how old is too old

[neilinov]

I have spent the past couple of days duck hunting with my 7 year old lab. She is perfect in every way. However she is getting a little sluggish in the evenings. If I try and give her a break she gets sulkish. She wants to go whenever I leave, and she acts like a puppy when she gets there, but when she gets home she is spent. How long do you think she will be able to keep going? I don't want to leaver her at home, because she loves it as much as I do. I feel bad leaving her at home when I go. What is too much for her?

[seapower]

I don't know about "duck" dog's, but I have beagle's for rabbit hunting. I've had good luck with the older dog's and actually prefer them. They are settled and have their mind on the game. Yes they may be abit slower but are much more sure of themselve's. I would get her checked out thoroughly by a good vet first, then would probably start changing her diet. Suppliment with vitamin's and mineral's. Older dog's (purebred's espescialy) get joint pain that equates to sluggishness, they just hurt, not enough to be seen too easily outwardly. Try Glucosamine/Chondroitin, this is a very cheap, but very effective suppliment for dog's. Parasite's will drag a dog down terribly aswell. Exersize is another important part of the equation. I hunt bear, rabbit, deer, etc... with dog's alot, (this type hunting is hard physically), my experience tell's me that your dog isn't too old, you've got something else going on. Good luck, a good dog is "a friend to the end". Frank,SeaPower

[gottaflylee]

OK, I'm gonna guess at a couple of things never seeing your dog. 1) she is an inside dog 2) Is a family pet more than a hunting dog. 3) Maybe a little over weight. 4) Is not on an exercise program. 5) Was not on a per season exercise program. 6) gets more than dog food. Ya, ya I know, what do mean that they need to be on an exercise program...just like you and I if we sit around we get lazy and fat and it is hard for us to get around, so it is for a dog.

As you may know, I work and use a couple of different dogs during the season. I for one would not be worried about what your saying. Lady is a 5 year old *****, even on days that she is not retrieving much the cold will ware her out just trying to keep her warm, she shakes to stay warm and that eats a lot of energy. A dog will sleep 1/2 to 2/3 of the day away, they need the rest. As I type this she is asleep at the edge of the sofa, to hot to be on the sofa right now...

Ruby at age 14 hunts this year, on the nice days. She is in a daily exercise program, that is good for us both as we get out and walk. 2 blocks at a time is all she can go at a time now but she does it 2 or 3 times a day. At the end of the day, the puppies want 3 things, food, water and a long nap. A break before bed and when the clock goes off at 3:30 am they ready to go before me.

Food, an active dog need a food for active dogs. I would not think of keeping Ruby on senior food during hunting season. I do blend mix for her so that she is getting high protein diet also. For the other 2 younger dogs, they stay on the high protein food all during the season and when it ends, I move them back to regular a diet (not diet food) and maintain the exercise program that they were on, just not as strong as it was.

Every dog is different, but I would not think of slowing a seasoned dog down till it is 10 years of age. Keep you dog in good shape and they will live longer and have less problems in the long run. If your dogs stays active, they will let you know when they need to slow down.
Feel free to give me a call with questions you may have. As said, if your dog does not fit into what I said above, definitely have a vet check it out...


the puppies after a long day...couch potatoes... and never ever spoil your dogs... left to right, the queen Ruby at 13 when I took the picture, in the chair, notice she has her own pillow... Rock age 7, in the middle and Lady, the princess age 5...



Ruby at 13, is slow but sready...



Lady, always wide open till we get back to the truck...

[Fins&Feathers]

My dog Drake hunted with me for 11 years and did great.
The best dog any man could have.
He never slowed down until this year and he passed away in my arms before christmas.
If they stay down for long it is very hard to get them back up.
They will let you know if they dont want to go.

[neilinov]

I think Lee is right. She is a little out of shape. Maybe a touch of arthritis. When she hits the marsh she turns back into a puppy! It has been a little iced up and cold so I'm sure that takes a lot out of her.

[Dave Sikorski]

Lee is right.

She will let you know if she wants to go.

My yellow developed a limp at age 7 or so after thousands of retrieves and jumping in and out of a f-250 a couple of times a day.

Some days I would walk down the hallway and flip on the light and find her wide awake and ready to hunt, others she would be asleep and after a good shake she would give me "the look".

She developed a tumor and we had to let her go in November, but she retrieved a goose on her last day. She wasn't in great spirits for most of the day and was dealing with a problem in her rear end. When I started calling and we started getting excited, she snapped to attention and had the look of a puppy in her eyes.

She made her last retrieve like a true professional, and went in a way anyone would wish they could. Doing what they live for.

So anyway, take her when she wants to go, and when she gives you the look just give her a rub on the head when you return.

-D

[gottaflylee]

Wow, what great pictures you and Dave have posted here...love them...

[neilinov]

Well today she was back at it tough as ever, but the birds were not cooperating. Strange day?? Spent all afternoon sitting and waiting. It was cloudy windy and raining. Could have blasted a lot of hairy heads, but waited for some quality birds. Lots of teal doing fly bys, but nothing wanting to commit. Sandy had a day of sitting there watching, but no fetching. Oh well sometimes you get the elevator sometimes you get the shaft!

[anthony]

Dave and Lee make great points and recommendations. My lab, Max, is 10+ and still loves it like he was 3. But long days in the blind or days when he retrieves a bunch of birds (not that often this year), especially in really cold water and he feels it later that evening. Stiff after his nap is his main symptom...but he shakes it off fairly quickly. And they flat out LOVE to sleep after a day of hunting.

Dave, your story above damn near brought a tear to my eye.

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Lee is right.

She will let you know if she wants to go.

My yellow developed a limp at age 7 or so after thousands of retrieves and jumping in and out of a f-250 a couple of times a day.

Some days I would walk down the hallway and flip on the light and find her wide awake and ready to hunt, others she would be asleep and after a good shake she would give me "the look".

She developed a tumor and we had to let her go in November, but she retrieved a goose on her last day. She wasn't in great spirits for most of the day and was dealing with a problem in her rear end. When I started calling and we started getting excited, she snapped to attention and had the look of a puppy in her eyes.

She made her last retrieve like a true professional, and went in a way anyone would wish they could. Doing what they live for.

So anyway, take her when she wants to go, and when she gives you the look just give her a rub on the head when you return.

-D

Anthony held up a few tears better than I did. What a great story. Sound advice.
Holwachagot