Parkers/Setters--Trajedy to miraculous recovery

[Harold Pickens]

Fred,
Beautiful Brittanies!! My first bird dog was a Brittany, and I had him for 15 years. He was a very popular stud dog in our area back in '80's, but I never kept a pup out of him. I often think about getting another one of those orange and white rascals, but I never seem to see any britts locally any more.
As for Betty, she was very quiet and subduded yesterday, but seemed much like her old self this morning. She wouldnt eat yesterday (and she is a chow hound) and seemed sick. Muzzleloading deer season had ended the day before I lost her and there were many gut piles seen that day (including one of mine from the buck I shot Sun. with my muzzleloader). I think she got into one of those gut piles that night--she sure smelled like it!!
I may get her out this weekend, but will probably hunt her alone because with 2 dogs and 2 bells, it sometimes gets a little hectic---can be alot of fun too, since both of my dogs back very well.

[C.O.B.]

Harold I'm sure glad it worked out in a positive manner. When Tara a white GSP was just a pup she took off one night in a March snowstorm. The section was two miles long by a mile wide with no roads going through. We put up flyers and adds in the paper to no avail. After a week I figured the coyotes had a snack but one day when we came home from work she was on the deck a much thinner pooch.

I always use the point mode on the E-Collar. When Gunner started to lose his hearing (and mine isn't much better) he disapeared one opening day of Pheasant season which is October 20. The day warmed up into the 70's and I couldn't find him. The fact that the beeper collar was silent told me he was moveing somewhere and hadn't collapsed from heat exhaustion. It was a scary couple of hours but I found him and we went for a dip in a small pond to cool down.

[Double Lab]

Harold;
Glad you and your pup were reunited. I can just imagine what was going through your head. EIHDH is a reality and one of my best hunting buddies is a Veterinarian and informed me of it 20+ years ago. I've encountered it twice with my dogs over the years, once with an English Pointer and just recently with one of my labs. I always carry a small squirt bottle of honey in my vest and if I see any sign of it I heel them, give them a shot of honey, then let them chill for a few minutes. Most guys don't hydrate their dogs enough so if there is'nt a pond or stream nearby I make sure they get a drink every 30 minutes or so. One word of caution though- If you come upon a pond or ditch covered with green or blue algae DO NOT allow them to lap up water from it. It can be toxic to them. My Ex used to say to me that she thought I cared more for the dogs than I did for her. I guess she was right because I still sleep with the dogs every night and they never complain about my snoring.