EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

 I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with freeze branding? I bought a branding iron and I'm planning on using it this weekend. Any information or helpful advice would be appreciated.

I am in the same boat you are, bought the irons and I know what needs to be done but I am leaning towards having someone come do it because it is pretty hard to "touch it up" if not done properly the first time.  If you want to try it yourself here is a link that will get you started.  You need a lot of dry ice and alchahol.
http://www.coondawgs.com/freezebrand.html

MPORTER,

     I have branded 4 dogs, two came out pretty good one a yellow dog, and the other a black/tan dog.  One looked great on my white dog, but I must not have held it long enough to kill the hair, and the hair grew back in. The other one that did not turn out right is on a lean dog. She does not have much muscling on her thigh/ hip so I did not get an even brand. It will be difficult to get the brand in the exact place again, so I am considering branding her ears with a 1-3/4" brand instead of redoing her hip.

   

We did several dogs not too long ago, except we bought liquid nitrogen from the welding house.  Got a cheap styrofoam cooler (like from a convience store) and cut a hole in the top just big enough for the brand to fit it.  Pour some nitrogen in close the lid and put the brand down in the hole until it stops "boiling".

The key to the whole operation is to hold the brand on long enough.  You'll need about four guys to help hold.  We ran them probably close to 10 seconds.

Also be sure to shave the dog completely bare where you intend to brand.

Bryant,

     Have the brands healed to you liking?  What blade did you use on your clippers, and did you brand any of your white dogs? If so, how long did you hold on them?

I freeze branded for awhile and sold all my stuff not profitable.On a dog it is best to knock him out you get a a better brand that way.Circle c sometimes it is not how long it is how much pressure 20 ful seconds with the right amount of pressure.

I sedated the dogs, and learned a few things in the process of branding these four.  When they are laying down, it is hard to tell how they carry their leg while standing. Next time, I am going to draw a line with a sharpie marker while the dog is standing, so that I know how to orient the brand.   

  Chance,
      Can there be too much pressure?  I held the brand firm and rocked it left to right, but it never came off the dogs hide as I was holding constant pressure.   

     I used dry ice and denatured alcohol to chill the brand, and waited for the hoars (sp) frost to grow each time...maybe I should have used the liquid nitrogen?

I always used liquid nitrogen and yes you can put to much pressure the size of the brand matters to.And there is a time change between dry ice and nitrogen it is most all my horse are branded  and everyone of them took different .I branded about 300 horse's and 40 dogs all the dogs turned out ok but like you said there different while laying down.Pressure is hard to explain!A 1" brand does good on the shoulder or hind hip did a 4" brand on the rid cage did not like it.I have used 2" brands on the shoulder and hide leg a little bulky.

Thanks for yawls input on this.....
What do you use to sedate them and is it hard to get? Would numbing the area help at all?

Chance,

   I have a 2-3/4" that I used on the hip, and 1-3/4 that I can use on the ears.


Mporter,

   I used "ace", should be able to get it from your vet. However depending on the number of dogs you will brand, if you have to purchase the ace, liq. nitrogen or dry ice, the brand, etc - it may end up cheaper in the long run to pay someone else to do the branding that is already setup for it.

Chris,

It was several of Travis's dogs that we did.  None of my white ones.

They all healed up fine, and look pretty good.

As for the clippers, we just used the clippers they had in the house for beards and stuff.  Definately not the way to go..they were ruined in the process.  We shaved as close as possible with the clippers, then used a little shaving cream and a regular razor to finalize the deal.

i have freeze branded alot of cattle and horses and 1 dog,   i always use liguid nitrogen  and every iron is a little different, it takes some time to learn your iron and how long to hold it on..

if you have to lay a animal down you need to mark and try to keep it square with the ground.

its best to clip as close as you can no hair makes for a even brand, and rocking the brand helps get all the corners good.

 like bryant said use a small ice chest and cut a small hole in the lid ,  you will need a AI tank to store the nitrogen in..

if you just have a couple to do i would pay to have it done..

Chris is right you might want to atleast watch someone do it.You can buy a video from L & H Branding Irons.We use Rumpam to knock them out it is getting harder to get so many drug heads use this stuff to make there dope.If you have a good relationship with your vet he might sell you some. Were are you located I will be glad to help you if you are not to far I still have some of my stuff.                          Chris I use surgical clippers!     I also have rumpam To knock them out.

Chance,

     I might get you to give me a hand on my next round if you don't mind, I would rather have someone with experience there. I have seen dogs done, and had some horses done, but it's different when you are on the end of the brand as opposed to observing.

       I have access to a dewer (liquid nitrogen tank).   I did not use the surgical clippers, because I could not locate any surgical blades locally. The little bit of hair that was left on, did have an effect on the outcome of the brand. Moreso than I would have imagined. I will order some surgical blades before I try again.  What dosage of Rompum are you using on a 50# cur? We just used a cc or so of ace orally. My white bulldog required a second dose before he settled down.

