Arrow3
Senior Member
He'll turn 10 in January. I'm praying to get this season and hopefully next even if it's limited out of him. He still loves to hunt so much but I can see him slowing down. This was Sunday morning.
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My dog has gotten old on me
- Thread starter Arrow3
- Start date
critterbait
Senior Member
Trust me I know the feeling I have one that is 10 I had to retire him this season.
Hooked On Quack
REV`REND DR LUV
Arrow3, I wish you and your dog as many more hunts as you possibly have together.
When I got back from the service in a December long ago, our bird dog, an English Pointer, was 11. The first time I worked the action on the model 12, he started acting like a teenager. We went out for half a day walk about hunt. At the end he had found 5 coveys and retrieved my limit of birds but I had to pick him up to put him in the truck because he couldn't make it. He just stood ther shivering. But I got to listen to his tail wagging and popping against the floor all the way home.
There is absolutely nothing like hunting with an old friend, one who knows you and who you know well. Sometimes it is best that that old friend is a dog.
When I got back from the service in a December long ago, our bird dog, an English Pointer, was 11. The first time I worked the action on the model 12, he started acting like a teenager. We went out for half a day walk about hunt. At the end he had found 5 coveys and retrieved my limit of birds but I had to pick him up to put him in the truck because he couldn't make it. He just stood ther shivering. But I got to listen to his tail wagging and popping against the floor all the way home.
There is absolutely nothing like hunting with an old friend, one who knows you and who you know well. Sometimes it is best that that old friend is a dog.
mattuga
Banned
Mine is about to turn 13 and this is my first season not hunting her. My dog can hardly hear or see but her hips wouldn't allow her to hunt this season even if she had sight/hearing. I may get her out for 1 last hunt on a really open/easy access woody hole but doubtful. Of course my first opening day not hunting her I kill my first band and someone else's dog brought it back. If there is a positive in that the other dog had a softer mouth than my dog did haha so the bird is in good shape.
Keep your dog healthy (not fat) and the hips will last longer. If my dog had been heavier I think would have had to retire her around 9 or 10 when her hips first showed signs of weakness. Enjoy the time you have had and will have. Do not push the dog in cold weather if it looks uncomfortable be ready to call a hunt. You will push some of the drive from a dog by running it too hard. I wanted to add that you'll get better hunts out of the older dogs if they don't have to sit around for an hour before the hunt, the shorter the wait before retrieves the better.
Keep your dog healthy (not fat) and the hips will last longer. If my dog had been heavier I think would have had to retire her around 9 or 10 when her hips first showed signs of weakness. Enjoy the time you have had and will have. Do not push the dog in cold weather if it looks uncomfortable be ready to call a hunt. You will push some of the drive from a dog by running it too hard. I wanted to add that you'll get better hunts out of the older dogs if they don't have to sit around for an hour before the hunt, the shorter the wait before retrieves the better.
Nothing like a good dog and nothing worse than losing one.
Arrow3
Senior Member
Not looking forward to that part.
Bubba_1122
Senior Member
That's a mighty handsome lab.
Labs are such a special creature. I've been owned by several.
I have a 14 year old lab now. Oldest lab I've had. Took her on a dove hunt 2 years ago and she tried but her ol body just couldn't do it. Middle of the shoot me n her went to the truck. Lots of things starting to malfunction now.
I'm dreading the day...
Enjoy your time, regardless of what that looks like (whether hunting or otherwise).
Labs are such a special creature. I've been owned by several.
I have a 14 year old lab now. Oldest lab I've had. Took her on a dove hunt 2 years ago and she tried but her ol body just couldn't do it. Middle of the shoot me n her went to the truck. Lots of things starting to malfunction now.
I'm dreading the day...
Enjoy your time, regardless of what that looks like (whether hunting or otherwise).
Uptonongood
Senior Member
My yellow is 14 now, too, and her last hunt was five years ago. What great times we've had with ducks, geese, pheasants, quail, and grouse. She was so great to travel with either in my truck, wife's car or a drift boat. She floated the South Fork of the Snake River, the Madison and the Jefferson Rivers but never figured out the "release" part of "catch and release".
She was also the anchor in my three Labrador therapy team work with combat veterans.
She was also the anchor in my three Labrador therapy team work with combat veterans.
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flatsmaster
Senior Member
I hope you and ur dog have many hunts left ... Man this thread got me thinking ... my girl turns 6 soon and I see some gray under her chin ... I got gray all over ... seems like it was yesterday I brought her home !!! 
I know the feeling. My lab turned 10 this last July 28th. We went open day and she give her all. She jumped out of the boat to get a goose and I went to her because she was struggling to get back. Won't let her do that anymore. She is limping with her back hips. Going to Vet this week a see what is up and is there anything for pain.
Snowdawg
Member
My buddy just turned 2 and is in his 2nd season hunting. I am just enjoying every minute we get to spend together and not thinking about things down the road.
nrh0011
Senior Member
I got one that is almost 14, retired him 2 years ago. Enjoy every hunt with your dog and take care of them!!! They get old fast.
chase870
Possum Sox
There is no bond like the bond you have with a working dog. I have a yellow female I hunt with shes 8 and got a grey face now. This reminds me of the "My Fat Girl Friend" thread in the Bragging Board
