Hunting Dogs
Our dogs are road warriors. Trucking to and from training schools, traveling to Montana for summer work, trekking back to the quail plantation for the winter-we put on the miles. In the past five years our dogs have made the round trip to Alaska on the Alaska Highway four times, and, had they qualified, many would have earned enough frequent-flyer miles to be poster dogs for the airlines.
When it comes to traveling the highways and byways with your dog, safety is the first priority. Next the dog's comfort is worth careful consideration. If a dog has to endure cramped quarters for any length of time, muscle stiffness and soreness may set in. A dog that does not feel well will not train or hunt well. Your dog deserves more than a second-class coach ticket when crated for road travel. First class is the way to go.
Decisions regarding a dog's travel accommodations are dictated by the owner's wallet and by how many dogs are traveling. A customized dog trailer may be the way to go for the four-dog owner but may be hard to justify (and amortize) for the one-dog owner. For owners traveling with two or more dogs, the choice should come down to truck toppers or trailers.
Let's talk about toppers first. When shopping for a topper, you first need to figure out how many dog compartments you'll need. Consider oversizing by an extra hole or two for additional dogs for a couple of reasons. For one, imagine that your buddy has a topo map marked with woodcock coverts and has offered to take you hunting if you pay for gas and chauffeur him and his dog. For another, it's hard to add more compartments to a topper or trailer once it's built. (In fact, excess capacity can provide perfect justification for acquiring a new Lab for the duck blind or a pointer for the uplands.)
Toppers come in all shapes, sizes and materials. They include everything from snowmobile trailers with dog crates tied on to homemade designs made of plywood to high-tech affairs sporting every bell & whistle. Travel units made from fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel or a combination of these are the norm for toppers built by well-known manufacturers.
Stainless-steel toppers, which are what we have, are more expensive but offer advantages. Stainless steel can withstand the rigors of road travel extremely well and will not rust. A stainless floor is easy to clean and cannot be destroyed by a dog. Aluminum floors may cause dogs to take on a grayish hue. Fiberglass is not as durable and can be harmful to dogs if ingested.
Toppers can be made for any make of truck with any size bed. Options include fans, locks, storage compartments, water tanks, interior and exterior lights, backup lights, ventilation and door configurations.
Our doors all lock with a key, and they have an additional snap that further prevents them from inadvertently opening. I recently heard of a dog that jumped out of a moving truck when the self-locking mechanism on the door failed. Pay special attention to the safety locking mechanics on the doors.
Our doors also have their motion damped by hydraulic arms. Anyone who has tried to deal with the South Dakota wind pulling doors from their hinges will appreciate this feature.
Design-wise, the dog compartment should not have a lip at the front where the door meets the floor, as this will make cleaning the box difficult.
Inside and outside lights are helpful, and an outside spotlight is a real plus when feeding and staking out dogs at night. Of course with interior lights, dogs should not be able to get to the wiring or bulbs.
We have fans mounted on the roofs of both our toppers and trailers. A dog housed in a well-ventilated box with fans sucking out the heat can travel comfortably in 90-plus-degree weather. The fans mounted on our travel units have rain sensors and automatically close when exposed to rain. An auxiliary marine battery that recharges when the vehicle engine is running keeps the fans going while the truck is parked, whether it's at a diner or hotel. A fan that is run from the truck battery for a few hours may drain the battery, preventing the vehicle from starting and possibly overheating the dogs if it loses power.
I don't incorporate water-storage tanks in our toppers or trailers. It's not convenient to fill them when we're traveling, and they can freeze when the temperature drops. Portable water containers can be moved to the water source and to areas protected from freezing.
The same features incorporated into the design of our truck toppers are included in our pull-behind trailers. Dog trailers have several advantages: They can transport more dogs; they offer the versatility of adding as many storage compartments as desired by incorporating them into the design; and they can be unhooked, allowing the dogs to remain at the base of operations while you make a trip to town.
Our pull-along unit has the ability to transport a four-wheeler on the back. We have storage boxes built into the ATV carrying area to allow the storage of five-gallon water jugs and gas cans. Another benefit of a trailer is that stakeout rings can be attached, making it convenient to tie out dogs for bathroom breaks or feeding.
When designing a trailer, your imagination and checking account are the only limitations. We have a slide-out gun drawer for safely carrying shotguns and ammo. There is a built-in clothes closet with a separate area to keep our boots and wet gear. There are drawers for our vet supplies and tools. We also have a small refrigerator to keep our canine medications cool and an occasional bottle of wine chilled. We have an awning mounted on the trailer for getting out of the sun or rain. Just because you're on the road doesn't mean you and your dogs have to be punished.
Our toppers and trailers are designed and built by Mountain Top Custom Kennels. Ainley, Jones Trailer and Shamrock/Tyler Coach are all manufacturers of quality products and build units that will transport dogs safely and in style.
When Dogs Fly
Our clients often ship dogs to us on commercial airlines for training, and we often fly puppies to new homes as well. Yes, airlines can be a pain, but they really are good when it comes to the safety of canines.
If you are sending a dog on a flight, you will need a veterinarian's health certificate as well as a temperature acclimation form, stating the range of temperatures the dog can safely tolerate. The health certificate must be dated within 10 days of flying.
The dog's airline-approved crate will need to be large enough for the dog to stand fully and turn around. Two water dishes must be attached to the inside of the door, to allow for watering and feeding.
When flying a dog out of the country, check several months in advance to see what documentation is needed. Canada is easy, but many countries and Hawaii can have involved regulations. Also keep in mind that regulations change, so check before each trip and plan well in advance to make sure you're not caught off guard at the last minute.
