Quick story...no pics

Dave Church

Well-known member
Went out last Friday with a couple of buddies and used the boat to put the decoys out and then hunted among the rocks on the shoreline. A couple of hours later we had 3 Goldeneye drakes and 9 Buffies. My dog KC had eight of the twelve retrieves before I retired him for the day.....the boat got the remainder. He is 4 years old and in terrific condition but the cold, waves, and current were wearing him out. The tide was high when we started and KC seemed to have no trouble entering or exiting the rocks. After the tide went out, I started noticing barnacles everywhere and that KC was leaving blood in all of the tidal pools that he stood over. After a quick examination I relalized that his legs and pads were tore up from the barnacles on the rocks. Bad decision on my part to let him work from the rocks. Took him home and bathed him really well, cleaned his wounds up and put him to bed. He slept on ana doff for two days and is back in fighting shape ready to go again........but not off of those rocks, that will be a "boat only retrieve area" from now on. I felt bad for putting him through that and it amazes me that even with the injuries, he would never hesitate to go on the next retrieve. They are unbelievably loyal and we must do whatever we can to keep them in tip top shape.

dc
 
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