Just wondering what your guys thoughts are on having to send the dog into real muddy spots? I've always hunted big marsh before but never any with bad mud. This year, I'm hunting an area that's all mud. I don't want the dog to get to stck where I can't get to her or really put her at any risk...just want to hear from experience what you guys have to say.

Thanks

She will do fine in the mud. Just keep an eye on her for signs of fatigue. If it looks like its too much for her let her take a break.

^ this. If she's really working hard for you in tough conditions be sure to praise her more than usual. I keep extra food for a mid-hunt refuel as well.

http://www.mudmotortalk.com/mmt_v2/view ... =9&t=25895

Got some other videos with my dog on pure mud flats. Whenever he gets to swim or walk on a hard bottom he does a little "happy dance".

Watch your dog and keep her in shape. Exercise and don't let her get fat. She will do fine as long as she has the drive.

My dog goes on retrieves in that stuff like Over The line posted all the time. Never had a problem. Some times I wonder how much damage it is on their joints, with the suction the mud creates pulling on their legs?

Dink, I think jumping out of the truck is much harder on the joints. Dragging through the mud is more like a hard swim. Low impact, nice soft landing.

Not picking on ya Kmoppert but I was talking with the Purina Rep and he said that feeding a dog before or mid-hunt was a bad idea according to the research they do at their research facility. Why? Causes a dog to over heat and they don't digest it until they are put up after the hunt. Made me stop and think cause I live in a cold climate and sort of did the same. Guess people and dogs don't metabolize food the same. Don

Yeah, but he's talking about dog food. I feed mine double cheeseburgers. What did he have to say about that?

Only feed ur dog once a day at night he has plenty of time rest relax and digest


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Hey I would highly recommend not feeding your dog during a hunt. I'm a police k9 handler. The most stressed reason to us for not feeding your dog is to avoid bloat. What happens is since the dogs digestive track is more horizontal vs ours that is more vertical is the stomach can flip. Think of the dog's stomach like a hammock if it is loaded with food and has a lot of action the stomach will flip and then the digestive track is blocked and then the intestines will be damaged from the twisted portions.

So don't feed your dog at least 1 hr before or after rigorous exercise.

I feed my dog a half portion the night before and no food the morning of the hunt. Never had an issue. He still does great.