Foot Care for Hunting Dogs

Preparing for Hunting Season

• If you have a hunting dog that you use for birds, care of the pads of the hunting dog's feet should be done prior to the opening of the season. Toughen up the pads by taking your dog to the area where you intend to hunt. Run the dog along the terrain to introduce your hunting dog's feet to the current climate and rocks in the area and toughen up the paw pads.

During Hunting Season

• There is no need to buy expensive alternatives to protecting your hunting dog's feet; proper care of the feet prior to and during hunting season is usually sufficient.
  Make sure the nails are trimmed and no excess fur is in between the pads.

Shoes and Boots for Dogs

• While buying shoes and boots to protect your hunting dog's feet might sound like a good idea it is not necessary. Additionally, it could cause more damage than good, giving your dog a sense of imbalance and overcompensation in the way that she runs in the field. Avoid using these shoes during an active hunt.

Land Fowl vs. Water Fowl Hunting

• While land fowl hunting (grouse, pheasants and other small birds) your dog's feet are a valuable asset, and using their pads to feel their way through rough terrain and tall grass is a vital natural skill. Your hunting dog's feet are already naturally weather resistant, so cold water from a water fowl hunt does not affect him as it would us. Ensure that your dog's feet and pads are clean and free of debris, nails are trimmed and hair trimmed around the front of the paw.

After an Injury

• First aid techniques for a damaged paw are the same as you would use for your own skin. Clean the wound, remove any foreign objects and stop bleeding. After the cleanup of the injury, if veterinarian services are deemed unnecessary, use a styptic pencil or cream antibiotic on the wound. Your dog will do the rest.