Working in water is an essential skill for many gundogs, whether they are retrieving waterfowl or flushing game from wetlands. However, not all dogs are naturally comfortable in the water, and some may require training to become proficient swimmers and retrievers. 

Here are some tips for teaching gundogs to work in water:

Start with Shallow Water

If your dog is not comfortable in the water, start with shallow water, such as a wading pool or a shallow stream. Encourage your dog to get his paws wet and gradually work up to deeper water.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Use treats and praise to encourage your dog to enter the water. Gradually increase the distance your dog must swim to retrieve the dummy, using treats and praise to reward him for his efforts.

Use a Buoyant Dummy

Use a buoyant dummy or training bumper to help your dog learn to swim and retrieve in the water. Toss the dummy a short distance into the water and encourage your dog to retrieve it.

Use a Long Line 

Use a long line to help your dog learn to swim and retrieve in deeper water. Attach the line to your dog's collar and gradually increase the distance your dog must swim to retrieve the dummy.

Practice in Different Types of Water

Once your dog is comfortable swimming and retrieving in calm water, practice in different types of water, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. Be sure to supervise your dog at all times and use a safety vest if necessary.

Teach Your Dog to Enter and Exit the Water Safely

Teach your dog to enter and exit the water safely, using a designated area if possible. This will help prevent injuries and keep your dog safe.

Be Patient and Consistent: 

Teaching your dog to work in water takes time and patience. Be consistent with your training and practice regularly to help your dog become a confident and proficient swimmer and retriever.

Aggression in dogs is a serious issue that can put both humans and other animals in danger. While many dogs are friendly and well-behaved, some may become aggressive for a variety of reasons. Learn about  the causes of aggression in dogs and provide solutions for owners who are struggling with their pet's behavior. Let’s discuss how dog training, including gun dog training, and hunting with dogs can affect a dog's behavior.

Causes of Aggression in Dogs

There are many factors that can contribute to aggressive behavior in dogs. Here are some of the most common causes:

Fear and anxiety: Dogs that feel threatened or afraid may become aggressive as a way to protect themselves or their territory.

Lack of socialization: Early experiences, including lack of socialization and exposure to different types of people and animals, can also contribute to aggression in dogs. Dogs that are not properly socialized may become fearful or defensive around new people or animals, which can lead to aggressive behavior.

Medical conditions: Some medical conditions, such as pain, thyroid imbalances, and brain tumors, can cause aggressive behavior in dogs.

Resource guarding: Dogs that are protective of their food, toys, or territory may become aggressive when they feel their resources are threatened.

Genetics: Certain breeds of dogs are more prone to aggressive behavior due to their genetic predisposition.

Solutions to Aggression in Dogs

Dealing with aggression in dogs requires a multi-pronged approach that involves addressing the underlying causes and modifying the dog's behavior. Here are some possible solutions:

Consult a veterinarian

Before attempting to modify a dog's behavior, it's important to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be causing the aggression.

Behavior modification 

Professional dog trainers or behaviorists can help to modify a dog's behavior using positive reinforcement training techniques. This involves rewarding desirable behavior and ignoring or redirecting undesirable behavior.

Socialization

Gradual exposure to new situations and stimuli can help dogs become more comfortable and less fearful, which can reduce the likelihood of aggressive behavior.

Management 

Management techniques such as keeping the dog away from triggers or using a muzzle can prevent incidents of aggression while behavior modification is taking place.

Medication

In some cases, medication may be necessary to address the underlying anxiety or fear that is causing the aggression. This should always be done under the guidance of a veterinarian.

Responsible ownership

Owners should be responsible and proactive in preventing situations that can lead to aggression, such as keeping their dog on a leash in public places and providing adequate exercise and mental stimulation.

Conclusion

Choosing the right breed of dog is crucial when it comes to hunting. Different breeds have different strengths and abilities, so it's important to choose a breed that's well-suited to the type of hunting you plan to do. Here's a comprehensive guide to the best breeds for hunting.

Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds for hunting, and for good reason. They're intelligent, trainable, and have a natural instinct to retrieve games. They're also great swimmers and can handle cold water well, making them a popular choice for waterfowl hunting.

