Field Gear

When I was young, my family didn’t have sporting dogs, but we did have a menagerie of mutts and hounds that got me started on the path to becoming a dog person. It wasn’t until after college that I ended up with my first true sporting breed: a pound-rescued black Lab I called Dublin. I tried training Dublin myself, but I quickly figured out that the big-boned dog did a better job learning on his own.
    Dublin and his successor, Aengus (another black Lab), also taught me that owning a hunting dog is kind of like having a baby: You need a lot of stuff. I have an entire cabinet dedicated to dog gear, each shelf brimming with everything from bumpers to bird wings to tinctures for various ailments. And that doesn’t count what’s in the garage, including dog crates, field blinds, water dishes and other traveling gear.
    After more than a dozen years owning sporting dogs, you’d think I’d have everything I wanted, yet manufacturers keep coming out with cool new products I just have to get my paws on. Some of them fall into the “need” category—others are just “wants.” I’ll let you decide what category they fit in for you.

SportDog Upland Hunter 1875
This new training-collar/beeper system lets you walk that fine line between controlling a big-running dog and letting it do the job it was bred for. A system is just what the Upland 1875 is, too, combining both a training receiver and a programmable beeper onto one thin (3/4") collar. A single compact transmitter controls both.
    The transmitter, which measures 2-1/4" (w) x 4" (h)—with another 3-1/2" of rigid antenna—will be familiar to anyone who has handled a SportDog training collar. Controls on the face of the transmitter primarily activate the training receiver, with both continuous and momentary stimulation buttons and an intensity dial.
    Rather than a smooth rheostat, the intensity dial creates a positive click at each of eight settings, so there’s no question about adjustment. (Interestingly, the accompanying literature states that the collar delivers seven levels of stimulation, so I’m not sure what the eighth setting is for.) My Lab hunts close, so I wasn’t able to put the stated one-mile range to the test.
     On the left side of the transmitter a locator button activates the beeper; on the right side a button cycles through three settings: silent, 5 seconds (time between beeps) and 10 seconds. A recessed button on the back selects from nine different tones, including various beeps, hawk screams and a quail call. SportDog claims that the loud beep can be heard from 500 yards. My tests didn’t quite stretch that far, but I will say it can be heard from at least half that distance on a windy, western Nebraska day.
    The entire system recharges in just two hours and comes in bright hunter orange, providing a nice measure of visibility for both your dog and the receiver (should you misplace either one). All three components are also waterproof and submersible to 25 feet. Overkill maybe, but a nice feature if your pointing dog doubles as a duck dog. Price is $379.95.
    SportDog, 800-732-0144; www.sportdog.com.

Gear Keeper Retractable Holster
Proving that innovation knows no bounds, the technology behind the Gear Keeper Retractable Holster was developed by SCUBA enthusiasts looking for a way to keep flashlights and other small gear close at hand. Now nearly 20 years later retractable tethers are used for such diverse applications as law enforcement, fire fighting and hunting and fishing.
     Before I got my hands on a Gear Keeper Retractable Holster, I kept my e-collar transmitter tethered around my neck. This ensured against loss, but it wasn’t the best solution, as the transmitter was often in the way. Special pockets on hunting vests work, too, but they still result in some fumbling and don’t eliminate the threat of loss. The Retractable Holster not only provides a home for your transmitter but also secures it to your body.
    Sewn inside the rugged Cordura pocket is a spring-loaded retractor spooled with Spectra (the same material as braided fishing line) that attaches to your transmitter via a quick-release lanyard. Pull the transmitter from the holster and the line extends approximately three feet, keeping you tethered to your electronics. (The Gear Keeper also works with GPS units, rangefinders and other gear.) After you’re done, just let the transmitter go and it slides back to the holster. A bungee cord snaps in place over the opening to keep the transmitter from sliding out when the holster becomes inverted.
    The Gear Keeper Retractable Holster comes in two sizes: a small version, with interior measurements of 2-1/4" (w) x 1-1/4" (d) x 3-3/4" (h) that fits most contemporary transmitters, and a medium version, which measures 2" x 1-1/4" x 5-1/2" and accommodates larger transmitters such as those by Tri-Tronics. Prices are $37.99 and $39.99.
    Hammerhead Industries, 805-658-9922; www.gearkeeper.com.

