BigGameHoundsmen.com

Alright folks, let me have it on what i need to do to keep my southern breed dogs ready for winter, since its snowing now we already have 4" and its still coming down, and later this winter i'll be hunting in 10* weather.
Thanks

i would say jus keep em comfortable. i use a heat light in my dog house. and when i take em hunting put hay or a blanket in your box, its about all you can do they should get used to it.

When it gets real cold like it is now, I feed them late in the day, or early evening, and mix hot water with their dog food. It helps keep them warm at night, and keeps them hydrated. they won't always drink what they should when it gets real cold. Softer food will tend to build up on their teeth, but some pig ears or hard biscuts, will help with that. Straw is better than shavings in the winter also. it won't get wet and freeze into a brick, it lets the moisture go through it, and the dogs will make themselves a nest in it. I also put a flap over their doors, my friend just staples an old tee shirt up, i use some old rubber roofing, it keeps the wind out and helps hold the heat. Only the old retired dogs, or real young ones get heat, the others have to hunt in the winter, so need to be somewhat used to it.

A heavy duty mudflap for semi's works great for the flap over the door.They are super tough and dogs have a hard time chewing them up.

One thing I do in addition to the hot water is toss in some bacon fat or oil. It seems to give them a little more energy when I give it to them in their food the night before hunting or after a hunt.

MOONSHINE ,THE UP SIDE IS THIS IS NOT COLD COUNTRY. THE SECOND THING IS ELEVATE THE BODY FAT A LITTLE JUST IN CASE A DOG SPENDS A NIGHT OUT. IN YOUR AREA IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A DOG TO SPEND A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. UNLESS HE WANTS TO OR GOES INTO MARYS PEAK GATED AREA THAT YOU CAN'T GET TO. I HAVE NEVER LEFT A DOG OUT IN YOUR AREA IN 37 YEARS OF HUNTING THE COASTAL REGION. EXCEPT WHEN FIRMLY PLANTED ON A BEAR TREE OVER NIGHT PRIOR TO 1994. ALL ABOVE ADVICE FROM OTHER HUNTERS IS GOOD STUFF. GOOD LUCK.

Thanks guys, I still have to build my riggin rack on top of my box, but I will have the top carpeted soon as well, and i have plans on cutting up mud flap and putting it over the holes I have normally in the box.
I took the pups out tonight on my buddies 600 acres out in philomath, and they loved it, they still are too inexperience though to know what tracks to follow.
Btw my dog box is always filled with straw, which I need to empty soon since i think my blue to a dump in it, and i kinda plan on sleeping in the box with the pups when we head over to Madras to get on some yote and hog come early January, and after seeing the temp today at -7, I think I got the right idea hudeling with a bunch of mobile warmers, lol.
Btw, if anyone wants some good yote or cat hunting in oregon, my friend wants to let hound hunters on his property to take out his HUGE yote population as well as his kitties. The catch is though yall have to have dogs that can train mine, lol.

my hounds hunt out in the Catskillls no matter what the weather. my southern bred hound is more inclined to come back than he is in warmer weather!

most hounds are fine no matter how cold as long as they keep moving. some tear up their feet and slow down, though...that can get them in trouble. check paws when they get home after a hunt, and let ones with torn pads rest up between hunts.