Too Cold?

[Dexter]

How cold is to cold for your dogs? Iend up not going out on days 0 or below and try not to turn out under 10 just dont want to hurt my dogs curious of other oppinions....

[BIGBLUES]

I leave all the older dogs at home when its colder than about 10, and don't turn out the others below 0. It depends if there is any wind chill and what the weather ahead looks like.

[406hound]

I agree more and more with the 0 degree limit. zero or just below may be fine if it is supposed to get sunny n tap on 20 later. I caught a female today. Turned out when -6 hoping for a short race since track was so hot. Ended up being a physically demanding race for the dogs. My male burnt up everything he had in his tank running the race and keeping himself warm while being treed for 3 hours. By the time we got back to the truck he was shutting down. Should have known better because he seemed a little under the weather to start. Its a takes a lot of energy for a dog to stay alive in below zero weather let alone running a race and holding tree. They only have so much in their gas tank.

[twist]

If dogs are conditioned 0 should not even be a factor if the sun is out. Andy

[oswald]

I know guys that caught lions in the high mtns of Colorado at -40. I couldn't take it colder than 20 below and I worry about the dogs doing damage to their lungs when it is much below zero.

[horshur]

I have run them -30c and caught I didn't think the dogs suffered any but sure want to play the deck close..short chase err on the side of caution....biggest worry if they got away on me and end up spending a night or two out.My dogs couldn't cold trail in that temp anyhow.

[Dexter]

Thanks guys its just hard not to go out when you have good snow especially in my neck of the woods snow conditions can be hard to come by..

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[iinvno1]

Well I went out the last few days and caught critters but drew the line today. Turned loose on a bob from the night before and they had a rough go of it and eventually bumped a lion and treed that. I run my dogs all year and they are in good shape however cold burns them up quick. Too many things can happen in my opinion to take the chance.

[LBell]

Twist said it right. "If dogs are conditioned". I think that is what makes the difference. Take the time to tune them up, I also always feed the night before I hunt and make sure there is fresh water. If the sun is out and it's not blowing sideways dogs should be fine, if the get cold start a fire.......

[FullCryHounds]

Took this picture this morning. Then turned around and went home. When I left the house, it was -8 which is pushing the safe limits. Two weeks ago, another local Houndsman lost a dog.
11 days later (2 days ago) my brother found his dog, thin but OK.
So the lesson here is even if your dogs are conditioned and in great shape, after 11 days out, I don't think that little female would have faired very well. She was saved just in time. Another reason to run your old telemetry along side your Garmin.

[dwalton]

I have hunted in 20 to 25 below and caught lion in Utah. 10 to 15 below in Oregon and sunny California. For bobcat it is hard trailing in that cold of weather but can be done. I lost a dog in 10 to 15 below for 9 days got her back in bad shape, she died 6 months later with kidney failure. Water for the dogs and food that gives them the energy to burn is the key. Anytime you take a dog in the woods you stand a chance of loosing it. Always look at what it will cost and is it worth it today? Dewey

[scottb]

I keep my dogs conditioned all off season. No matter how much roading, etc. they get i don't believe for a second they are in hunting shape their first few races! it is impossible to replicate. I try to use common sense and pay attention to the hounds. These conditions a month into the season are no problem, the first week they certainly could be. a little pregame meal for the potlickers ain't a bad idea either. -5 or so at the house means -10 to -20 in the mountains. Just my opinion, not worth much.

[twist]

-20 last night and still -15 at 10:30am today stayin home to many good days coming to take a chance on something shitty happening. Andyi

[FullCryHounds]

-18 all morning. Found about 300 elk but not a single cat track. Our cats just don't move much when it's this cold out. Anyone else see the same thing.

[BIGBLUES]

I have been seeing a lot of cat and lion tracks since the cold snap hit. Critters gotta move when its this cold out.