Hunting around millet?

[Phil from Maine]

I was at the bird farm up here the other day to purchase a few young birds and we dicussed millet and milow and stuff like that. Is it a problem for dogs to hunt in this stuff ? As the seeds from the millet are small and
can get into your dogs eyes ? Or so we have been told and that the dogs eyes can get infected. I'm not sure if any of this is true and thought someone could tell me as I have been planning on getting some to plant around here for a few birds I was going to release this fall.

[daleh]

Anything is dangerous. Dogs are tough and can hunt in stuff that we would not want too. The only thing that is real bad is spear grass. found on the prairies up north and in Canada But, This does not stop Pros from training up there year after year. I trained on the grounds in Canada that had been used since the turn of the centry for summer training. I never have had a problem. I have heard of a couple dogs that did die from getting the stuff in their lungs and it got infected. Also one our nat. champ years past. one year had to have surgery to removea spear grass spur from a infected lung
All my training and hunting coarses are planted in millet, milo, sorgum, and other small seeds never a problem

[Phil from Maine]

Thanks Dale, The only thing we had to go by is what somebody heard
type of thing.

[NEBHNTR]

WE HUNT MILO HERE ALL OF THE TIME. AS LONG AS THERE IS MILO THERE WILL ALWAYS BE BIRDS AROUND HERE. I HAVE HUNTED MY GSP AND LAB AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL. ONLY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD IS SOME CUTS FROM THE STALKS, BUT NOTHING MAJOR AT ALL.

[Rawhide507]

I wouldn't worry too much about the millet. Lots of weeds that have smaller seeds than the millet does. The birds like it though.

[GSPsnFORDs]

^^^That's exactly what I was thinking. Just the other week our black GSP got a weed seed deep into his eye and he had to be taken to the vet to get it flushed out.

I say hunt 'em where the birds are and after the hunt check your dog regularly. Most of the time if there is something in their eye it will start to run or matter and if it gets bad enough it might swell shut. If you're concerned about your dog (it seems that you are) check them regulary cuts, gouges, seeds, etc.

[Phil from Maine]

Thanks guys, I know our growing season would make it hard to
plant some now but I will be next year. I just want to try and
keep some pheasants around, and with our weather changing up
here I think that they will do better now.

[chaselton]

I've alway's had the best success hunting over wheat. Just a thought

[isshe]

Here is a link that you need to read about foxtail...it's can be deadly....

http://www.baltercatalogue.com/articles/57-foxtail-grass-and-dogs.htm

[Phil from Maine]

Thanks isshe, I am sure glad I have read this one, and I think
most others should at least look at it too!