Dwayners
Toronto, ON
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Posts:271
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| 10/14/2009 12:27 PM |
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I went to bed late the other night and Michigan snuggled right up to my chest when I got in. Par for the course but I really enjoy it.
My experience in the coder climes is that they quite like wearing coats in the winter, it's a matter of finding them in a suitable size. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 10/14/2009 1:35 PM |
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Uh,maybe nobody noticed,but -
this is a lean,mean hunting machine of a breed - kinda humiliating putting a coat on them.
If you must, try a neoprene vest,camo if at all possible.
GSPs all over the world will appriciate your efforts.
Thanks.
Now, more seriously,my guys are like Texasbelles.As long as they can keep moving they don't shiver in extreme cold. And they will not mind getting wet. Actually,I don't think Bregon has the word shiver in his vocabulary. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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JoeyBean
Albany, NY
MH
Posts:315
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| 10/14/2009 2:01 PM |
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Thats funny pixie bee- exactly what the breeder said when we asked that question-- then they showed us pictures of the pups mom hunting in the snow.
she just seems really cold when shes outside..... |
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TessaGA
Georgia
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Posts:2387
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| 10/14/2009 2:05 PM |
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Tessa jumped in the lake when she was 5 months old, it was in the 30s with a good wind chill going. I didn't expect that and pulled her right out, but she wanted to go back, and again next time we were at the lake. BUT: as Bev said, the puppies are still more prone to hypothermia, so I took her straight back to the car to dry her off and drove her home with the heat going. She was shivering pretty badly, she just didn't know it.
I am from Georgia so no issue with winter weather usually. 30's, 40's, 50's in the daytime.
In the end, it also depends on how accustomed the dog is to the outdoor climate - summer or winter. If mostly an indoor dog, he/she will have to adjust to working in extreme temperatures. If it's an outside/kennel dog at least some of the day, that should make a difference.
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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wgspr rescue
Milwaukee, WI
MH
Posts:630
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| 10/14/2009 2:33 PM |
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I honestly don't see what is wrong with putting a doggie jacket on a shorthaired dog? Mine both have jackets for our cold Wisconsin winters. Shorthairs do not have an undercoat of hair to keep them warm. Joey needs a jacket! |
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Lisa C. Rossman
WI GSP Rescue, Inc (wgspr.com)
"Until there are none, rescue just one!"
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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| 10/14/2009 4:24 PM |
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I guess I just agree with the description pixie gave of the mean lean hunting machine. Besides none of mine like jackets. Halo and Ringo also seem impervious to cold and have from a young age. Belle doesn't like cold, but won't be caught dead in a coat. She pulls them off. So, my remedy is to make sure they are acclimated to both the winter weather and summer weather. Since I do allot of outdoor stuff year round this is pretty important anyway. They like it outside during the day, gives me some peace for work,so out they go in the morning. The come in for a visit at lunch when I take a break and then back out until dinner. They have lots to do in the yard and have a covered patio and a kennel if they want to nap. Most nice days though find all my dogs out either laying on the grass or chasing squirrels or playing with toys. They do not, however, stay out at night or in severe weather. Even if I brought them in during the day they would ask to go out and often do when the weather is bad. I have to show them when the weather is bad or they make me crazy wanting out. Even then they want to check the weather every hour or so just to make sure.
By the way, if they are out allot in the cold they will develop a nice winter coat. It is also important to not bathe them too often as they get a very nice protective oil in their coats that also repels water. When their coat is in tip top condition and they get wet they almost look like they have seal skin. The oily rough outer coat protects and insulates them from water. The rough coat also protects them from branches, thorns, etc. Unfortunately, allot of GSPs no longer have the proper coat texture. I talked to a judge once about this because she commented about how nice it was to see a proper coat when she judged Halo. She used to raise and show shorthairs so she knew what the proper coat was supposed to be, but many of the shorthairs showing today have a much thinner and softer coat which unfortunately offers poor protection.
This is not something most of us think about, but is important for a hunting or outdoor dog. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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wems2371
Eastern Iowa
MH
Posts:169
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| 10/14/2009 4:25 PM |
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No hunting dog sissys here , but we do keep sweaters on hand for our girls. Iowa gets coooold .
Forgot to add, that we don't use them on a regular basis, but they are nice to have on hand. I'm not sure what the coldest day was that we hunted in last year...maybe in the teens or less. Dog did fine as long as she was moving. And when she wasn't moving, it meant we were in the truck headed onward. I have a neoprene for icy water work, like when we went duck hunting on Saturday, and it was 35 degrees. But for casual wear, my Roxi acts like her 5 mil is the stiffest gear on the planet, and doesn't even like to sit when wearing it. My dogs all live in the house, so I've come across a few times where the temp difference was so extreme, that I thought it was appropriate to sweater them when being outside and inactive.