Cut-Heal Pad Heal Ointment
Like hunters, sporting dogs can get a little soft during the off-season, and opening day can be tough on a dog that spent its summer lounging in the shade. A dog’s feet can be particularly problematic if the dog hasn’t run much and toughened up its pads.
    That’s just what I encountered years ago with my old Lab, Dublin. He spent opening day retrieving doves, and it wasn’t until we got home that evening that the battle wounds began to show. Watching a 100-pound Lab try to walk on tiptoes might sound funny, but it isn’t when it’s your dog and his pads are so cut up that he can’t place any weight on them.
    My vet recommended Pad Heal ointment, which the local farm and ranch store happened to have in stock. It took only two applications of what I now consider a wonder balm to get Dublin back on his feet and ready to hunt the next day. The thick salve is made from a blend of linseed, menhaden and vitriol oil, turpentine, balsam fir and beeswax. The ingredients not only help heal the affected area but also strengthen and protect the pads and webbing to prevent further injury.
    Since discovering the capabilities of Pad Heal, I have never been without a jar. Now I use it as a preventative by coating my younger Lab’s paws at least once a day starting a week or two before the opener, and I haven’t had pad issues for years. The price of an 8-oz jar is $14.95.
    Cut-Heal, 800-288-4325; www.cut-heal.com.

Furminator deShedding Tool
For most bird hunters, dogs aren’t just part of the hunting kit, they’re part of the family. And part of that familial status typically includes partial or full run of the house. One problem inherent in this is the hair that often winds up throughout the house. Of the many things on the market that claim to help reduce shedding, I’ve found only one that actually works as advertised: the Furminator.
    This unique brush operates on a simple concept: The more hair you remove from your pet, the less hair will find its way into your house or onto your clothes. The device’s stainless-steel teeth target the dog’s undercoat, pulling away loose hair without damaging the top coat or skin. The first time you use it, you’ll be amazed at the clumps of hair that are removed. You definitely will want to brush your dog outside.
    The one complaint I had with the original Furminator was that I had to constantly pull clumps of hair from the comb after each stroke of the brush. The new design features a push-button Furejector that quickly and easily cleans the teeth of all hair, readying it for the next stroke. The handle has been redesigned as well for a more comfortable grip.
    There are Furminators available for just about any-size dog with either a short or long coat. I use the Large Dog Short Hair model for my Lab, and the 4" blade is just the right size. Any larger and I think it would be too unwieldy. The company also recently targeted the hunting market by introducing both hunter orange and camo models. The Furminator deShedding Tool isn’t cheap, but having a lot less dog hair in the house makes it worth it. The Large Short Hair model is $63.99.
    Furminator, 888-283-1620; www.furminator.com.

ZoomDog Thirsty Dog Hydration Tablets
I don’t know about you, but we barely had a winter this past year, at least not while hunting seasons were open. Warm temperatures and a lack of snow not only kept ducks and geese from moving south but they also made conditions unfavorably warm for walking. And if you thought you were overheating while out hunting, think about how your dog felt running two or three times farther than you hiked.
    All those miles can catch up to a sporting dog, and more than one dog has suffered severe dehydration during long days afield. New Thirsty Dog tablets from ZoomDog help prevent dehydration and maintain metabolism by replacing lost electrolytes as well as critical B vitamins and amino acids.
    Simple to use, the effervescing tablets dissolve quickly in 12 oz of water and provide enough flavor to keep even the most tired dog drinking. One bottle includes 30 tablets, enough for 10 hunts following the recommended three-times-daily maximum dosage. Price is $8.99.
    ZoomDog, 800-876-8660; www.zoomdogsupplements.com.