Expectations

[boyo 1,398]

question her more for the older members I have asked a few mates this question and most have agreed with me . as I have got older I have come to accept less out of my dogs compared to when I was younger and probally a lot keener. nowadays I can put up with things that years ago I never would have accepted in my dogs. some well known dog people have said the same thing .be good to see what other olde rexperienced dog folk think about these thoughts .

Edited October 6, 2013 by boyo

[Hot Meat 3,109]

I find that after a few dogs I've learnt more and seen more so now come to expect more, always trying to better myself and new dog so to speak...

[weasle 1,119]

I find that after a few dogs I've learnt more and seen more so now come to expect more, always trying to better myself and new dog so to speak...

Same here my first dog couldn't catch a rabbit in a pet shop.

Now I have a standard if the dog isn't near it I cut my losses, never had a perfect dog, might never have one, but it must justify the effort I put in, and I have to enjoy watching it.

[skycat 6,173]

I find that as I get older, I may do less, but I expect more from a dog, which doesn't make a lot of sense, because most dogs get better the more they practice at something. But with the dogs that are really good naturally, you can recognise the signs even as a pup, and even if I'm not pushing them so hard, the good ones push the bar higher themselves. Almost as if they are trying to prove themselves. That last statement is anthropomorphic to an extreme, for a dog is only doing what its instinct and drive are telling it to do. I guess I need a dog that is continually trying hard these days, even when we are just out mooching around, which is mostly what I do. So I do expect more from them, as I can't do what I used to myself.

[BORDERSCOT 3,816]

I hate getting older and find the whole prospect thoroughly depressing.....probably spend more time than I should thinking about it.... And that's not healthy....

 

It's quality now...not quantity....I'm only 48...not old but working outside for most of my working life has taken its toll.... Tell you what though I still get 'em out every day and hunt something in some shape or form....and that ain't gonna change...I get to 10 o'clock some nights and feel no more like going out than I do f****n the cat...but if I don't get it done I'll feel worse....and what's more I still enjoy it...still get that big buzz...and the heart still races when the fur's up....and when I get home in the wee small hours I lie in my bed and relive the whole night....and it feels exactly as it did more then 30 years ago....and that's good....it's when I get up and it takes an hour to get mobile...that ain't so good....

 

Do I expect any less of my dogs....not a bit of it....I still want 100% commitment and still require a high standard of obedience....and I probably have them fitter than a lot of folk....

 

I'm lucky I have Jack....I have had so much enjoyment out of Jack's interest in the dogs....he was always the one who wanted to know....learn...and ask questions....always the first to want to carry and fetch....and more often than not was always by my side....he'll have put more game to bed than a lot of grown men for sure...so in a way I am never gonna get old...as even when I can't do it anymore I'll be able to listen to his tales and take an interest in his dogs and what he's up to....it's really emotional sometimes when I watch him come and go with the dogs....'cause I can just shut my eyes for a second or two and picture another tall skinny 15 year old kid with dog in one hand....a rabbit in the other...walking the same path more than half a lifetime ago....

 

That'll do for me.....

 

(Hare shot and retrieved)

 

 

 

[jerry attrick 264]

fer me pesrsonal i expect to have better dogs now at 55 yrs old than what i did [BANNED TEXT] i was 15 yrs old tankye

[weasle 1,119]

Borderscot your wrong.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48 is old

[boyo 1,398]

ive had running dogs around me since I was a baby in fact never lived in a house without one and 60 yr old next year had a few top class dogs and some average dogs but never a shite one or never stayed for long if it was , but the point I am making is nowadays I am easier to please ,I have 2 dogs one I rate highly and one I rate just about average on a good day years ago these two would have been much more trained than they are obedience wise .I am contented with the two of them and enjoy them for what they are but years ago they would have been at a much higher level than they are .as I said a few top dog men have said they are of the same opinion as me at this stage in their life .

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I hate getting older and find the whole prospect thoroughly depressing.....probably spend more time than I should thinking about it.... And that's not healthy....

 

It's quality now...not quantity....I'm only 48...not old but working outside for most of my working life has taken its toll.... Tell you what though I still get 'em out every day and hunt something in some shape or form....and that ain't gonna change...I get to 10 o'clock some nights and feel no more like going out than I do f****n the cat...but if I don't get it done I'll feel worse....and what's more I still enjoy it...still get that big buzz...and the heart still races when the fur's up....and when I get home in the wee small hours I lie in my bed and relive the whole night....and it feels exactly as it did more then 30 years ago....and that's good....it's when I get up and it takes an hour to get mobile...that ain't so good....

 

Do I expect any less of my dogs....not a bit of it....I still want 100% commitment and still require a high standard of obedience....and I probably have them fitter than a lot of folk....

 

I'm lucky I have Jack....I have had so much enjoyment out of Jack's interest in the dogs....he was always the one who wanted to know....learn...and ask questions....always the first to want to carry and fetch....and more often than not was always by my side....he'll have put more game to bed than a lot of grown men for sure...so in a way I am never gonna get old...as even when I can't do it anymore I'll be able to listen to his tales and take an interest in his dogs and what he's up to....it's really emotional sometimes when I watch him come and go with the dogs....'cause I can just shut my eyes for a second or two and picture another tall skinny 15 year old kid with dog in one hand....a rabbit in the other...walking the same path more than half a lifetime ago....

 

That'll do for me.....

 

(Hare shot and retrieved)

 

rsz_pict2199.jpg

 

 

That's one of the best posts I've read on here in a long time

[northern lad 2,292]

I hate getting older and find the whole prospect thoroughly depressing.....probably spend more time than I should thinking about it.... And that's not healthy....

