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The veterinarian looked over the table where the sick Labrador lay. The look on the owner's face was that of confusion and concern about the condition of his
gundog. This same lab was also his children's pet and their best friend. But the dog was in obvious distress as it convulsed and drooled.
The hunter explained to the doctor that he'd spent the day pheasant hunting with this Lab. They'd hunted hard in the warm November sun. They had taken a
couple of water break, and when the day ended, the hunter loaded the dog in a portable kennel in the back of his truck for the 2-hour ride home.
Knowing it would be a cold, windy ride for his dog the owner wrapped the kennel in a canvas tarp. He was careful to fold the canvas all the way around and
even under the box. His heart was in the right place, but his thought process almost cost him his dog.
According to respected gundog veterinarian Dr. Bob Reich of Quincy, Illinois, this dog suffered from acute stress related muscle spasms from not being allowed to
cool-off before being loaded and from asphyxiation caused by being enclosed in an unventilated environment. The dog was also expected to develop secondary respiratory problems from the event.
Dr.
Reich said this dog was lucky. He survived and recovered. Other gundogs in similar situations have been lost. His advise is simple; allow your gundog a cool-down period after the hunt, and only use properly ventilated materials to wrap your portable kennels. These are key tips in protecting both the emotional and financial investments you have in your dog.
What are the ideal characteristics of the product to wrap your portable kennel with?
As mentioned, the first concern is ventilation. This product should not only be made of a "breathable" material, but should also allow for other methods of air flow-through. The use of zippers at window vents or other tight closures must be avoided and it should have a roomy, airy fit to your kennel.
Another
important consideration is insulation. If your pets or gundogs travel in the open air of the bed of your pick-up, insulation is crucial. Materials like DuPont Hollofil® are highly recommended. And don't be mislead if you drive a sport/utility vehicle instead of a pick-up. It only takes 3 hours for the temperature inside your vehicle to reach that of the outside. If you leave your dog in there overnight, there's nothing to help it retain it's own body heat.
Durability would be another key factor for this
ideal product. It should be made "built-to-last". Both the materials and the workmanship should be of the highest possible standards. It's outer layer should be of a tough material like DuPont Cordura®, with denier ratings of 500 to 1000 and should not be accessible to chewing by puppies or bored dogs.
This ideal portable kennel cover should be designed to serve more than a single purpose. It should have storage pockets with drains to make cleaning
possible. These pockets could hold your game birds or hunting supplies. In the off-season they could be used for training aids or food and water.
The
cover could also be used as a field blind for waterfowl retrievers. And even if your retriever will sit still in the open, this camouflaged box will help keep them dry on days when the weather gets harsh. It could if it were available in camouflage patterns allow the box to disappear in the marsh or field.
Look at the contrasts between common gundog care and the care provided by this ideal portable kennel cover:
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COMMON CARE
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IDEAL CARE
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Dog works hard and gets put away wet and cold.
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Dog works hard and is put away into a warm and dry environment.
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Dog is tired and stiff from hard hunt but must expend more energy to stay warm on ride home.
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Dog is tired but comfortable as the insulated cover reduces his need to create more heat to stay warm.
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Temperature inside kennel goes down as outside temperature goes down.
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Kennel stays warm inside and is also ventilated to keep dog safe.
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Dog takes days to recover from hunt and transport.
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Dog leaves kennel warm, rested & ready to go again.
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Motel rules and hunting partner won't let dog stay inside.
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Dog is perfectly comfortable and safe in properly covered portable kennel in your locked vehicle.
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These are just a few examples of how this ideal product should perform. It should totally
satisfy the pet's needs for warmth, dryness and safety. It should be windproof, breathable, water-resistant and have a roomy fit. You should not have to "wrestle" it onto your kennel. It
should also be multifunctional and nice to look at as well.
I believe we have just described the perfect portable kennel cover. I think we'll all agree that a
product with these characteristics is both very necessary and long overdue. But does such a product exist? IT sure does and it's called the "BUDDY'S PAL™" and it has been designed and
is being manufactured by Longshot Outfitters, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri.
Members of Upland and Hunting Retriever Dog Club's will be happy to learn that the "BUDDY'S
PAL™" kennel cover comes in three popular sizes; Intermediate, 32" x 23" x 23", Large, 36" x
26" x 26", and Extra Large, 40" x 30" x 30". Also of interest to waterfowlers is the availability of
Cornfield Camo™, Advantage®, and Advantage Wetlands®, the official D.U. camo pattern. If your tastes tend to be more traditional, a beautiful forest green color is also available.
Other important features include heavy-duty #10 YKK rust proof nylon zippers with an extra
-large zipper pull. Heavy-duty hook and loop fasteners to make window flaps easy to use, large, bound window openings for ventilation and a shock cord at the bottom edge for a snug fit.
The front door of this cover rolls back easily and has two side release buckles to hold the door
open. This cover will work with either right of left hinged doors. Deluxe models offer large, expandable cargo pockets on each side, this is the ideal portable kennel cover that we've been
describing and looking for.
But don't just take my word for it. The "BUDDY'S PAL™" is veterinarian endorsed and was
listed by "Wingshooting Dealer magazine" as one of the top 13 new wingshooting products at the 1997 SHOT SHOW. Being listed "HOT AT SHOT" is a great honor for any product.
"BUDDY'S PAL™" has also been seen in new product section of 25 major outdoor magazines, and has been tested and approved with the seal of the North American Hunting Club.
This U.S. Patent 5,881,678 and patents' pending product is a universal cover. It is designed to
fit all types of manufactured portable kennels, both plastic and wire. It also comes with a matching "tote bag" for safe off-season storage.
Outdoor organizations and hunting dog club members should keep their eyes open for raffles
for "BUDDY'S PAL™" covers at club events this year. If you're not one of the lucky winners, contact Pat Morley at Longshot Outfitters, Inc. at 1-888-HOT-DOGG, 1-888-468-3644, or fax
314-416-1718, or write for information to P.O. Box #25306, St. Louis, Missouri 63125, or www.longshotoutfitters.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike Roux is professional bird hunting guide in N.E. Missouri and S.E. Iowa. He has owned
and trained English Pointers, Brittanies, English Setters, Lewellen Setters, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. He is also the Editor of Adventure Magazine and a Regional
Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.
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