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Tips for traveling with your Gun Dog
Whether you're driving a decked-out dog hauling rig or crating Rover in the backseat of your sedan, traveling with dogs is a process. Here are some tips and recommendations from two hunters and trainers who spend a lot of time on the road with their dogs.
Causes, Symptoms and Treatment - Heartworms
Hunting dogs spend much of the day outdoors, where mosquitoes are prevalent, the primary vector for Heartworms. But what are heartworms, and how severely can they impact your dogs health?
Amazing Facts about a dogs sense of smell
With regarding to sense of smell, our hunting dogs reign supreme. Scientists speculate that their olfactory senses can be 10,000 to 100,000 better than ours. For every single human scent receptor, our amazing canine companions boast 50. They have evolved to use a lot of their brain power the sense of smell. This remarkable ability makes our tail-wagging friends the best at detecting bomb threats, contrabands and game. Their scent receptors also adapt to different environments; thus, they can interpret various smells in a broad background. Even though most people prefer to domesticate the dogs, hunting and tracking are the exciting parts where a dog's sense of smell can be highly used. Dog hunting breeds have relied on this ability to track scents miles away. Here are some amazing facts about a dog's sense of smell:
Causes, Symptoms and Treatment - Parvo
Parvo in dogs refers to the Canine parvovirus, a highly contagious disease found among dogs that causes gastrointestinal illnesses in puppies and older animals. It is a febrile disease of the canines which is highly contagious, especially through contact with infected feces. The virus spreads to the dogs' gastrointestinal tracts and affects their health by deteriorating their intestines, stopping them from absorbing vital nutrients. As a result, dogs and puppies become extremely weak and dehydrated. Hunting breeds are especially affected due to their exposure to infected animals or other factors such as contaminated soil and water. Thus, they are more prone to be infected with the parvovirus. The illness, if not well looked after or controlled, can lead to the death of the dogs.
Dog Names - Mythology
Are you inspired by mythology and fantasy and desiring to name your dog? Mythical dog names are usually associated with different stories in the past. Mythology fans can access other names based on beliefs and areas of interest. The names vary, ranging from gods and goddesses to many mythical figures and individuals of ancient times. Most mythical names represent human history and the various lessons such as glory, bravery, and strength imparted by the mythical figures. If you're inspired by fascinating mythology, here are several options to choose from:
Dog Names - Space
Space-themed dog names are unique. These names are usually adopted by people interested in the science of space. Don't think of yourself as a nerd or geek if you want to name your dog after space. While there are other categories of dog names by country and dog names by sex, the space category offers a unique and interesting element. The list below is compiled with the interest of people attracted to space-inspired names at heart.
Dog Names - Irish
Irish people regard dogs highly. This element is demonstrated through the names given to their dogs which form part of their culture. Irish myths and stories mention the unique names given to dogs in this category. The Irish wolfhound is the world's tallest dog and is an original breed to wolfs and hunt stags. Some of the common Ireland dog breeds include the Kerry Blue, Irish Red, and the Irish Water Spaniel. Irish people even breed dogs for working, and this special category comprises very good-looking, intelligent, and courageous dogs. Below is a list of Irish dog names that would suit your pet if you are looking for unique names. The names are related to dog breeds and meanings.
Understand Bird Scent-Part 2 Diffusion
In last month's column, Understanding Bird Scent-Part 1 - The Bird, we learned about how bird scent is created. We know that there are scent rafts that create four different scent clouds that carry the scent into the atmosphere. Once the scent is airborne, there are numerous atmospheric weather conditions that affect the scent dispersal and the ability of our pointing dogs to locate a bird. In this part, of our three part series, let's examine those weather conditions that affect bird scent diffusion. We'll also look at the effect weather has on bird movement which also produces scent diffusion.
Three Shots to Master Ahead of Hunting Season
We slogged through an hour-long alder hell and didn't move a bird. The boys and I were shocked, for we called the covert Old Reliable. We were at the end, and I broke open my side-by-side and leashed Cider for the walk back to the truck. Wouldn't you know it, there was a brood of grouse feeding on insects at the edge of the field? Cider pointed, and the grouse flushed like a covey of quail. Two went to the left, two went straight away, and two went to the right. Bob missed one of the crossing shots, and Tim missed the straight-aways. Me? I gave 'em grief, 'cause that's what friends are for.
The Last Hour Dog
Ben and Sam were alone in Ben's library-conference room on a cold and cloudy year-end Friday afternoon. The week had been brutal for both curmudgeons. Sam had had to tell a favorite patient her cancer had returned. Ben had had to tell a grandfather his favorite grandson had been expelled from prep school.
Understanding Bird Scent - Part 1 The Birds
In his book Best Way To Train Your Gun Dog, Hall of Fame Trainer Delmar Smith said: "No one's ever understood one thing about scent." Add this: Odor chemistry is complex and still poorly understood. (The Science of Smell, Iowa State University May 2004). Now we can understand why few, if any, have dared enter this research field of bird scent and pointing dogs.
Pie Day
Toward the end of each month, Mother made pies, usually five or six. We kept one The others were delivered and given to various people in the community, the sick or shut ins or sometimes just a friend Mother hadn't seen in a while. I wasn't particularly fond of pie day. It wasn't because it meant me knocking on doors and handing the pies out, it was because of the hugs and cheek pinches all the old women felt obliged to give in return. Just before Thanksgiving and the opening day of quail season in 1964, pie day took on a very different meaning.
Train for your game
Some sports, like shooting and dog training, are best played with a training foundation. Every progression builds on the mastery of the previous level, and repetitions make the master. When it comes to shooting, spring is the best time to review your shooting and to identify what needs work. Proper mechanics build a strong shooting foundation, so here's how to turn those weaknesses into strengths.
Last Hunt
John Cole had been hunt master on Old Pine Plantation thirty years. Before that he had worked on other plantations in the quail belt, that land between Albany and Tallahassee where quail still thrived, thanks to Yankee old money, fire, and God's providence. He'd been born on one where his father before him had trained bird dogs and managed hunts for the owner and his guests, "folks with more money than good sense," his father used to say.
Trial Dog v Gun Dog
Ben and Sam were gathered in Ben's library-conference room Friday afternoon to celebrate survival of a brutal week of emergencies, Ben's legal, Sam's medical. Law and medicine were the last thing they wanted to talk or hear about; they were weary.