    Most vets will dispense ace.  You need a good relationship with your vet to get Rompum , and a great relationship to get Dermosidan (sp) ;)

I would pay to have them all done correctly, so if you want to make a little money on a Saturday or Sunday let me know.  I have about 6-8 dogs that I would like to get done and I am not that far from you.  Maybe we could get Chris to come to my house and we could get them all done at once.  Let me know.  From what research I have done, I have not located anyone that was very eager to come brand a dog.  They will jump for a horse or cow and then look at you funny and say they don't do dogs haha.

MG

Chris .3 cc in the vein And yes I will be more than happy to help you I have a nitrogen tank that will hold nitrogen for a day and you are more than welcome to use it.I have rompum also that you can use.And my clippers.The guy who bought my freeze branding stuff still owes me alot of money for it I guess I can go repo it and we will have all the stuff you need.haha Oh yea being you  and your wife are breeeding those aussies I have a dog that your wife would love he is not an  aussie I  will have to show you him to describe him.maybe I can get apicture of him later and send it to you.

Yes Matt I will help both of yall do it just get with me.I will not charge to do it just will help yall !

Matt,

  Load em up and head south ;).  I know that Clay got his brand in too. Maybe we can all meet at my place and have Chance come out.  Richard will get me the liquid nitrogen, and there is plenty of room to brand  them in the barn.

  

Does the barn have A/C I'm not standing  in the heat.LOL

I just met with my local vet, he sold me 18 tablets (didn't get the name) to knock out the six dogs that i'm wanting to get done. He is also going to help me do the first dog tommarrow for free. He has only done cattle and horses and wanted to try a dog. He also has the clippers & nitrogen for me to use. I have 19 dogs includeing 5 that are 4 week old pups, so i'd like to learn to do it myself. Though, I'm only plan on branding the dogs I am keeping or breeding back to. The info yawl have given here will already help alot.
    
Cward -If the first one does not seem to go good I'd like to take you up on your offer. I live near Abilene and I'm sure it is a ways from you but, I may be willing to travel to learn to do it right....

Just how far are yawl anyway?

mporter,
 I am 445 miles from Abilene.


Chance,
  No a/c in the barn, and don't give Mandi any ideas, my light bill is high enough already!  If you get too hot, just hold your head near the liquid nitrogen ;)

Liquid Nitrogen  is 360 degrees below zero that is when it becomes hot instead of cold.I will help yall if we all can get a date together.

Chance,

   I am heading to the hill country to hunt this weekend. Anytime after that I am free. Weekends are better, but if need be we can make it work on a weekday.

I am down but at 70 miles one way I am only good on the weekends or every other Friday.  How about Saturday the 20th Chris's house 8am  ;D

Works for me.

You all should just set up a little tent at Bremond on the 20th and get after it.

Charge $10 a pop, and donate it to TDHA.

Bryant...That's a great idea.  Being as you have successfully branded 10 dogs at 100%, and my record is 4 dogs at 50%, I think you might need to be the one to setup the tent ;D   

Chris,

The last time we did it, very last dog not only pissed all over me, but he also shot a small turd out that hit me in the leg.  That was the start, and also the finish to my branding career.  :)

hahahah  aahhhh that is funny

That would be cool!!! give me another reason to drive that far.

I should be able to do it that weekend I thought  about going to the bremond bay and just watching.we can do it that weekend if yall want to.I don't mind helping but don't want to try to do this for money again.I sold all my irons exept for my horse irons I used to have every size and every letter but there just was not enough profit in it and dealing with horse people is a story of its own.
i

We all have are own brands so that won't be a problem.  I sure hope we can make it work that day because I have been wanting to get this done for a while.  I think we will have everything there we just need your know how....and rompum ha.  I will get some clippers with a surgical blade.
THANKS!
MG

I have some clippers with surgical blades

I will wait to do mine and would diffenatlly be there if we could make that happen.

Maybe we could find someone to lone extra branding iron's for anyone that might want theirs done that don't have one..

someone take pictures  for us

That is exactly how we do cattle.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF  YALL SETTING UP A BOOTH A BREMOND AND DONATING AT BREMOND. THAT WOULD REALLY MAKE THE DRIVE ALOT EASIER FOR ME.

We use liquid nitrogen in a stirofoam cup.  Shave the area and clean with rubbing alcohol.  The alcohol evaporates any moisture on the skin (important step).  Held "rocking" pressure for about 13 seconds.  On white dogs hold pressure longer and the brand will appear colorless.

Almost forgot - we gave our dogs a sedative.  Made the whole process ALOT easier.  Still took 3 people - 2 to hold the dog and 1 to brand.

Circle C,I saw in the other post y'all are still doing this this weekend. What would it take for me to get a few dogs done? if possible.

Thanks.

Underdog,

   Do you already have your brand?  If so, I can't see where a couple extra dogs would matter.  We will be doing the dogs at my place in LaPorte first thing Saturday morning.

