One of the hardest parts of welcoming hunting dogs into our hearts and lives is the lamentably short time we share with them. No matter how many years you spend together, irrespective of the volumes of memories forged in the field or blind, it’s a universally shared sentiment that you’ve been robbed of time when they’ve reached the end of the road. 

Few outdoor pursuits fuel the desire for a road trip more than bird hunting. With an incredible diversity of species and habitat, there’s hardly a better way to sample all the wingshooting options this country offers than loading up the dogs and hitting the open road.

Most porcupine encounters can be managed with a bit of common sense and some basic tools. However, there are times when it’s much safer, more effective, and less stressful to seek help from a veterinarian. Knowing when to channel your DIY tendencies and when to tap out and seek a professional can make a difference in the outcome of a porcupine encounter. 

For some, the idea of having their male hunting dog sire a litter seems like a good way to preserve that emotional bond and carry it into the future. For others, it’s a well-meaning but misguided attempt to create a carbon copy of their cherished companion.

While I have no regrets about the pups I’ve welcomed into my home over the years, I’ve seen many unfortunate situations in my career where new sporting dog owners didn’t do their homework. You owe it to yourself—and to your future dog—to learn from a few of these mistakes.

As a veterinarian focused on canine reproduction, I’ve found that many clients don’t fully understand the freezing process or lack realistic expectations for pregnancy success when breeding to frozen semen. Often, breeders are unaware of the costs, effort, and outcomes associated with this approach.

For better or worse, burrowing grass awns are now forever part of the fabric of the rugged Western uplands. On the upside, their parent plants provide a green protein source for birds and wild ungulates, and they generate thick chick-rearing cover that sprouts faster than most native grasses. However, their seeds are notorious for burrowing under the skin and migrating incredible distances in the subcutaneous layer.

As a fellow bird hunter and sporting dog enthusiast (as well as a veterinarian) I’m always on the lookout for tech that enhances both the hunting experience and preserves the well-being of my canine companions. I’ve been a strong advocate of electronic collars for years, both as a way to humanely and quickly train sporting dogs and as a means of promoting their safety in the field.

Anyone who has spent enough time with hunting dogs knows they share one undeniable trait: They’re expensive. If you haven't yet felt the financial strain of managing your hunting dog’s health, it's only a matter of time before you do. From gear and performance food to GPS collars and emergency vet visits, there are countless ways to spend your hard-earned money on your hunting dog. And that list doesn't even include gear, shells, gas, or hunting licenses.

When it comes to their medical care, hunters want to partner with a veterinarian who understands their needs and those of their canine athletes. Based on my experience and crowdsourced feedback, here are five essential qualities the sporting dog community prioritizes when trying to find a hunting dog veterinarian:

For gun dog owners, few moments are more gut-wrenching than those following a snakebite. Encounters with rattlesnakes are fraught with fear and chaos as hunters rush to triage their dog and face the prospect of a life-threatening reaction.

Canine athletes are incredibly efficient metabolic machines that can create tremendous amounts of heat while burning energy. It’s a physiological trait that helps them achieve impressive feats of athleticism, but in hot ambient temperatures it can also become a liability.