Outdoors

By STEVE KNIGHT
Outdoor Writer

They don't call these the dog days of summer for nothing.

But, despite the heat and grueling humidity of a late East Texas summer, bird hunters are beginning to think ahead to the Sept. 1 opening of dove season and beyond to the Sept. 13-28 teal-only season. Then, there is a slight lag before the Oct. 25 opening of quail season and the proposed Nov. 1 duck season opener.

It is the fast-approaching dove and teal season grabbing hunters' attention and upping their needs for their dogs to be in hunting shape. For some hunters dog conditioning is a year-around activity.

They train their dogs regularly and enter hunt-to-retrieve competitions to keep them sharp.

Still, there are others who haven't worked their dog since last year's hunting seasons closed. For those dogs and dog owners the race is on to get ready in the coming weeks. It is a race, however, that can be dangerous to the dog's health.

"Heat stroke. It worries me to death to tell anyone to do any training in this heat," said Dr. Bryan Ramsey of South Tyler Animal Clinic.

An owner of English pointers, Ramsey said he won't start running his dogs until late September when the summer heat breaks, but he understands those with retrievers need to start conditioning earlier. His recommendation is to do the work, but do it wisely.

"Work them first thing in the morning when it is cool. Right at sunrise," Ramsey said.

Since a dog has no sweat glands to help keep it cool like humans, the veterinarian said working the dog near water where it can get wet is another option.

Working a dog on the opening day of dove season is always a risk in Texas where temperatures can swell well past 100. For those who do, Ramsey said hunters need to be cautious and keep their dog on a short leash in the field. He adds that hunters should also carry extra water just for the dog and be prepared for an emergency.

"If you see them overheating, they can melt down in a hurry. Get water on them in a hurry," Ramsey said. He added hunters can also dunk the dog in their ice chest, but need to be cautious because cooling the dog down too much too fast can be just as harmful.

To keep from getting to that point, Ramsey said it is best to keep dogs in the shade and limit their running around in the heat as much as possible.

When it comes to pre-hunt meals the veterinarian believes a dog needs a light meal for energy, followed by a main meal after the hunt to recover.