Retiring Too Young

[TAXI DRIVER 549]

As the weather conditions weren`t that good tonight I took the old man out for an hour on some local ground.He`s 9 and a half and has done nothing this season as I`ve been concentrating on my young dog.The old man was over the moon to be out and showed me why he was once my main man.He caught half of what he ran in poor conditions.I felt bad on the way home thinking I`d done him a disservice by getting a new dog too soon.What do you think?Are we retiring them too soon?

[darbo 4,776]

Can you just not run him lightly this season have him ticking over always can be a back up for some sport if the young dog picks up a injury touch wood it doesnt.

[blackmaggie 3,376]

sometimes matey you have to be cruel to be kind the hearts willing but sadly the legs arent but i bet he loved it out doing what he does best

[RossM 8,119]

As the weather conditions weren`t that good tonight I took the old man out for an hour on some local ground.He`s 9 and a half and has done nothing this season as I`ve been concentrating on my young dog.The old man was over the moon to be out and showed me why he was once my main man.He caught half of what he ran in poor conditions.I felt bad on the way home thinking I`d done him a disservice by getting a new dog too soon.What do you think?Are we retiring them too soon?

Got a bitch here at 11 who's first to the door and only gets the odd night/day out and sometimes watching her I feel a bit sad thinking of what she's given me only to be cast aside as such, still gives 100% and will catch stuff I wouldn't expect my other dog to catch through experience alone.

 

 

Edited to add.... When she lets me know that's when I'll fully retire her.

[TAXI DRIVER 549]

Can you just not run him lightly this season have him ticking over always can be a back up for some sport if the young dog picks up a injury touch wood it doesnt.

I`ll take him out when I can but I`m testing the youngster as often as I can when the conditions are right.The old man has more than proved himself and is well walked and fed.

[blackmaggie 3,376]

i know how it is hard leaving a trusted friend behind who has served so well and when they give you that look its harder but age gets us all matey im sure you could still use him one way or another

[RossM 8,119]

I'll be honest I was still running my older bitch when I should've been running my pup, simply coz she was producing the goods, it wasn't until serious injury the pup got her chance... Probably a bit harsh on my part,

[CraignTod 278]

Cruel to be kind mate, my old russel used to work real hard never gave up, over exercised herself at 13 had a stroke mate never forgave myself, she was so fit too

[Slippery_Weasel 460]

Why not take him out with the young one and just alternate runs or give him 1 run for every 2 the other gets

[Wales1234 5,540]

Find the old dogs catch through experience mines a lot slow and can't turn like my young Bitch but hell of a lot of the time she gets there first by cutting them off hate leaving my old girl behind because she gives 100% and honestly would die doing her job if left to it ! She proved a few months ago she's still committed and loves her job ! Once she's had her pups I will be getting her back out for a few trips !

[bird 9,931]

Can you just not run him lightly this season have him ticking over always can be a back up for some sport if the young dog picks up a injury touch wood it doesnt.

very true that its happened to me, as most on here and few other sites Bryn been great rabbit dog over the years had some good bags with him,and worked lots of differnt places and he always did well Bryn 8 year old now not old but deff getting on like me . Buck my 1x gsdx grey just gone 3 year old in august , and he being going great he deff ticking all the boxes for me he last bag was 36 in one night , ok not many to some people but i was well happy with it, he will run and try 100% to catch (any) quarry put him on he more full on temp than Bryn ever been, Bryn just a rabbit dog really , where Buck not .so for me its the same above i just work Buck most times , because his age, and you know he the best dog of the 2 if iam honest. but i try to give Bryn the odd night out in the lamp, but he out every day for couple of hours, and like above if Buck hurt as he bloody mad headed lol i give Bryn a night out while Buck gets better, but regards age lest be honest you will always try to take best dog out of the kennel, not the 2nd best for the job that day or night . .there working dogs not pets.!!