No,sure don't.....How hard would it be for me to get one or have one made? Does anyone going have one or a few different letters? (don't really know if there is a set of letters)..

Thanks.

I only have my custom brand, not a set.  I used this outfit,  www.freeze-brands.com ,  he was pretty quick,located in Texas, and likely has letter sets in stock. You might be able to get him to ship you a set in time to be used this weekend. If not, I don't mind helping you do it on another date.

Appreciate it....may have a custom one built and catch up w/ you next time (unless some one going has a "X") my old ones were always that. I will call him tommorow and see if he can do the one I thought up and how long it will take.

Thanks again.

http://www.lhbrandingirons.com/pg/freeze.asp     these are the irons


http://www.lhbrandingirons.com/freeze_instructions.pdf      this is the directions

I FREEZE BRAND ALL MY DOGS AND HORSES AND IT HAS HELPED ME RECOVER MY DOG WHEN SHE WAS STOLEN NOT THAT LONG AGO  (http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af3/DIAMONDAKENNELS/PUPPY002.jpg)

what kind of metal ? i ve been told that stainless works for cold or hot . any body know for sure ?

jdt,

    Stainless handles hot and cold, the liquid nitrogen tank we used was stainless, but the brand we used are brass. I suspect that the brass will hold the cold temp longer than stainless, but this is only a guess.



Here are some pictures from the freeze branding this weekend.  Thanks again to Chance and Crystal for coming out and spending their Saturday morning working on our dogs.


Crystal clipping the area to be branded.  This is probably as much of Crystal as you are going to see on the internet. ;D
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0203.jpg)

Chance applying the brand
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0188.jpg)

The branded are immediately following the removal of the branding iron
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0194.jpg)

Feeling no pain ;)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0199.jpg)

Headed to the recovery ward
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0202.jpg)

Betcha can't guess which dogs are in recovery ;)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0212.jpg)

Bryant,

     Forgot to mention, our freeze branding day went about like yours. One of Matt's dogs passed gas, then peed all over my arm :o

that looks great man. i always worry about getting a dog stolen since I have been seeing an  increase of dog boxes in town. what was the name of the stuff the vet gave yall to ko the dogs. ill have to see if this guy over here will let it go. Looks like it would definatly be better than fighting with them.

We used Rompun / xylazine  on most of the dogs in doses varying from .3cc (note the decimal! 3/10 cc) up to .45 cc.  There were two dogs that we chose not to sedate. Then there were the bulldogs, who seem to metabolize the drugs a little different, as they had the most Rompun, yet were the least sedated. We pretty much used four people on each dog, 3 holding, one branding.

would you suggest the meds? or do yo think that just the right number of people could do it just as well.

I would suggest the meds. However, there is always a risk with sedation. In the case of one of the dogs, she is as much a pet/companion as she is a hunting dog. Rather than risk her loss to sedation, it was decided to brand her without. The other dog is one I purchased that has tested positive for heartworms, and my vet friend advised against sedating a heart worm positive dog. She handled the branding fine, and was dropped off at the vet clinic a couple hours ago to begin her week long stay at the clinic for heart worm treatment. Hopefully she pulls through the treatment fine, and hits the woods running in 8 weeks.

Thanks againg for letting us do that at your house Chris and Mandi and for putting the picks up.....also to the Ward family for coming out to show us the ropes and help with everything.  I appreciate everyones help.  (Smiley says she's sorry Chris  :angel:)
MG

Thanks for the use of the barn Chris and Mandi and thanks for helping us out Chance and Crystal. It was nice to meet yall

Does someone or does anybody know of someone who does it up in northeast texas? Between me and my hunting buddies probably got 20 dogs to get done.

how for northeast I sold my stuff to a friend of mine in north of lufkin.

I live about 50 miles south of the arkansas line. how far north of lufkin? I wouldnt mind traveling alittle if I could get them all done in one day

He lives about 30 miles north let me see if he is willing first he still owes me money for all my stuff but I will give him a call.

Thanks I would apprediate it.

man they came out awsome . got me wanting to put some brands .

Chance,

    Here are the updated pictures.
Ruby
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0226.jpg)

Tyson
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0229.jpg)

Annie
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0235-2.jpg)

Brandy
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0241.jpg)

Foxy
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0237-1.jpg)

o k i know its been asked before , but what kinda metal do you need to make the brands out of , and how big from top to bottom ?

jdt,

   Here are the Dims. on my brands. They are machined out of brass, and I purchased them from http://www.freeze-brands.com/


(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/circlecchriscoughrin.jpg)

http://www.texasbrands.com/ideas.html

them brands look good. are thos dogs gray hounds or a cur cuz they sure look like a gray hound.

JJT,


   The last dog in the lineup is the only greyhound, she is 100% greyhound. The other dogs are cur and cur/plott. The black dog does not carry much weight or muscle on her hips, so it was just about impossible to get an even brand on her.  The greyhound and bulldog were real easy, as they have the most muscle on them, allowing for an even brand.