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The Dog Days of Summer??? By Andy Kohly Gun Dog Editor Okay, it’s
summer and the temperatures are blowing right past the century mark.
Who feels like getting out and training a dog especially when it seems
like half the state is on fire… While this attitude does bear a certain truthfulness
picture this. Opening weekend of
quail season. The temps are normal
for that time of year and we’ve packed along plenty of water, taken time for a
tune up at the local trap range, we’re ready. The
question begging to be asked is, is Ol’ Lightnin’ ready???
Considering the fact that he’s pooped out long before you even knew it,
your hunt is now little more than a forced march through the now burning Sonoran
Deserts. Realistically speaking you
are now faced with two potential killers, rattles snakes
(SEE SNAKE BITES http://www.azod.com/gundogs/Archives/2001/Snake%20Bites.htm)
and heat injuries SEE http://www.azod.com/gundogs/Archives/2001/Heatstroke-Hyperthermia.htm Aside from the fact that
Ol’ Lightnin’ has fizzled out long ago, Opening Day of Quail Season, which
in many circles is equivalent to Christmas Day will very likely come and go with
no more excitement than an afternoon at a snoring festival, that is of course if
your dog doesn’t keel over from the heat or sheer exhaustion. The solution??? Well this
certainly does not take the place of common sense or good judgment BUT
pre-season conditioning goes a long way. While
it’s tough to find time especially if you are among the city dwellers, brisk
walks at sun-up go a long way toward keeping a canine athlete in top condition
and ready for the next outing. In addition, keeping off the excess pounds that can magically
appear at the end of a long, hot summer goes a VERY long way toward preventing a
great many joint problems. SEE http://www.azod.com/gundogs/Archives/2002/Canine%20Degenerative%20Joint%20Disease.htm In my home I enjoy the
luxury of having two able bodied young men, ages 10 & 12 who eagerly help
with conditioning by taking Shiloh and Max for walks and also the occasional
jaunt into the pool. This goes a
long way in ensuring that Shiloh and Max are ready for some early season hunting
and most importantly, can do it without placing themselves at risk of joint
injury or heat related injuries. In the weeks to come I
would very much like to hear how the rest of the Gun Dog community trains,
conditions and prepares for the opener and NO, waiting until November doesn’t
count….. Please E-mail your ideas
to gundogs@azod.com . All the best, -A-
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