The Signs of Overheating in Dogs Every Hunter Must Know

At this time of the year, we all start shifting our thinking to hunting season. We start thinking about the cold and crisp mornings we will be spending in the blind. 

A second thought quickly passes by realizing that hunting season is nearly here! For many, the early season starts and for others, the main hunting season begins in just a few weeks!  

What about the dog? It's crunch time now! You've got to get it prepared so that it will be ready for opening day.

This is the general thought process that many go through every year around this time. The pressures on and now there's only a very short time remaining to prepare the dog for the upcoming season. What's left to do?  Go to work of course!

But...

Every year, many people go out and start pounding in the sessions while missing one important detail: the HEAT.

This time of year Heat Stroke is a constant lurking threat to your dog and it's safety. If you're not careful your dog can overheat in a flash, and it can even elevate to a heat stroke. (Not good, not good at all).

There are some things that you can do and be on the lookout for that will help keep your dog safe in this hot season!

Signs of an Overheating Retriever

1. Your dog is panting A LOT more than normal and its tongue is hanging completely out. This is a sign that your dog is getting too hot. You should get your dog in some shade so that it can cool off.

2. Your dog's eyes are starting to swell up. This is another sign that your dog is either getting too hot or it isn't properly hydrated and it could be on the verge of danger.

3. Your dog starts acting lethargic or dizzy and begins to stumble. This is a serious sign and should be treated with great care. If this happens, you should contact your vet immediately and follow their advice.

Things You Can Do To Help

If you find yourself in the 3rd situation then you may be tempted to cool your dog off quickly.

A big mistake people make at this point is tossing the dog in a cooler to try and cool them off quickly. That is not the best idea and can have consequences as well.

Have you ever put VERY hot glass in cold water? If you have, then you know the glass cracks. While it's not exactly the same, it definitely something that can be dangerous. Do not try to cool your dog off too fast.

What can you do instead?

You can actually use alcohol wipes and wipe down the pads of your dog's paws with these wipes. This is one of the quickest and safest ways to help cool your dog off. Now with that said, you should STILL contact your vet if your dog begins to act dizzy or lethargic. Your BEST BET is to avoid letting your dog get to this type of state at all.

How to Prevent Overheating

First and foremost, you should plan to train in the coolest part of the day. Generally, that's first thing in the morning as the sun rises. It's also a great way to start preparing for the early mornings that are coming for hunting season. 

Second and no less important is hydration. Hydration is extremely important to keep your dog operating at it's best. I would like to add a word of caution here. Many think, "Oh, that one is easy! I will just bring some water to the field, and we will be good to go!"

While that may seem like a good idea, it can actually be as dangerous for your dog as trying to cool them off in a cooler full of ice! Giving your dog too much water when it is hot can lead to serious stomach issues. 

It's okay to bring water to the field, but you will want to give it to your dog VERY sparingly. For example, when I am training, I may only give my dog 3 or 4 ounces over an entire training session. (I generally do not give my dogs much water at all while training.)

When is the best time to hydrate your dog and prevent your dog from overheating?

Hydrate your dog during the day when you are not training. All throughout the day and even into the evening you should make sure that you get your dog a healthy portion of water so that it can be hydrated and ready to go when you train.

Before you train, don't give your dog too much water and after you train let your dog rest for about an hour before letting it drink a lot.

Let your dog rest in-between skills.

Finally, you should make sure that your dog has plenty of time to rest in-between skills that you are working on that day. For example, if you are working on four different skills, make sure to give your dog an opportunity to rest in-between skills that require a lot of output from your dog.

If you follow this advice, it will help keep your dog cool and allow it to perform at peak performance when it's hot out all while helping keep your dog safe! Remember these are guidelines to follow but should you have any concern about your dog's health, reach out to your vet. 

BuildFromHere,

Joshua Parvin 

 P.S. The online videos at Cornerstone Gundog Academy will guide you through training the retriever you've been dreaming about. See the three paths you can choose from here.