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointers are a versatile breed that can handle a variety of hunting tasks. They're excellent trackers and retrievers, and have a strong prey drive. They're also highly trainable and eager to please, making them a popular choice for hunting enthusiasts.

English Springer Spaniel

English Springer Spaniels are another versatile breed that's well-suited to hunting. They're excellent at flushing out game birds and retrieving them, and are known for their endurance and stamina. They're also highly trainable and make great family pets.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are a popular breed for hunting due to their friendly and outgoing nature, as well as their natural ability to retrieve game. They're highly trainable and excel in both upland and waterfowl hunting. They're also great with children and make excellent family pets.

Vizsla

Vizslas are a breed that's highly prized for their hunting abilities. They're versatile dogs that excel at pointing, retrieving, and tracking. They're also highly intelligent and trainable, making them a popular choice for serious hunting enthusiasts.

Brittany

Brittany is a breed that's well-suited to upland hunting, particularly for bird hunting. They're highly energetic and have a strong prey drive, which makes them excellent at flushing out game. They're also highly intelligent and eager to please, making them easy to train.

Beagle

Beagles are a breed that's highly valued for their tracking abilities, particularly for small game such as rabbits. They have a strong sense of smell and a persistent nature, which makes them great at tracking scent trails. They're also highly social and make great family pets.

Weimaraner

Weimaraners are a breed that's known for their endurance and stamina. They're highly athletic and excel at both upland and waterfowl hunting. They're also highly intelligent and trainable, making them a popular choice for serious hunting enthusiasts.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are a breed that's well-suited to waterfowl hunting. They're highly skilled swimmers and have a thick, waterproof coat that helps them stay warm in cold water. They're also highly intelligent and trainable, making them a popular choice for serious hunters.

Pointer

Pointers are a breed that's highly valued for their pointing abilities, particularly for upland game birds. They have a strong prey drive and a natural instinct to point, which makes them great at locating game. They're also highly intelligent and trainable, making them a popular choice for serious hunters.

Training a hunting dog is a rewarding experience for both you and your canine companion. Whether you're training a new puppy or an older dog, it's important to start with the basics and work your way up to more advanced commands. Here are some essential tips for training a hunting dog.

Start with Basic Commands

Before you can teach your dog to retrieve game or track scent, you'll need to start with basic obedience commands. These include commands like "sit," "stay," "come," and "heel." It's important to reinforce these commands consistently and use positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise, when your dog responds correctly.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a key component of successful dog training. This means rewarding your dog with treats, praise, or playtime when they perform a desired behavior. Positive reinforcement is more effective than punishment-based training, which can be counterproductive and harm the bond between you and your dog.

Gradually Introduce Distractions

Once your dog has mastered basic obedience commands, it's time to introduce distractions. This could mean training your dog to ignore other animals or people while hunting, or teaching them to stay focused in noisy or chaotic environments. Gradually increase the level of distraction as your dog becomes more confident and consistent in their training.

Use Real-Life Scenarios

To make training more effective, incorporate real-life scenarios into your training. This could mean practicing retrieving with decoys or scent markers, or setting up mock hunting scenarios to train your dog to track game. Real-life scenarios help your dog understand how to apply their training in a practical context.

Practice Consistently

Consistency is key when it comes to dog training. It's important to practice regularly and reinforce positive behaviors consistently. This means training your dog on a regular schedule and using the same commands and rewards consistently. Dogs thrive on routine and consistency, so make sure to establish a regular training routine.

Work with a Professional Trainer

If you're new to dog training, or if you're struggling with a particular aspect of training, it can be helpful to work with a professional trainer. A professional trainer can provide guidance and support, and help you develop a customized training plan that's tailored to your dog's specific needs.

Be Patient

How a Training Place Board Improves Your Dog’s Skills, Abilities, and Performance

Ah, the dog training place board. What a wonderful tool it is! The place board allows you to take your dog out in the field and train them to stay in position, even when they see birds flying overhead. Proper place board training helps train your hunting dog not to chase or flush birds on its own.

You can use a set of place boards as part of your training regimen for any breed or age level-from puppies all the way through senior dogs with limited mobility issues. Many hunters use these boards as part of their birddog specific training program because they’re easy to set up and integrate with other strategies.

The idea is to create a safe space where your sporting dog recognizes this is its base. Once they are on this board, it’s time to go to work! Let’s get into some details of utilizing a dog training place board as part of your gun dog education.

