Winter protection

[jobbershunting]

For my two WPG;

Uplands = just keep a good eye on them, that is the only protection they require.

Waterfowl = The older dog has a much thinner coat so come early November he is 'uplands only', my smaller female I can hunt much later into the year. I had her out yesterday hunting geese off the ice edge, following every retrieve I gave her a good drying with a 'shamwow' towel. Once the temps drop further I will only hunt her from solid land where in addition to keeping her as dry as possible I can also run her around to warm her up. I use a neoprene vest on both dogs starting in late October.

[TurkeyRookie]

Haven't had any issues with the Lab, other then the snowballs under the feet but soon as we put Mushers Secret on that came to a halt. Last year she was in the water until the end of November as we broke ice. This year first week of November and we were all done.

She plays outside with me and the boys all winter -20 and then some, as well as trains. If someone is outside, that's where she wants to be, she doesn't go to the door to wait to be let in.

[Sharon]

Very dangerous time as far as ponds go - very thin ice covered in snow. To the dog, it looks just like another field.

[3 black dogs]

I purchased a SUGAR coat from Daktota Creek Retrievers
fleace lined used it yesterday out on the big water could not belive how well it retained the heat . Great product any late season hunter should have one for thier dogs.

Thanks again Sue for excellent customer service!!!

[maplevizsla]

Winter isn't coming....damn it's here already!

For my crew they wear their Chilly Dogs coat which is made by a Canadian company in Ottawa (they wear the Great White North version with fleece and protective outer shell) when the weather starts to dip below zero.
Otherwise, hate to say it, but walks are kept short on the flexi-lead or spurts of runs in the yard around the 'snow-blower trails' if possible. If it is hovering around -7 or so I can get them out longer, anything under -10 then they start to lift up their paws and limp, and I worry about their thin ears getting frostbite.
I get nervous about using the snowmobile trails, people are just reckless at times.

We do a lot of indoor games, play and training in the winter up here :-)

[Sharon]

I had to bow to the masses to day.
I walk the JRT everyday ( not the setters). Lots of hassle this week with folks we meet on the side walks - "Get that dog a coat!" So I bought him a coat. Setters took one look and laughed - "What the heck is that?" LOL

[Pigeoneater5000]

Most late season hunting for me is either field hunting waterfowl or bunny hunting hedge rows and bush. I double the dogs food intake and add an raw egg to her diet each day. Especially after woodcock/pelee season dog's weight is down so the extra food helps her get her weight back and adds a few pounds to keep her warm.
My dog is outside all day and brought in at night.

[yellow dog]

I feed the Diamond Naturals 32% protein and 25% fat. I will be putting dog booties on my Springer that i use to put on my working Siberian Huskies. This will eliminate the snow balling between the toes and sharp ice cutting her feet. I do have a blaze orange coat also on order for those cold days if needed.

[TurkeyRookie]

Looked at the sugars last year, but couldn't actually find anyone that had / used one, that I would actually trust their opinion, to be a fair unbiased one. After seeing a few folks on here testifying to their effectiveness, going to have to place an order.

[yellow dog]

Springers retrieve and are the most versatile hunting dogs.