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Countrysides Red Hot Roxi
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=1176
Snips Bring It On Brandi
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=1711 |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
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Posts:3166
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| 10/14/2009 4:59 PM |
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I am pro-coats.
Since we live in the Ottawa Valley, we get very cold (-20 to -25 C in the winter, and it's a humid cold). No way am I letting my skinny little muckamucks out without a coat on.
I don't care if they don't or shouldn't need it, it makes me feel better. And it makes being outside more pleasant for them. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 10/14/2009 5:06 PM |
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| TB,I'm glad you bring up the coat texture issue. This is so important to the breed, yet is overlooked so often. I think most people aren't even aware that this IS an issue in the breed. And in my eyes will separate an otherwise equal litter. Haiko has the correct coat but I am extremely pleased with Bregon's coat. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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| 10/14/2009 5:17 PM |
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| pixie - I think the standard is part of the problem with the coat texture. The explanation leaves much to interpretation. Many people do not have a clue as to what it should be like. Frankly, I had an idea, but not a clear picture until I had the discussion with the judge last year and we went into a pretty deep discussion with poor Halo as the guinea pig. Thankfully the judge thought her coat was great and didn't have any criticisms. In fact, I think that was the deciding factor when she put Halo up as Best of Winners that day. She made a comment in the ring about being glad to see a GSP with the correct coat. It does make a huge difference in how they tolerate temps both on land and in water and also how they can stay injury free in brush and such. They also shed burrs and stuff better with a coarse coat. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 10/14/2009 5:44 PM |
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This is what I look for in a coat:
medium course-course outer hairs with a dense undercoat. It's not the length that protects it's the texture and density. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 10/15/2009 12:30 PM |
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| I also look for long(er) belly hair. In my view of the breed this is a must and should be put into all standards. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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CL66
MH
Posts:419
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| 10/15/2009 12:47 PM |
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Not sure if this would show up well in a photo, but do you have a close up picture of what the 'ideal' coat should look like, and how old is a dog when it's proper coat comes through, or do they have them from a puppy? |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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| 10/15/2009 1:05 PM |
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| Halo's coat was fairly coarse when she was a pup. She also has the belly hair that pixie talks about. The real texture though showed up after she was an adult. Ringo's is similar, but his hair seems a tad less coarse, but thicker. He also has the belly hair. It may just be that he has more solid liver spots on him. The liver colored hair does not seem to be quite as coarse on shorthairs as the lighter or white hair. I don't have any pictures that really show it, but when you pet the dog the coat should feel coarse and rough to the touch. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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CL66
MH
Posts:419
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| 10/15/2009 1:10 PM |
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Hmm - rupert's coat is fairly short and very smooth and soft, but rough when smoothed against the natural lie of the hair. Not sure if i'm planning to show him yet as I may have to have him castrated but it's always good to know these things, thanks. |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 10/15/2009 1:31 PM |
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Tessa's hair was NAVHDA judged medium harsh-medium dense at 9 months.
A lot of GSPs that I have seen seem to have thinner shorter coats compared to Tessa's. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 10/15/2009 1:52 PM |
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It would be difficult to show in a picture. It is more of a touchy-feely thing.
Belly hair is easy to see. The courseness is easier when you have touched many dogs.The density is easy to see under the top course hairs, the hairs should be tightly knit. The type of hair will show as early as 3-6months old,depending on the genes.If a dog's got it,it's got it. If I had to choose I would pick density over courseness.
The correct coat is essential to the function of the breed and in my book is right up there with conformation. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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| 10/15/2009 2:07 PM |
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| Actually, it should be considered part of conformation as in conforming to the standard. The hair is explicitly described in the all the standards for GSPs. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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bravepoint
North Gower, ON Canada
MH
Posts:894
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| 10/16/2009 6:00 AM |
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I'm with everbell.... At -40 C without the wind chill, my dogs are wearing coats! I don't think anyone would laugh or think they look silly. They need their exercise and that's the only way we can stand those frigid temps. I don't think the weather in Texas or NY ever comes close to Ottawa.....
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Gail, Moka, Avery, Terra & Rayne
Bravepoint GSPs
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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| 10/16/2009 6:57 AM |
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| I agree the TX winters don't match up tot he winters in Ottawa, and if it does then we are probably in another Ice Age. One reason I live in TX is the mild winters. : ) |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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