What is a Place Board?

Imagine a place board as a training tool with a flat surface that is slightly elevated off the ground so it is recognizable by your dog. This useful tool aides in teaching your dog not to break or move before being released. Once a dog is placed on it, it will be able to see and hear what’s happening around them but won’t be allowed to chase any game that comes into view while you’re hunting together.

Using this type of device during field training sessions will help you develop your dog’s stamina and overall obedience skills, and it’ll also make both of you more confident when out in the field together actively hunting.

This simulates the back of a truck bed, a water platform, or a blind where a dog must remain still so you can focus on hunting, and they are kept safe. That way, they can snap into action when you give the command.

How Place Boards Work for Dog Training

Hunting Dog place board training is an excellent tool for training your dog. They allow you to have your pup practice staying in position and remaining calm before being released by your command. Place boards can be used on their own or as part of an overall training plan, but they can be especially beneficial if you’re trying to master your dog’s essential obedience skills before introducing a hunting training program.

In general, hunting/sporting dogs are put through two primary training strategies – one of general obedience and one of hunting. The first is foundational and covers the basic socially acceptable dog commands like sit, down, come, stay, heel, off, and leave it. The dog training place board fits well into the “sit/stay” commands by teaching the steadiness to remain in one location until released to move once again.

Over time, you can make the command “sit” synonymous with “place”, so your gun dog understands there is a specific location you wish them to remain. This could be the place board or a spot you point to and expect them to follow your direction.

Most dogs and owners progress through these obedience skills in three levels of learning: 

Recognition – A dog sits when asked to most of the time and “recognizes” the offered command but chooses whether or when to follow it. This is the level of obedience most pet owners train their dogs in general.

Consistency – This is recognition of a command by the dog a majority of the time. It is considered a good response rate for a dog and where most hunters and dog owners that take obedience training seriously tend to shoot for as it is considered a “well-trained” dog. 

Mastery – This is mastery of the complete foundational obedience skill set. Your dog obeys and responds to commands without fail. These dogs are HRC title dogs, avid waterfowlers, serious upland hunters, and dogs with professional trainers. 

Once you and your dog have mastered the basic obedience skills, it is time to introduce the next level of abilities through active hunting training. This is when steadiness is critical because it ensures your dog stays where you want and need it to be while hunting. 

Steadiness and the Place Board

Steadiness is the ability of the dog to hold a position while you are working with your dog or multiple dogs by sitting and staying in a place until given the next command. This skill of honoring your commands should be achieved first before moving on to more complex hunting training situations. Steadiness is essential for a hunting dog as it keeps your sporting dog from moving when distracted in the field by other dogs, hunters, or game.

A place board will build your dog’s focus by training it to hold still when there are many distractions in the field.

Benefits of a Dog Training Place Board

Dog Training Place Boards are an indispensable tool for dog training. Using a training place board correctly will present a “target” place for your dog to associate with other skills instead of getting distracted by things around them. Some of the benefits include:

1 – Improved training

Whether you are new to bird hunting or have been hunting for years, a place board will help you train and improve your skill level. It can be used during all training phases, including early puppy training and continuing education as an adult dog. A quality place board allows you to work with your dog in a safe environment while also improving focus, obedience, command response time, and the ability to stay in position on command.

2 – Enhanced bond with your dog

One of the most important benefits of a training place board is that it enhances the bond between you and your dog. Communicating effectively with your dog is one of the most important factors in developing trust and a positive relationship, which are essential to improving performance in hunting, training, and competition.

3 – Better performance in the field

Place boards can be used to train for obedience and a hunting program, but they also help with a critical aspect: your dog’s performance. Your dog will become more focused on you and your commands, improving its ability to obey and hunt. This is especially important if you’re a beginner at this type of training or have never owned a gun dog before.

4 – Durability

Our place boards are made from a lightweight infused fiberglass plastic frame that is strong, durable, and easy to clean. This means that your place board will last you years before it starts to wear down or lose its texture. Additionally, the material is waterproof, so it can be used in any weather condition without fear of damage. You won’t have to worry about replacing your training place board when it gets dirty, because it’s easy to clean with warm water and soap or disinfectant wipes.

