Make sure your dog is well hydrated before and during a hunt. The night before a hunt mix plenty of water with the dog's dinner, then the next day offer the dog water before putting it on the ground. Also make sure the dog has access to clean drinking water regularly during the day. Water helps keep the dog's internal temperature down-- and overheating is a serious health hazard.

Before beginning a hunt, put your dog under control. Make the dog "Sit" or "Whoa" for a minute or so before casting the dog off. It is a lot easier to put a dog under control initially than to fight to get an out-of-control dog to respond in a behaved manner.

It is far wiser to give your dog rest periods at regular intervals than to run the dog for long periods and then rest him. Do not let the dog get burned out in the first place. Once the dog is exhausted, it may take days to fully recuperate. This is particularly important if you are hunting on consecutive days. If you have two dogs, hunt one and walk the other at heel. Switch dogs every fifteen or twenty minutes. You will get a lot more out of both dogs this way.