 

It's quality now...not quantity....I'm only 48...not old but working outside for most of my working life has taken its toll.... Tell you what though I still get 'em out every day and hunt something in some shape or form....and that ain't gonna change...I get to 10 o'clock some nights and feel no more like going out than I do f****n the cat...but if I don't get it done I'll feel worse....and what's more I still enjoy it...still get that big buzz...and the heart still races when the fur's up....and when I get home in the wee small hours I lie in my bed and relive the whole night....and it feels exactly as it did more then 30 years ago....and that's good....it's when I get up and it takes an hour to get mobile...that ain't so good....

 

Do I expect any less of my dogs....not a bit of it....I still want 100% commitment and still require a high standard of obedience....and I probably have them fitter than a lot of folk....

 

I'm lucky I have Jack....I have had so much enjoyment out of Jack's interest in the dogs....he was always the one who wanted to know....learn...and ask questions....always the first to want to carry and fetch....and more often than not was always by my side....he'll have put more game to bed than a lot of grown men for sure...so in a way I am never gonna get old...as even when I can't do it anymore I'll be able to listen to his tales and take an interest in his dogs and what he's up to....it's really emotional sometimes when I watch him come and go with the dogs....'cause I can just shut my eyes for a second or two and picture another tall skinny 15 year old kid with dog in one hand....a rabbit in the other...walking the same path more than half a lifetime ago....

 

That'll do for me.....

 

(Hare shot and retrieved)

 

rsz_pict2199.jpg

 

 

What a fantastic post

[NIBS 35]

I hate getting older and find the whole prospect thoroughly depressing.....probably spend more time than I should thinking about it.... And that's not healthy....

 

It's quality now...not quantity....I'm only 48...not old but working outside for most of my working life has taken its toll.... Tell you what though I still get 'em out every day and hunt something in some shape or form....and that ain't gonna change...I get to 10 o'clock some nights and feel no more like going out than I do f****n the cat...but if I don't get it done I'll feel worse....and what's more I still enjoy it...still get that big buzz...and the heart still races when the fur's up....and when I get home in the wee small hours I lie in my bed and relive the whole night....and it feels exactly as it did more then 30 years ago....and that's good....it's when I get up and it takes an hour to get mobile...that ain't so good....

 

Do I expect any less of my dogs....not a bit of it....I still want 100% commitment and still require a high standard of obedience....and I probably have them fitter than a lot of folk....

 

I'm lucky I have Jack....I have had so much enjoyment out of Jack's interest in the dogs....he was always the one who wanted to know....learn...and ask questions....always the first to want to carry and fetch....and more often than not was always by my side....he'll have put more game to bed than a lot of grown men for sure...so in a way I am never gonna get old...as even when I can't do it anymore I'll be able to listen to his tales and take an interest in his dogs and what he's up to....it's really emotional sometimes when I watch him come and go with the dogs....'cause I can just shut my eyes for a second or two and picture another tall skinny 15 year old kid with dog in one hand....a rabbit in the other...walking the same path more than half a lifetime ago....

 

That'll do for me.....

 

(Hare shot and retrieved)

 

rsz_pict2199.jpg

 

 

No more needs said

[BORDERSCOT 3,816]

Borderscot your wrong.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48 is old

 

Some days mate - it really feels like it.....

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

question her more for the older members I have asked a few mates this question and most have agreed with me . as I have got older I have come to accept less out of my dogs compared to when I was younger and probally a lot keener. nowadays I can put up with things that years ago I never would have accepted in my dogs. some well known dog people have said the same thing .be good to see what other olde rexperienced dog folk think about these thoughts .

 

 

Good question Boyo..

 

We are all different,.we are all individuals,.. and same as the Lurcher, we must never be standardised, catigorised,... or encouraged to all think the same..

 

This is what makes us lurchermen...

 

I used to kill a lot of game,...I was mad for it,...so much so,.that lurchers really were my life,...and in truth, I've fecked up a large part of it,.due to my fanatical pursuit of game,...and some might say,.in search of some kind of idiotic, pseudo fame or notoriety... .

 

But,.not any more,....nowadays it is,..onlytheconey,...

 

My demands are small, and so are my catches,...I need to have quality, not quantity,...I want good, genuine, honest dogs, and the same from my human hunting partners...I have no time for posers,.theorists or competitive boasters,...been there done that,.and I was possibly one of the fecking worst

 

So,.in answer to your question,....yes, I accept far less from a lurcher, than back in the 1980s...and I am a far happier person because of it.

 

Best wishes to all mangy crossbreds,...Phil..

Edited October 7, 2013 by Phil Lloyd

[border lad 1,047]

I agree with you Boyo, as you get older you Mellow,for instance IF i HAD A sALUKI X when I was young man, I would have messed him up, lack of Patience,

I have always had a dog to Hunt off the road, and carry back to the van or hand, also numbers dont mean anything for me now, I would rather see my dog work well, a couple of rabbits were possible and probably a bit larger, Patience is a virtue, and its impossible to put an old head on young shoulders, they are all looking for INSTANCE COFFEE,

[mackay 3,374]

Agree with Phil and boyo, still look for a decent standard in a dog but I've definitely mellowed.

Had to I suppose for I'd describe my passion for hunting when younger to be obsessive and my dogs to be near robotic.

To be fair it's not just my attitude and expectations of my dogs I'm more mellowed with but hunting in general, I always considered myself sporting and fair regarding any quarry I hunted, but now, and this might seem a strange admission on a hunting site, but I don't feel the same desire to actually hunt like I used to. What was it a man once said, I used to study the grizzly in order to hunt him, I now hunt him in order to study him.