"Sand burrs aren't going to ruin your hunt, but they're going to make it unpleasant for you and the dog," Wilson suggested. "It's hard to have a dog running on two legs or limping because of burrs."

Many boots don't stay on a dog's feet, but Wilson said he chose a style for his Ugly Dog Hunting Company to carry that he uses personally and that stays on the feet.

First Aid
First aid kits for humans and those for dogs are similar. The biggest difference, according to Wilson, is that a first aid kit for dogs never contains Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

"A lot of people don't know that you don't give dogs Ibuprofen or Tylenol," he said. "The only thing you can give them is buffered aspirin. Never give them anything else."

One thing to look for in a kit for dogs is a card with some basic canine first aid instructions. It should cover treatment for the things you run into most often, such as gunshot wounds, snakebites, or a tangle with barbed wire.

"The other thing I like to carry is a field first aid book," Wilson added. "It's a quick reference, and hopefully, you have time to look up whatever is going on."

The book he prefers is Dog First Aid: A Field Guide to Emergency Care for the Outdoor Dog, which was written by veterinarian Dr. Randy Acker.

Another thing to avoid with dogs in the field is letting them get dehydrated.

"The main thing is how do you get a dog to drink." Wilson said. "A lot of dogs won't drink in the field. They want to go, go, go, and they're really reluctant to stop and drink."

Wilson uses a product called Rehydrate, which was developed by a veterinarian at the University of Minnesota.

"It's a kind of beef flavor that dogs love," he said. "I've tried drinking it, and it's not great, but dogs really lap it up."

Rehydrate comes in tablets that dissolve when dropped into clean water, so you don't have to carry a separate supply of liquid for your dog.

Another product Wilson likes is an "energy" bar called XtremFuel Booster Bar. Although he never feeds his dogs a full meal in the field, he does give them a Booster Bar when they're working hard.