5 – Increased focus

A dog that can focus on a single task for an extended period will become a more efficient and effective hunter. To achieve this, the trainer must ensure that their dog is both focused and attentive. By encouraging increased concentration through reinforcing good behavior with treats, praise, and toys on the place board, you will help your gun dog learn how best to control their emotions to become more effective at remaining steady to retrieve downed game.

Tips for Using a Place Board

Using a place board during hunting dog training can effectively teach your dog to hold a steady position while hunting. Here are some general tips for using a place board:

Introduce the place board gradually: Start by introducing the place board in a low-distraction environment and progressively increase the level of distraction as your dog becomes more comfortable with the concept.

Use positive reinforcement: Use treats, praise, and other rewards to encourage your dog to stay in place on the board.

Use a consistent command: Choose a command, such as “place” or “stay,” and use it consistently every time you want your dog to hold a steady position on the place board.

Practice in various environments: Train your dog to use the place board in a variety of environments, including both indoors and outdoors, to help ensure that they understand the concept in different settings.

Be patient: Training a hunting dog to use a place board can take time, so be patient and remember to keep training sessions short and enjoyable for you and your dog. You want to gain comprehensive mastery of those primary obedience skills and then move on to more complex hunting abilities.

Use the place board as part of a larger training plan: The place board is just one tool that can be used as part of a larger training plan to teach your dog to hold a steady position while hunting. Be sure to incorporate other training techniques, such as obedience training and fieldwork, to fully develop your dog’s hunting skills.

Where to Find a Quality Place Board

A training place board is a great way to improve your gun dog’s skills, abilities, and performance. Training place boards are straightforward to use, versatile, and portable too. They can be used in the yard or in a training field, and they’re easy to stack, move or carry around when traveling with your gun dog or just taking them out for some exercise.

Introduction: why should you train your puppy to be a hunter?

You've decided you want a hunting dog. You've done your research and found the perfect breed for your lifestyle and personality. Now it's time to start house training your puppy to be a hunter.

The first step is to socialize your puppy. This means exposing them to as many different people, animals, and environments as possible. The more they're exposed to, the more confident and well-rounded they'll be. This is important because you want your puppy to be comfortable in any situation when they're out hunting with you.

The second step is obedience training. This will teach your puppy basic commands like sit, stay, come, and down. These commands will help you control your puppy when they're out in the field and prevent them from running off after the game.

Obedience training also helps instill good habits in your puppy that will last their lifetime. For example, if you train them to always come when called, they'll be less likely to run off after a game when they're older.

The third step is teaching your puppy specific hunting skills. This includes things like retrieving game, following a scent trail, or finding downed birds. These skills can be taught through positive reinforcementTraining should be fun for both you and your pup! The more fun they have while learning, the more likely they are to retain what they've learned.

Try using treats or toys as rewards for good behavior during training sessions.

The Basics of House Training

The most important part of house training a puppy is teaching them to potty outside. You'll need to be patient and have a lot of treats on hand to reward your pup for going in the right spot. Start by taking them out every hour, then gradually increase the interval between trips outside. If they have an accident in the house, clean it up immediately and don't punish your puppy—they'll just get confused.

In addition to regular trips outside, you'll also want to create a designated potty area in your yard. This will give your puppy a place to go when they need to relieve themselves. Put some newspapers or an artificial turf mat down in the area, and take your puppy there often so they get used to it. Once they're comfortable with this spot, you can start teaching them to "go" on command.

With patience and consistency, you can successfully house train your puppy and set them up for success as a hunter!

Tips for Teaching Your Puppy to Hunt

1. Start with basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and down. This will teach your puppy the basics of listening to you and following commands.

2. Use positive reinforcement such as treats or praise when your puppy does something you want him to do. This will help him understand what you expect from him.

3. Be patient and consistent when teaching your puppy to hunt. It may take some time for him to learn all the skills necessary, but with patience and practice he will get there.

4. Make sure to give your puppy plenty of exercise; this will help him stay focused and motivated while he is learning to hunt.

5. Always supervise your puppy while he is hunting, so that you can ensure his safety and correct any mistakes he makes along the way.

