dogs that have done their time

[watchman 256]

i just wondered what you all do with your dogs when they have finished working,retired through injury,getting old ect,i personally have never had a dog longer than 8 years old,by this time the particular dog had done a lot of graft over the years and just could not keep up as expected with the pace of daily/nightly lamping trips,she had a major collision with a tree and although healed and came good,within herself,she was never the same dog again,i know a lot of you will say that after years of working for you,they should be retired to spend the rest of their days in comfort,but this can be a problem,kenneling,bringing on another dog and i suppose lack of time for an older dog as well,so how many of you still have a completely retired dog on your hands.

this subject may also reflect on your oppinion of your dogs regarding weather its a pet that you work/or as in my case it is in my kennel to do a job,if its not up to the job,i dont have it,harsh you may say but im being honest.

is it not the case that a lot of rescue centres have older dogs in them,that have been given up by owners who just not got the time for them or indeed use for them anymore,i will also add that i have re-homed a couple to others in the hunting game,(not because of old age)that maybe do not require certain traits in a dog but can make use of it in other ways,for example,had a collie/grey type x years ago,pr-ban,that would not entertain charlie in the least bit,although you could not ask for a better rabbiting dog on the lamp,so this is what she was sold as.

so come on then lads whats your thoughts on this

Edited January 25, 2010 by watchman

[albert64 1,882]

mine stay till the end mate only keep one worker old ones 13 young upstart 15mths mate it is hard for some people to keep them on after retirement due to kennel space

[chartpolski 23,031]

I've just come in from a couple of hours mooch about with my two youngest, ( 4 year old and 6 month old), brushed them down, fed them and put them in the kennel. The oldest, (12 + years old), is asleep on the couch. Her joints aren't what they were, so she just gets a short walk twice a day, and wanders about the yard. If her hips get to a point that it affects her quality of life to much, she will be P.T.S., if not she will live out her retirement in the house. I have no prblem with dogs going to pet homes or homes where they will be worked to their limited ability, but I think I owe it to the old'un to let her have a decent retirement.

 

Cheers.

[SCOTTY1 3]

SAME AS CHARTPOLKSI THEY GET A FIRESIDE HOME UNTIL THE TIME COMES TO DO WHATS RIGHT

[CarraghsGem 92]

depends on the dog! 3 of mine have earned their keep and will be kept long after their retirement at 8 or 9 usually, until old age becomes too much for them and they have a 1 way trip to the vet, 3 more are in training and the other 1 is a pup, just in case you were wondering what dogs i have- ive 3 working sheepdogs a bull lurcher, a patterdale, a parson russell and the pup is a border terrierX

 

if a dog has earned its keep, it should not be discarded,

it should be rewarded for its efforts with a comfortable retirement with people its familiar with!

 

if you cant do that then dont dump the dog on a rescue,

too many people do that and its a cowardly thing to do to your hardworking canine,

as many working dogs, even older ones are not suitable as pets,

take responsibility for your own animals,

make the hard decision if you have to and have the dog put down

you have to do whatever is in the best interest of your dog,

 

gem.

[Guest Arsenal F.C]

after a dogs worked its ass off for you for years , let it have the rest off its years the best in the house infront off th fire , you should always have time for the one youve had the longest when they loyal to you be loyal to them SIMPLE AS

[Guest Arsenal F.C]

SPOT ON !!!

Edited January 25, 2010 by Arsenal F.C

[genuine 81]

I know i few that keep there retired dogs until there getting to the point when its time to move on do the best for the dog but not to the vets,every dog ive seen hates vets and to let someone he/she the dog doesnt know put them to sleep with me watching isnt very comfortable for me or the dog so i would rather a walk up the field with the gun and give the dog a sharp one which wouldnt be felt and im would also feel better too doing right by the dog they would never know it happend!

Edited January 25, 2010 by genuine

[poacher3161 1,766]

Theirs no question a dog thats proved its worth should have an home for life .The biggest dilema like me at the moment is [bANNED TEXT] you have a young dog that you know in your heart they are just not going to be wat you want i would sooner have it put to sleep if a pet home could not be found sooner than some of the numptys thats on this site have her were they have put dogs up to be swapped like a pair socks

[watchman 256]

I know i few that keep there retired dogs until there getting to the point when its time to move on do the best for the dog but not to the vets,every dog ive seen hates vets and to let someone he/she the dog doesnt know put them to sleep with me watching isnt very comfortable for me or the dog so i would rather a walk up the field with the gun and give the dog a sharp one which wouldnt be felt and im would also feel better too doing right by the dog they would never know it happend!