George Hickox's DVD "Training Pointing Dogs" covers developing a gundog from puppy to polished performer. It can be ordered by visiting www.georgehickox.com.
When it comes to traveling the highways and byways with your dog, safety is the first priority. Next the dog's comfort is worth careful consideration. If a dog has to endure cramped quarters for any length of time, muscle stiffness and soreness may set in. A dog that does not feel well will not train or hunt well. Your dog deserves more than a second-class coach ticket when crated for road travel. First class is the way to go.
Decisions regarding a dog's travel accommodations are dictated by the owner's wallet and by how many dogs are traveling. A customized dog trailer may be the way to go for the four-dog owner but may be hard to justify (and amortize) for the one-dog owner. For owners traveling with two or more dogs, the choice should come down to truck toppers or trailers.
Let's talk about toppers first. When shopping for a topper, you first need to figure out how many dog compartments you'll need. Consider oversizing by an extra hole or two for additional dogs for a couple of reasons. For one, imagine that your buddy has a topo map marked with woodcock coverts and has offered to take you hunting if you pay for gas and chauffeur him and his dog. For another, it's hard to add more compartments to a topper or trailer once it's built. (In fact, excess capacity can provide perfect justification for acquiring a new Lab for the duck blind or a pointer for the uplands.)
Toppers come in all shapes, sizes and materials. They include everything from snowmobile trailers with dog crates tied on to homemade designs made of plywood to high-tech affairs sporting every bell & whistle. Travel units made from fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel or a combination of these are the norm for toppers built by well-known manufacturers.
Stainless-steel toppers, which are what we have, are more expensive but offer advantages. Stainless steel can withstand the rigors of road travel extremely well and will not rust. A stainless floor is easy to clean and cannot be destroyed by a dog. Aluminum floors may cause dogs to take on a grayish hue. Fiberglass is not as durable and can be harmful to dogs if ingested.
Toppers can be made for any make of truck with any size bed. Options include fans, locks, storage compartments, water tanks, interior and exterior lights, backup lights, ventilation and door configurations.
Our doors all lock with a key, and they have an additional snap that further prevents them from inadvertently opening. I recently heard of a dog that jumped out of a moving truck when the self-locking mechanism on the door failed. Pay special attention to the safety locking mechanics on the doors.
Our doors also have their motion damped by hydraulic arms. Anyone who has tried to deal with the South Dakota wind pulling doors from their hinges will appreciate this feature.
Design-wise, the dog compartment should not have a lip at the front where the door meets the floor, as this will make cleaning the box difficult.
Inside and outside lights are helpful, and an outside spotlight is a real plus when feeding and staking out dogs at night. Of course with interior lights, dogs should not be able to get to the wiring or bulbs.
We have fans mounted on the roofs of both our toppers and trailers. A dog housed in a well-ventilated box with fans sucking out the heat can travel comfortably in 90-plus-degree weather. The fans mounted on our travel units have rain sensors and automatically close when exposed to rain. An auxiliary marine battery that recharges when the vehicle engine is running keeps the fans going while the truck is parked, whether it's at a diner or hotel. A fan that is run from the truck battery for a few hours may drain the battery, preventing the vehicle from starting and possibly overheating the dogs if it loses power.
I don't incorporate water-storage tanks in our toppers or trailers. It's not convenient to fill them when we're traveling, and they can freeze when the temperature drops. Portable water containers can be moved to the water source and to areas protected from freezing.
The same features incorporated into the design of our truck toppers are included in our pull-behind trailers. Dog trailers have several advantages: They can transport more dogs; they offer the versatility of adding as many storage compartments as desired by incorporating them into the design; and they can be unhooked, allowing the dogs to remain at the base of operations while you make a trip to town.
Our pull-along unit has the ability to transport a four-wheeler on the back. We have storage boxes built into the ATV carrying area to allow the storage of five-gallon water jugs and gas cans. Another benefit of a trailer is that stakeout rings can be attached, making it convenient to tie out dogs for bathroom breaks or feeding.
When designing a trailer, your imagination and checking account are the only limitations. We have a slide-out gun drawer for safely carrying shotguns and ammo. There is a built-in clothes closet with a separate area to keep our boots and wet gear. There are drawers for our vet supplies and tools. We also have a small refrigerator to keep our canine medications cool and an occasional bottle of wine chilled. We have an awning mounted on the trailer for getting out of the sun or rain. Just because you're on the road doesn't mean you and your dogs have to be punished.
Our toppers and trailers are designed and built by Mountain Top Custom Kennels. Ainley, Jones Trailer and Shamrock/Tyler Coach are all manufacturers of quality products and build units that will transport dogs safely and in style.
When Dogs Fly
Our clients often ship dogs to us on commercial airlines for training, and we often fly puppies to new homes as well. Yes, airlines can be a pain, but they really are good when it comes to the safety of canines.
If you are sending a dog on a flight, you will need a veterinarian's health certificate as well as a temperature acclimation form, stating the range of temperatures the dog can safely tolerate. The health certificate must be dated within 10 days of flying.
The dog's airline-approved crate will need to be large enough for the dog to stand fully and turn around. Two water dishes must be attached to the inside of the door, to allow for watering and feeding.
When flying a dog out of the country, check several months in advance to see what documentation is needed. Canada is easy, but many countries and Hawaii can have involved regulations. Also keep in mind that regulations change, so check before each trip and plan well in advance to make sure you're not caught off guard at the last minute.
George Hickox's DVD "Training Pointing Dogs" covers developing a gundog from puppy to polished performer. It can be ordered by visiting www.georgehickox.com.
- By: George Hickox