The benefits of having a hunting dog

There are many benefits to having a hunting dog. A hunting dog can help you find and track game, flush out game from hiding, and retrieve game that has been shot. Having a hunting dog also gives you a loyal companion in the field. Here are some of the specific benefits of having a hunting dog:

1. Hunting dogs can help you find and track game.

2. Hunting dogs can flush out game from hiding.

3. Hunting dogs can retrieve game that has been shot.

4. Having a hunting dog gives you a loyal companion in the field.

Conclusion

Owning a sporting dog is more than enjoying a leisurely hunt in the early hours and then heading home without a worry. Preventative measures should always be taken to ensure the health and safety of yourself and your animal, especially during hunting dog training. Ask any veterinarian or seasoned hunter, and they will tell you the same thing – keeping a few odds and ends prepared for quick first aid for your sporting dog or gun dog is essential to a rewarding experience.

There are plenty of places to pick up pre-made hunting dog training first aid kits, but they often do not include many of the recommendations from experienced owners or too much of what you do not need as fillers. That is why we have come up with this list to help you keep your pup in good health as you train, hunt, and explore the great outdoors.

What to Carry on Your Person

Let’s first start with the essentials you need to have on hand for sporting dog first aid. These are the quick solutions to common injuries that will either heal issues in a short time or do not require the assistance of a veterinarian.

Flashlight – So you can see what you are doing and the extent of the damage.

Dog Boots/Paw Wax – Both work well for hot or cold ground.

Emergency Mylar Blanket – If you are going to be around water, this is a must.

Needle Nose Pliers – Useful for removing things from your dog’s skin, mouth, or ears.

Dish Soap – You never know when your pup may come across toxins, grease, or oil.

Tick Key – If you live anywhere with ticks or similar creatures, you are going to want an effective way to remove the nasty bugs from your sporting dog without risking parts of the insect staying inside the animal.

Honey Packets – Excellent for the pup that experiences shock easily or need a blood sugar boost.

Padding – This could be a bandana, old t-shirt, or favorite blanket you can rip up to better wrap around a wound or get wet to cool the dog.

What to Keep in Your Truck

These items are great for filling your hunting dog training first aid kit. They are a little bit too big to carry on your person while in the field. If you can fit them all into a small pack, you can easily put them on a boat, but otherwise, you should have them in your truck.

Saline Flush – There are a few options here. You probably want something specific for the eyes, wounds, and ears. Most of these can be purchased over the counter, and you should avoid any additives. The goal is to clean the area, not treat it as of yet.

Stretch Gauze/Cling Wrap/Cast Padding – You want three levels of padding. The first is a non-adherent abortive pad followed by cast padding and then by stretch gauze or cling wrap to hold everything together. You’re in good shape if you can get vet wrap for a fourth layer or as a standalone.

Hemostats – Think of these as your toolkit for removing anything from your sporting dog, like quills, thorns, etc.

Instant Cold Packs – These help with swelling or painful areas and if your pup gets overheated easily.

Triple Antibiotic Ointment – After cleaning a wound, apply this to help avoid infection.

Muzzle – We may all like to think our dogs will be docile when we treat them, but if your pup is in pain, they may nip while you try to help.

Paint Stir Stick – Useful for setting tails, working with splints, or if needing a tourniquet.

Scissors – To cut through bandages, tape, etc.

Vick’s VapoRub – Keeps your dog from biting through the bandages you have set.

Tape – To seal your bandages. If you can get a hole of leukotape, that is better as it is highly waterproof.

Hand Sanitizer – For cleaning up your own hands after treating your dog’s injuries.

Dog Safety Restraint System – Dogs often feel off-balanced or lethargic after an injury. It is helpful to have a method to keep them safe and secure as you drive to a vet’s office.

Snakebite Kit – This is more for if you live in an area with dangerous snakes like the Southwest and rattlesnakes or Southeast and cottonmouths.

Other Preventative Health Essentials

It goes without saying that you should have a recent photo of your sporting dog on your phone and your vet’s contact information. This way, you can call your vet or the local authorities if you need help or the dog has gone missing.

