what age?

[hw97k 36]

i have a 5 year old border on average at what age do you slow down with them?i work him most mornings and hes always keen,just want to know because hes my first terrier thanks atb.

[bobby blackheart 1,209]

he will let you know.

[hw97k 36]

cheers pal.

[foxing machine 144]

bobbys right mate the dog will let you no. souldent wurry to mutch about it at the moment tho mate 5 isent that old atb fm

[Mosby 355]

"Dog will let you know" in my opinion is the worst and most useless answer anyone has ever given me to do with dogs. I've never had a dog older than nine years old. Every one that made it to that age was able to work. If they don't make it to that age, they were a cull or died working... so no need for the question of when to retire them. I've seen dogs older than nine that worked but they were baying dogs... So for what that's worth.

 

I know a guy who used to hunt quite a bit with hard dogs. He'd retire all his dogs at 6 years old whether they wanted to be retired or not. He considered it his obligation to the dogs to not allow them to work at an age they weren't in their prime.

 

You need to know when the dog should not work anymore because a good dog will never stop.

 

I've tried to retire dogs but realized they're much happier working than going on nature walks so I put them back to work.

 

Hounds however I have seen past working age. Once they can't do the job they're only taken out for striking. No sense letting the old boy run himself into the ground trying to catch what he'll never keep up with.

 

I guess what I'm getting at is... look at the animal you're working with and decide whether or not it is capable of the work it needs to accomplish. If it is able, then work it. If it is unable, find it another use, whether that is pet, ratter or whatever.

[liamdelaney 2,587]

"Dog will let you know" in my opinion is the worst and most useless answer anyone has ever given me to do with dogs. I've never had a dog older than nine years old. Every one that made it to that age was able to work. If they don't make it to that age, they were a cull or died working... so no need for the question of when to retire them. I've seen dogs older than nine that worked but they were baying dogs... So for what that's worth.

 

I know a guy who used to hunt quite a bit with hard dogs. He'd retire all his dogs at 6 years old whether they wanted to be retired or not. He considered it his obligation to the dogs to not allow them to work at an age they weren't in their prime.

 

You need to know when the dog should not work anymore because a good dog will never stop.

 

I've tried to retire dogs but realized they're much happier working than going on nature walks so I put them back to work.

 

Hounds however I have seen past working age. Once they can't do the job they're only taken out for striking. No sense letting the old boy run himself into the ground trying to catch what he'll never keep up with.

 

I guess what I'm getting at is... look at the animal you're working with and decide whether or not it is capable of the work it needs to accomplish. If it is able, then work it. If it is unable, find it another use, whether that is pet, ratter or whatever.

Good sensible answer.

[rough dog 333]

The dog in my profile pic is 11 and still flat out with me..when he's had enough he will tell me!!

[dee mac 579]

if a dog owner cant see the signs that tells him his dog aint just as spritly as he used to be then maybe keeping dogs is not for them proper dog men see there dogs everyday and know them like back of there hand so any day the dog is say off or not him usual self they are onto it straight away could be anytthing from a abcess in a tooth to a thorn in a pad or even a kidney infection spotted by the colour of the dogs urine it baffles me some off the questions people ask on here all i can say is god help some of the poor dogs

[bobby blackheart 1,209]

the black dog in my avatar is almost 12 yr old-dug vixen and 4 cubs on a callout 6weeks back-not a mark on dog-that WAS his last one-i respect the dog too much to let him still be flatout-he has done his bit and deserves his place in front of my fire-not every dog is cut out for a life of earthwork-believe me i have had my fair share of quitters -but everyonce in a while you will get a dog that breaks the mold-i have been lucky with this dog- lesser animals would not have made the grade.mosby like you said-a good animal doesnt know when to stop-thats when we come into it.RESPECT YOUR DOGS ABOVE YOUR OWN EGO.the lad asked the question-gave him a simple answer-he got one dog-dont need to know about culling and dogs walking.to many people on this site think they know it all-MYSELF IM ALWAYS LEARNING.WHAT ABOUT YOU?atb Bobby

[hw97k 36]

cheers bobby mate,i know my dog its just that he pulls his stones off to please me even if hes a bit off .i just dont believe in running him in to the floor.i was just in genneral finding out for future reference.but like you said mate im learning everyday.and to dee mac its my first terrier like i said but you obviously have never asked anyone for advice .thanks bobby atb.

[Mosby 355]

if a dog owner cant see the signs that tells him his dog aint just as spritly as he used to be then maybe keeping dogs is not for them proper dog men see there dogs everyday and know them like back of there hand so any day the dog is say off or not him usual self they are onto it straight away could be anytthing from a abcess in a tooth to a thorn in a pad or even a kidney infection spotted by the colour of the dogs urine it baffles me some off the questions people ask on here all i can say is god help some of the poor dogs

 

Dee Mac,

 

I agree a good dog owner will see the signs, and that is what the guys are saying when they say a dog will let you know. The thing is it takes experience to know what "The dog is telling you", as a beginner there is not enough experience to know what "the dog is telling you". Really the part that is tough for me as a young dog man is starting dogs. If I could get all my dogs to a point where I was wondering when to end their career, I'd be in Fat City.

[Mosby 355]

Essentially telling someone the dog will tell you is telling someone who just told you he doesn't know how to read to read a book... It ain't gonna happen.

[dee mac 579]

mosby experience is gained by fisrt having a great disire to get as good as you possibly can at your choosen sport be it dogs football racing car driver etc along the way your going to make mistakes the sign of a smart man is not to make same mistake twice if you spend enough time round your dogs you ll be suprised how much you ll learn from them without knowing i know lads that have kept dogs all there lives and i still dont class them as dog men they think feed them take them out there treated like farm animals you get out what you put in is my motto