Snow problem

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Trekmoor
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Snow problem

Post by Trekmoor » Wed Dec 29, 2010 6:36 am

Some of you must have much more experience of this than I have. My spaniels feet and featherings are collecting ice balls as I work them in the snow. Snow isn't usually too much of a problem here but this year it's been snowing on and off for over a month now. So far I have trimmed back the hair on the dogs paws and legs and I've tried rubbing vaseline or olive oil into the remaining hair but still ice balls form after a while.

Any advice on how to prevent this happening would be much appreciated.

Bill T.
The older I get, the better I was !

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jlp8cornell
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Re: Snow problem

Post by jlp8cornell » Wed Dec 29, 2010 7:14 am

A thread on this was just active in the Health and Nutrition forum. Look here:

viewtopic.php?f=88&t=26623

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mcbosco
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Re: Snow problem

Post by mcbosco » Wed Dec 29, 2010 7:25 am

Trekmoor wrote:Some of you must have much more experience of this than I have. My spaniels feet and featherings are collecting ice balls as I work them in the snow. Snow isn't usually too much of a problem here but this year it's been snowing on and off for over a month now. So far I have trimmed back the hair on the dogs paws and legs and I've tried rubbing vaseline or olive oil into the remaining hair but still ice balls form after a while.

Any advice on how to prevent this happening would be much appreciated.

Bill T.
Buy a tin of Musher's Secret. It also makes a great gun wax.

Use it from the bottom of the paw to the dewclaw area. It dries and does not stain.

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gittrdonebritts
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Re: Snow problem

Post by gittrdonebritts » Wed Dec 29, 2010 7:48 am

Shave there feet it works really well.

Birddogz
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Re: Snow problem

Post by Birddogz » Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:46 am

mcbosco wrote:
Trekmoor wrote:Some of you must have much more experience of this than I have. My spaniels feet and featherings are collecting ice balls as I work them in the snow. Snow isn't usually too much of a problem here but this year it's been snowing on and off for over a month now. So far I have trimmed back the hair on the dogs paws and legs and I've tried rubbing vaseline or olive oil into the remaining hair but still ice balls form after a while.

Any advice on how to prevent this happening would be much appreciated.

Bill T.
Buy a tin of Musher's Secret. It also makes a great gun wax.

Use it from the bottom of the paw to the dewclaw area. It dries and does not stain.
Exactly correct.
Speak kindly to me, beloved master. Revel in my unconditional love, and give me every minute that you can spare, for my time with you is short.

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DougB
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Re: Snow problem

Post by DougB » Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:29 am

If the waxes don't do it, you can try dog boots.
Why own a dog? There's a danger you know,

You can't own just one, for the craving will grow.

There's no doubt they're addictive, wherein lies the danger.

While living with lots, you'll grow poorer and stranger.



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crackerd
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Re: Snow problem

Post by crackerd » Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:55 am

Or, Bill, you might add weight

Image

to help them get better traction.

Happy Burns Night a month in advance - send haggis!

MG

Trekmoor
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Re: Snow problem

Post by Trekmoor » Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:09 pm

Thanks for the advice folks. Nobody seems to have heard of Mushers Secret in the U.K. The English think it's got something to do with mushy peas ....... a favourite dish down there ! Yuch !! I'll stick to haggis !

Bill T.
The older I get, the better I was !

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Greg Jennings
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Re: Snow problem

Post by Greg Jennings » Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:39 pm

Use a moustache trimmer to trim the hair out, then wipe down with vaseline.

Here is the kind of trimmer that I'm talking about
http://www.remingtonproducts.com/ForMen ... ystem.aspx

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4dabirds
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Re: Snow problem

Post by 4dabirds » Thu Dec 30, 2010 5:56 pm

mushers secret works good . sometimes you have to touch it up a little while hunting. I got mine from gun dog supply.

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Fireside
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Re: Snow problem

Post by Fireside » Thu Dec 30, 2010 8:00 pm

Musher's Secret is amazing~ you might have to mail order it from the US. For the rest of their coat I use a horse product... Show Sheen or Vetrolin Shine to keep the ice balls from building up so bad in their fur

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Re: Snow problem

Post by admin » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:00 pm

Our sponsor just uploaded a video on this: http://www.gundogsupply.com/mushers-secret-video.html
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gonehuntin'
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Re: Snow problem

Post by gonehuntin' » Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:11 pm

Greg Jennings wrote:Use a moustache trimmer to trim the hair out, then wipe down with vaseline.

Here is the kind of trimmer that I'm talking about
http://www.remingtonproducts.com/ForMen ... ystem.aspx
X2. My way also.
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DonF
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Re: Snow problem

Post by DonF » Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:17 pm

When I lived kin Montana I had Springer's and snow build up could get pretty bad. I clipped the hair out from their toes and pads with cuticle sisorrs. Helped but they would still get snow balls. Ont thing I recall about it was it really had to get cold for the balls to form, simply freezing didn't do it. Wish I could remember how cold but I don't even know what I had for breakfast! That Mushers Secret looks like it's really worth trying!
I pity the man that has never been loved by a dog!

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