Other things to keep both as a physical copy and digital copy would be:

Recent Photos

Vaccination records

Dog License

Microchip details

You may want to consider taking a local dog first aid class. Many common ailments can be easily managed until you reach a vet that will save your pup’s life. This isn’t just CPR, but learning how to handle:

Stopping a broken nail from bleeding

Correctly applying bandaging for a wound

Dealing with a bloody nose

Applying a splint to a fracture or broken bone

Heatstroke mitigation

Bee, scorpion, and porcupine stings

There is one more item we should discuss in detail, and that is a skin stapler. Some veterinarians highly recommend a skin stapler because it can close up large wounds. However, if you are unsure of your dog’s basic anatomy, you could cause more damage or risk infection. We suggest taking a class or speaking with your veterinarian before adding this item to your truck sporting dog’s first aid kit.

It all comes down to where you will be conducting hunting dog training and what conditions you need to worry about. Take your time and put together a kit that works for your environment and specific sporting dog. The goal is to be prepared for the worst, but hopefully, never have to use any of it.

Those who enjoy the thrill of the hunt alongside their sporting dogs may have never come across limber tail before. In fact, there are quite a few veterinarians who have never seen the condition. That is why we thought it essential to cover this topic, as limber tail is quite painful for your pup and will get in the way of their hunting dog conditioning.

Hunting dogs are one of the greatest joys in a hunter’s life. It’s a great pleasure to see your dog running happily in the field, nose to the ground trying to find prey. But sometimes, you may notice that your hunting dog behaves a little differently. With hunting dog limber tail, the tail is pulled up, so it’s not dragging on the ground, and instead of holding it straight out from its body, it’s held down close to the body.

The last thing anyone could want is to see their otherwise happy hunting dog feeling down and out of commission due to a painful tail.

What is Limber Tail?

Limber tail is a condition where the tail becomes straight, stiff, and limp. The tail is held up and close to the body. The dog does not wag his tail or move it around much when he is limber tailed. Dogs who hunt are particularly exposed to the condition because of spending a lot of time retrieving or training in cold, wet, weather. That is why limber tail is sometimes called swimmer’s tail, rudder tail, or cold tail.  

It is surprisingly easy to diagnose, but you would want to seek professional care to ensure nothing more serious going on in the bone or muscle areas.

What are the Signs of Limber Tail?

If you suspect your hunting dog is experiencing limber tail symptoms, you may want to pause your gun dog training and visit a vet. Keep an eye out for signs and symptoms like:

Tail hanging straight down, as if paralyzed

Exceptional soreness around the tail end of the dog

Decreased appetite

Difficulty urinating or defecating

A general reluctance to sit down

An absence of tail wagging

Excessive licking or chewing at the tail

Lethargy

Whining or whimpering

What Causes Limber Tail?

Like human athletes that suffer from injury if they overtrain, the same is true for your sporting dogs. If they are working too hard in training or are getting too much exercise, they can begin to experience symptoms of limber tail.

You have to remember that dogs use their tails for balance. We may think of them as signs of affection when wagging, but these are necessary parts of the body that, when damaged, can be pretty painful to handle.

That is why prolonged exposure to cold water can cause limber tail. Anytime your pup has been working in cold water and doesn’t get the chance to relax and warm up for more than 12 hours, you should watch for limber tail.

This is relatively common in sporting dogs like retrievers and spaniels.

Is There a Treatment for Limber Tail?

The good news is with a bit of rest and recovery, you should expect your hunting dog to be back in action after a few days to weeks. However, you need to do your due diligence and take the pup to a vet if the condition seems to be worsening. There could be underlying bone or neurologic disorders that an X-ray can rule out, just to be safe. You’ve spent all of this time developing a solid relationship with your animal during hunting dog conditioning. Why risk all of that over limber tail?

Other things you can do to help are:

Plenty of rest

Only short walks

Warm compress to the hind area

Vet approved anti-inflammatories

Avoiding excitement

Possible corticosteroid injections – from a vet

Can I Prevent Limber Tail in my Hunting Dogs?

With a little care and attention to your animals, you should have no problem preventing limber tail. The most important thing is to avoid prolonged exposure to cold water and to take your time gradually working your dogs into shape during gun dog training.

If you have to take a trip longer than 8-12 hours, be sure to let your dog out of its crate to stretch and move around. You may also want to integrate hunting dog training bumpers into your routine. This signals to your pup when it is time to train, and when it is not. That way, you have more control over the set amount of time per day, so you are not overexerting your animals. Many breeds like retrievers will happily push themselves beyond normal limits, which is what you want to avoid.