Tongue Out

[Bwana Bob]

A fellow member on this site gave me a young Brittany female. I have her about 4 months now and she is starting to be real birdy. I noticed she runs with her tongue hanging out, even when she not running that hard. Her tongue is huge. She probably could make some real good money on capital hill with it But what I really want to know, will this affect her ability to scent birds? She been on 10 or so planted birds and so have she has sented them OK.

[mburrows]

No

[AspenBud]

Maybe if it's an indication she is out of shape. An out of shape dog spends more time trying to catch its breath than hunting.

Otherwise it has no bearing on scenting at all. Be more worried about a slashed tongue in warmer months.

[wildweeds]

Another vote with Aspenbud for out of shape,dogs that run with their tounges out don't have the  same olafactory power of one that runs with a closed mouth,watch a winded dog point birds,you'll see them huff and puff then close their mouths and breathe deeply through the nose sucking in the scent.The nose has the power to smell,open the mouth and their ability is diminished.

[birddogdad]

Maybe if it's an indication she is out of shape. An out of shape dog spends more time trying to catch its breath than hunting.

Otherwise it has no bearing on scenting at all. Be more worried about a slashed tongue in warmer months.

 

your dog will travel well over 2 times your distance on any hunting day, mostly running. The tongue is its radiator.. you MUST keep them in shape during the off season or they , like you , will be hunting into shape. This is not the way to go....

do you walk, work , run the dog at all? is it kennel'd all day when you work? find a tote road and take an evening walk with it if you can 3 or more times a week... oh and gravel will help toughen the pads, if you climb for chucker, this is a good thing!!

[Bwana Bob]

Thanks guys for all the feedback on this subject.

 My dog is about 34 lbs on the vet's scale. she was a bit lighter when I got her, ribs showing and no doubt a bit too light. The guy I got her from roaded her behind his truck. I can't do that in Bothell. She is no way overweight. I run her off leash for an hour plus at ;least 4 days a week. Took her on a  4 day fishing trip on 3 separate occasion and I ran her both morning and night. When she off leash she is running non stop.
I know she is not in true chukar shape yet but she runs on the powerline graveled roads, good for the feet.
Maybe you guys are right and she needs more run time. Been feeding her only 2 cups of food a day.

Thanks

[Skyvalhunter]

Not to worry my Brit has his tongue hanging out most of the time and sounds like a train running thru the woods. He is in tip top mountain shape. When he hits a scent tongue goes in and sniffing around. Wish I had 2 more like him.

[rowdys pride]

Would like to get togather and do a lil hunting behind her glad shes doing good

[Bwana Bob]

Would like to get togather and do a lil hunting behind her glad shes doing good
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Randy
thanks again for giving me shyla. She is holding point well on planted birds and I almost have her broke to the gun. I just came back from working 3 weeks in AK so she had a little break in her training. I need to get some more pigeons to finish her. I'm still unsure if I will break her to wing and shot this year. I would like to run her on some wild birds at the end on Aug but it may still be too hot for that.
I'd be more than happy to get together with you during the bird season.

Bob