You should be able to see your retriever’s back ribs slightly.
Finally, knowing when to feed your dog is important. Many dog owners mistakenly believe their animals should be fed twice per day. Instead, we now know that a dog with kibble in his or her stomach during intense exercise is at greater risk for developing stomach ulcers. Additionally, feeding a dog immediately before a hunt is useless, since dogs do not metabolize their meals for a full 12 hours. Therefore, the best time to feed your retriever is 30 – 60 minutes after exercise, or at the end of the day so that your dog has time to turn the food into usable energy.
Bull Valley Retrievers Shirts Now Available Click on Image for more information.
Bull Valley Retrievers Shirts Now Available Click on Image for more information.
injury, both of which are more likely to occur if your dog is carrying a few extra pounds. As a dog ages, his or her metabolism slows down, so it is important to adjust portion sizes accordingly. Examine your dog’s body condition and look for a noticeable waist and tucked up belly. 
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