As the temperature rises, the daylight lengthens, and memories of the previous season start to wane, we yearn for that unique time afield with our hunting dogs again. Often overlooked and forgotten is that acclimation period in those first few weeks of the season—when we’re dusting off the cobwebs (sometimes literally) and steadily getting back into a routine. Below are a few ways to capitalize on this time off the prairies, rock cliffs, and dense woods in order to help opening day and the fall seasons ahead be smoother and more rewarding for you and your hunting dog.

1. Refine Their Off-Season Nutrition Plan

   • A proper nutrition and feeding program is an important part of transitioning between seasons for your dog.
   • Unlike humans who use carbohydrates for endurance, our hunting dogs use fat to fuel their lengthy hours afield. Based on research, it takes approximately 12 weeks to maximize that fat burning ability when fed a high fat diet. It’s best practice to keep them on the more nutrient dense, concentrated formula that you feed during the season. This keeps their metabolism primed and ready for opening day of the season.
   • Without the hours afield to burn the calories of the more calorie-dense food, dial back the quantity that is going into the bowl and ultimately into their system. Maintaining ideal body condition, a score of 4-5/9 on the chart, has been shown to increase life span and health span; and who doesn’t want more seasons with their bird hunting dog?
   • Ensure you’re using an 8-oz measuring cup when you feed your sporting dog. It can be tempting and seem more efficient to just scoop and eyeball the amount. Especially in the off-season, those seemingly innocent extra calories can add up quickly and the extra weight in the start of the season can put them at higher risk for injury, heat exhaustion, and a shortened career.

2. Take Inventory of Your First Aid Kit

   • Maybe you were one of the lucky ones and didn’t have to use any supplies out of your first aid kit, but there are still things to check:
     • Check the expiration date on any prescription drugs you might have from your veterinarian.
     • Check the seal on any single-dose medications like antihistamines that are sold in foil packets.
     • Check the integrity of the packaging around any bandage supplies you might have.
   • If you did use supplies, certainly replace those to an adequate level for “just in case” scenarios next season.
   • Double check the level of items like sterile saline, antimicrobial flush, antibiotic ointment, etc. Those often are in opaque containers, and you don’t want to be caught without them when you need them most.
   • Check the wear and tear of the bandage scissors, forceps, multi-tool, etc. that you have, looking for rust, breakage, or damage.
   • Lastly, “when in doubt, throw it out.” I know it’s not the most sustainable approach, but expired medications and contaminated first aid supplies can make a tough situation so much worse for your hunting dog.
   
   
   

   

3. Schedule a Veterinary Checkup

   • The off-season is the time to have those seemingly “little things” examined more closely by your sporting dog’s veterinarian.
   • Dental disease affects 70-80 percent of dogs over the age of three. If left untreated, dental disease can lead to extractions and other major health issues, and our bird dogs need a healthy mouth to properly hold birds for us. Having their teeth examined and cleaned professionally now may save you a week or two of being on the “Injured Reserve” during the season if trouble arises.
   • A thorough physical exam is the best tool a veterinarian has, and by having this in the off-season, they may find something small before it escalates into a much larger medical issue.
   
   
   

   

4. Keep Your Hunting Dog in Shape During the Off-Season

   • To keep your dog in conditioned during the off-season you will need some form of aerobic activity. Swimming is a fantastic, low impact activity that can keep your hunting dog aerobically fined tuned, and it strengthens their core muscles. This is also a great time to refine and refresh water-retrieve skills, if your hunting season has waterfowl sprinkled in. An added bonus is that this can be done on the hottest of days. A word of caution is to check for reports of blue-green algae before you and your bird dog take a dip or make a splash. This can be quite toxic and even fatal for dogs.
   • Hiking is another opportunity to work on their aerobic endurance, engage their senses, and challenge their proprioception—knowing where their body is in space, with the uneven terrain.
   • Drills, blinds, and obstacle training can be another opportunity to exhaust both their physical and mental energies. A tired dog is a fulfilled dog.
   • Unstructured outdoor exploration time is a great way to let their bodies and minds recover and reset for the rigorous late summer and fall we have planned together.

5. Stimulate their brain

   • Experts estimate that 10 minutes of mental exercise is equivalent to 30-40 minutes of physical exercise.
   • With around 300 million scent receptors (one of the top reasons dogs make ideal hunting companions), adding in off-season activities like nose work, barn hunt, and other tracking challenges will keep them sharp and ready for the opener.
   • Doubling down with refreshers of obedience training and basic commands can not only have benefits afield but also in the other months of the year.
   • This could also be a great time to learn a new skill, command, or challenging task.
   • Consider mixing in interactive toys and food puzzles into their feeding routines.

In summary, while we long for the cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and new adventures with our bird dogs, doing our due diligence in the off-season is critical for maximizing opportunities and success come fall. Addressing any health issues, fine-tuning their nutrition, and refreshing their foundational training in the off-season will set us all up for maximizing the season from opening day to closing weekend.