Dogs for the desert

WaylandCanyon

Member
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60
When I first daydreamed of getting a quail dog after I move to southern New Mexico this fall, I was concerned about the heat. Then I realized that quail seasons typically run from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15, when days are really pretty mild.
I have had Brittanies in the past, and am thinking a Brit might make a fine choice.
I am a bit worried about snakebite, but believe that would be a much larger concern from spring through early fall. There is a snake vaccine available now that gives a dog a better chance of surviving a bite, and you can also have dogs trained to avoid snakes.
Any New Mexico bird hunters here with thoughts on dogs, quail and the New Mexico desert?
Love to hear from you!
 
I have hunted the New Mexico quail season from Opening Day to Closing and never encountered a rattle snake. As far as weather, it can still get pretty warm even during the middle of winter but I just keep an eye on the forecast and head out on the cooler and calmer days. Chasing those scaled quail on warm 60+ degree days can get hot in a hurry, especially for the dogs!
 
you can only train a dog to stay away from a snake it has seen or heard ,I had a dog get bit just running over it.I am more concerned with a swarm of bees will your dog run with you or stop and bit at the bees,your choice to stop for the dog is a bad one , do you carry a can of raid.I run labs from 100 degrees plus for dove to -20 for waterfowl its a tough breed and with bird on the brain it does not matter what bird your after, and with a birdy dog you will need pliers for cactus.When hard after chuckar I cant put my dogs together because there feet only seem to last about a day and I can use a fresh one the next day and it seems as if I see at least one rattler when after chuckar even in fairly cold weather, but in cold they are less likely to get bit even when walking over one.You have alot of choices if your only after quail, good luck
 
I only have a duck dog so snakes & cactus aren't normally a problem during hunting season. However, I take my dog on hikes in the Sandia foothills and she has twice run over rattlesnakes, luckily did not get bit. I've put her on the rattlesnake vaccine, and now keep her on a shorter leash. Still had a close encounter last Summer with a non-aggressive rattler sitting on the side of the trail, I almost stepped on it.
 
Look up the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) online. Ken Burnetto (president in Albuquerque area) would be a great contact to find information about snake awareness and avoidance for hunting dogs. You can also contact Rick Rigsby at 505-235-6787 who has ran the last couple snake training events. They usually have classes two to three times a year where they go out to the field and use live rattlesnakes that have been defanged. Great class for teaching you and your dog to avoid rattlesnakes. Link is below for information.

http://www.navhda.us/ChapterInfo.aspx?ChapterAbbrev=ZIA
 
The NM Chapter of NAVHDA web address is www.navhdazia.com. There is also a facebook page. The Zia Chapter holds Rattle Snake Aversion Clinic Days. Go to the chapter?s website or facebook page for clinic dates. It is a good thing to put any dog through. The clinic isn't just for hunting dogs. Dog owners bring all kinds of dogs, so the dogs can be taught to avoid snakes. The Zia Chapter is made up of a group avid bird dog owners. Anyone training bird dogs can benefit greatly from all the combined bird dog training knowledge of the Chapter members. For anyone interested in learning more you can also go the national web site www.navhda.org.

SWB
 
LT: I am leaning Brittany because I have had them and I like their size. But I find the German Wirehairs very tempting. Big fan of the "ugly dogs."
 
Also, +1 what SWB said, we're having a snake clinic mid August near Moriarty, we are serving lunch, feel free to drop in
 
By the way, I asked a veterinarian friend about what he thinks of the Red Rock vaccine, and this was his reply:

I will try to get to that thread and see what is being said, however I do administer a number of Rattlesnake vaccines every year. The first dog I vaccinated with it got bit in the face by a small snake about 2 weeks after the completion of the series. That was a West Highland White terrier that lived about 45 minutes from my clinic. If it had not been vaccinated it would have most likely been dead by the time they got it to the clinic, however it just needed minimal treatment and went home the next day. Needless to say I am a believer. Last year I had a 2 week run where we had 6 dogs bit by rattlesnakes, 3 were vaccinated, 3 were not. The three that were vaccinated got fluids antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication and went home in 12-24 hours. The three that were not vaccinated all lived but they had a minimum of 3 days in hospital and had to be treated with anti-venom which is horrendously expensive so while I got them through it their owners had bills about 4 times higher than the ones that were vaccinated.
 
Pretty serious quail hunter and dog trainer. I use to field trial but got sick of dealing with horses. It boils down to what you enjoy. For me it's extreme style, athleticism, toughness and bird finding ability. Answer the pointer! Word of caution they are not for the faint of heart and will run until they find birds. I've killed all four species of our quail over points of 800 yards by my garmin. Most people don't want to walk that far so pointers are for everyone. I have trained and owned just about every pointing breed out there and I only own pointers now. Some of our dogs on our birds.


Let me know if your interested, I will have some started dogs for sale around the beginning of the season.
 
CMAC, I think I saw that sweet video at Versatile Dogs. I started a thread on closer-working dogs there. My issue is that after a second back surgery I can't walk as far or as fast as I used to. Having to hurry to a point a half-mile off just may not be in my cards anymore. Sure admire your dogs!
 
I don't think you can go wrong with any of the 4 pointing breeds you mentioned.

I got a Brittany when I was 12 years old. That dog taught me to hunt pheasants back when there were pheasants everywhere north of Sacramento.

Then I got a wire hair and ran those for 27 years, mostly chukar and quail in NE Kali and Nevada. Better breed for cold weather IMHO. Would go back to GWP in a second.

About 9 years ago I had an old GWP and needed a youngster. Couldn't find a GWP so I picked up a GSP. Best bird dog I every had. He got hurt too early in life which shortened his career. I've got his daughter and his babie's momma. Both good but not great like him.

I currently hunt birds 30-40 days a year but in a couple of years that will increase to 60-90 easily so I'm planning for the future. And pointers intrigue me. Have several friends that breed them, hunt them and field trial them but haven't decided yet. 3-4 quality dogs is my goal. I like hunting them in pairs and early season chukar, back to back days are pretty tough on em..

For warmer weather I may steer away from the GWP but I hunted Az quail with mine, in Dec/Jan.
 
Thanks guys. That was our first attempt at making a video and I was skeptical but I think it came out well considering it was only a day and a half of hunting. In all honesty I keep my dogs at 250 yards and in 95% of the time. I do love when the garmin tells me they are on point a long ways away and you get to a high spot and see them all stacked up!
 

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