100% with you mate

[whippet 99 2,613]

I know i few that keep there retired dogs until there getting to the point when its time to move on do the best for the dog but not to the vets,every dog ive seen hates vets and to let someone he/she the dog doesnt know put them to sleep with me watching isnt very comfortable for me or the dog so i would rather a walk up the field with the gun and give the dog a sharp one which wouldnt be felt and im would also feel better too doing right by the dog they would never know it happend!

100% with you mate

never right in the head , blowing a dog away in front of you, if you can live with that after all the service its give to you , and partnership through the years then on your mind be it. i will lay mine to sleep the same way they come in , the body intacted. shooting is humane but i wouldnt want to see the after math , it would be some thing i wouldnt get out of my head. my dogs are my family and i couldnt do that to any one in my family

[jf1970 328]

I know i few that keep there retired dogs until there getting to the point when its time to move on do the best for the dog but not to the vets,every dog ive seen hates vets and to let someone he/she the dog doesnt know put them to sleep with me watching isnt very comfortable for me or the dog so i would rather a walk up the field with the gun and give the dog a sharp one which wouldnt be felt and im would also feel better too doing right by the dog they would never know it happend!

100% with you mate

never right in the head , blowing a dog away in front of you, if you can live with that after all the service its give to you , and partnership through the years then on your mind be it. i will lay mine to sleep the same way they come in , the body intacted. shooting is humane but i wouldnt want to see the after math , it would be some thing i wouldnt get out of my head. my dogs are my family and i couldnt do that to any one in my family

100% all the way

[inan 841]

i just wondered what you all do with your dogs when they have finished working,retired through injury,getting old ect,i personally have never had a dog longer than 8 years old,by this time the particular dog had done a lot of graft over the years and just could not keep up as expected with the pace of daily/nightly lamping trips,she had a major collision with a tree and although healed and came good,within herself,she was never the same dog again,i know a lot of you will say that after years of working for you,they should be retired to spend the rest of their days in comfort,but this can be a problem,kenneling,bringing on another dog and i suppose lack of time for an older dog as well,so how many of you still have a completely retired dog on your hands.

this subject may also reflect on your oppinion of your dogs regarding weather its a pet that you work/or as in my case it is in my kennel to do a job,if its not up to the job,i dont have it,harsh you may say but im being honest.

is it not the case that a lot of rescue centres have older dogs in them,that have been given up by owners who just not got the time for them or indeed use for them anymore,i will also add that i have re-homed a couple to others in the hunting game,(not because of old age)that maybe do not require certain traits in a dog but can make use of it in other ways,for example,had a collie/grey type x years ago,pr-ban,that would not entertain charlie in the least bit,although you could not ask for a better rabbiting dog on the lamp,so this is what she was sold as.

so come on then lads whats your thoughts on this

My dogs are my hunting companions and also my pals,after giving their best through their working life I beleive I owe it to them to provide a loving home for them for the rest of their life.Personal opinion.

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

I know i few that keep there retired dogs until there getting to the point when its time to move on do the best for the dog but not to the vets,every dog ive seen hates vets and to let someone he/she the dog doesnt know put them to sleep with me watching isnt very comfortable for me or the dog so i would rather a walk up the field with the gun and give the dog a sharp one which wouldnt be felt and im would also feel better too doing right by the dog they would never know it happend!

100% with you mate

never right in the head , blowing a dog away in front of you, if you can live with that after all the service its give to you , and partnership through the years then on your mind be it. i will lay mine to sleep the same way they come in , the body intacted. shooting is humane but i wouldnt want to see the after math , it would be some thing i wouldnt get out of my head. my dogs are my family and i couldnt do that to any one in my family

no point getting soft when the deed needs to be done you have to think of the dog first. Which way would YOU rather go, by your owners side out on a walk, or dragged kicking and screaming into the vets?

I keep my retired dogs until they either die of old age, or need putting to sleep. My old spaniel is 16 in march, he did 11 full years of work, not just during the game seasons. He has had a good retirement, a relaxing time, but he is now at the point where its decision time.

Edited January 25, 2010 by dogs-n-natives

[sighthound1811 6]

any dog(s) a have are kept in the house since their pups ..not only are they workers but family pets as well...an they are also tasked with protecting my wife an 2 young children when am not there..so even if a dog is old like one a had years ago (11 y/o) when she had to be PTS she got taken out a wee walk wi the young dog then taken back home an the youngster was takin back out again ..but a can understand peoples different views..huntin is a hobby to me not a job so a can retire my dogs to the fireside..cheers..chris