keeping your dog warm after a swim

[yorketransport]

The boy and I were walking the dog around the lake today and Pepper decided to go in. At first she was just wading about chest deep. She's never actually gone completely in since we brought her home. After wading around for a while we moved over to the smaller lake which still had ice on it. We were walking to the end of the dock when the dog decided to just jump in! I don't know what possessed her to do it, but she didn't hesitate.

She went went through the ice and completely under. I grabbed her and pulled her out as soon as she bounced to the top. This would have been fine in the summer, but I'm not so sure that jumping into the lake, through the ice, is a great way to test her swimming skills. She didn't seem to care. she shook it off, looked confused, and just went on about her walk. I was a little worried about her getting too cold so we just moved the walk out into the sun.

The whole thing got me thinking, how do you duck hunters keep your dogs warm this time of year. I had planned to get Pepper a vest when she's full grown, but is that enough? Do you dry the dog off when she gets out after a retrieve, or am I just over thinking this. I have to say my dog really didn't seem to care either way. We walked for another hour after she went swimming and she never showed any sign of slowing down.

Andrew

[washingtonmuley]

I hunt with labs and I put a vest on them and they do just fine. Looks like you might have GWP and I am not sure how they do in the cold but would definitely use a 5mm vest.

[wildweeds]

If she wasn't bothered by it,I myself wouldn't worry about it,the neoprene vest thing is new technology really I never saw one of them until 95 i'd guess.Sounds like you were rooster shooting around water,I'd be more concerned with nuking the dog down,trying to upland hunt with a neoprene vest on.If the tongue is hanging out while hunting,the dog ain't hunting,in shape dogs run with mouths closed and noses sniffing in order to scent.Fat or out of shape dogs who practically trip over their tongues are just running themselves into shape during an excersise in excersise of armed dog walking.3 years ago I hunted a 10 year old setter in 9 degree temperature with a wind chill that equaled 22 below in south dakota and she did it naked,never quit and was rip roaring raring to go at the next spot.The cold doesn't bother a moving dog,they make their own heat.And Wirehair type dogs are tough.For sitting in a boat or blind with water work and cold ambient temperature,Vest yes, other than that nope.

[yorketransport]

Thanks for the responses. I figured that if she wasn't bothered, I shouldn't be either. I just never really thought about it I guess. Nothing wrong with a polar bear plunge every once in a while!

Andrew

[7mmfan]

My dog absolutely despised her neoprene vest so I started letting her go out without it. I keep a close eye on her when its REAL cold but I have never had a problem. Heres a pic from when we had that cold snap. It was all of 13 degrees when I took the picture. She may have had some ice on her coat, but she was a furnace underneath and never slowed down. Like Wildweeds said, "they make their own heat."

 I keep the vest and towels with me when we are on the water to dry her off and warm her up if I feel the need but have never gotten to that point.

[washingtonmuley]

My dog absolutely despised her neoprene vest so I started letting her go out without it. I keep a close eye on her when its REAL cold but I have never had a problem. Heres a pic from when we had that cold snap. It was all of 13 degrees when I took the picture. She may have had some ice on her coat, but she was a furnace underneath and never slowed down.

She was so cold she disappeared.

[washingtonmuley]

I see the pic now.

[7mmfan]

haha sorry had to make a slight adjustment to the post. My pictures never post the first time either, I have to add them to the post afterwards. goofy.

[7mmfan]

Maybe they don't make their own, maybe they save it up