I recently returned from a trip to North Dakota with my two GSPs. One of the shorthairs will soon turn 16 years old. I thought that last years trip to ND would be his last but he surprised me and made it through the winter, spring, summer and I just had to take him again this fall. His vision and hearing is poor and has lost a significant amount of weight. I would only hunt him for short periods of time--1 to 1 1/2 hours at the most. At times his breathing was labored. He pointed a few birds and retrieved one, but he clearly is no where near where he once was (and neither am I). I observed him stumble at times and he tended to hunt for himself, always hunting into the wind rather than the direction we were walking. This never frustrated or angered me. Although he was not even close to being productive, I couldn't leave him at home-it wouldn't be the right thing to do as he has been traveling west with myself and several others since the late 90's. He has been a significant part of the annual ritual. Leaving him back home alone in the kennel was not an option. As we were packing for the trip, I seriously considered packing a shovel. He survived the trip and appears to be hanging in there. Having said all of this, I was curious if any of you have had elderly dogs continue to travel and hunt with you beyond what is considered a dog's normal life expectancy?
old bird dogs
- Thread starter Truth
- Start date
Not at 15+, no.
I have one turning 14 and one turning 13 for their next celebration.
The 12 1/2 is fighting an Indolent Corneal Ulcer at present but the 13 1/2 did go for state released pheasants a few days ago...for a half hour.
He experienced no downside and I was very cautious...each pup will be an individual based on their Life and one must read them and play the tune by what you see.
As to traveling, that can depend upon how good a traveler the dog has always been and the number of dogs that need hunted.
Some dogs work themselves up stuck in a kennel on the road and for an older dog, closer to home jaunts may be the way to go for some....always a difficult decision.
Enjoy your pup...they do leave all too soon.
I have one turning 14 and one turning 13 for their next celebration.
The 12 1/2 is fighting an Indolent Corneal Ulcer at present but the 13 1/2 did go for state released pheasants a few days ago...for a half hour.
He experienced no downside and I was very cautious...each pup will be an individual based on their Life and one must read them and play the tune by what you see.
As to traveling, that can depend upon how good a traveler the dog has always been and the number of dogs that need hunted.
Some dogs work themselves up stuck in a kennel on the road and for an older dog, closer to home jaunts may be the way to go for some....always a difficult decision.
Enjoy your pup...they do leave all too soon.
Good for you...and your lucky dog.
It always seemed like taking my older dogs out to the fields was like giving them vitamins and they would seem to act younger and come more alive.
It's important not to let them push too hard though. It's also important that they get regular amounts of exercise on a regular basis and not just during hunting trips or hunting season.
I think it's also a good idea to pay particular attention to recuperation and nutrition. I would give them extra nutritional supplements to help with joints and muscle recovery as it is similar with active people, especially the more active older ones.
It always seemed like taking my older dogs out to the fields was like giving them vitamins and they would seem to act younger and come more alive.
It's important not to let them push too hard though. It's also important that they get regular amounts of exercise on a regular basis and not just during hunting trips or hunting season.
I think it's also a good idea to pay particular attention to recuperation and nutrition. I would give them extra nutritional supplements to help with joints and muscle recovery as it is similar with active people, especially the more active older ones.
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birdshooter
Well-known member
Making it to 16 years for a GSP is quite a feat. Hunting till 16 is quite remarkable IMO.
I had one that I hunted till he was 13 and then arthritis in his spine made it all but impossible for him to get around. When things got to the point where his quality of life deteriorated beyond what I thought he could still enjoy life, I put him down. Tough Day for sure .....
Unfortunately you are the only one who can or should decide when the old guy needs to retire to the couch. The fact that he is 16 and still is able to make it around out in the field is quite remarkable. However, you can take it too far. They still have the heart, but the body says otherwise.
Except the inevitable and retire the old boy. He's had a good run. :thumbsup:
I had one that I hunted till he was 13 and then arthritis in his spine made it all but impossible for him to get around. When things got to the point where his quality of life deteriorated beyond what I thought he could still enjoy life, I put him down. Tough Day for sure .....
Unfortunately you are the only one who can or should decide when the old guy needs to retire to the couch. The fact that he is 16 and still is able to make it around out in the field is quite remarkable. However, you can take it too far. They still have the heart, but the body says otherwise.
Except the inevitable and retire the old boy. He's had a good run. :thumbsup:
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mnmthunting
Banned
The dog in my avatar is Cooper. Cooper has starred in probably 100's of pics here on UPH. Last year at 12 Cooper took all the trips with me. The last one in Late Nov was very hard on Him , I couldn't handle His crying. He tried so hard because He loves the hunt so much.
Broke my heart but Cooper stayed with the Wife this year. He is doing well for 13 but another trip would kill Him.
He has a nice bed in our bedroom. What a hunting machine Cooper was.
Broke my heart but Cooper stayed with the Wife this year. He is doing well for 13 but another trip would kill Him.
He has a nice bed in our bedroom. What a hunting machine Cooper was.
carptom1
Well-known member
Man I agree. I hunted my Lab before last till he was 13+. He went on every trip, if he wanted to get out and hunt we hunted him. If not I left him in the kennel. I am headed to SD today, and my buddy is bringing his 13 yr old lab Coot. This dog has been a joy to hunt behind over the years. We keep thinking every year will be his last. He has started having seizures, and we are careful with how much he does, but if he goes in the field so be it. One of my best memories last year was watching my dog overrun a retrieve on a rooster I shot. The old dog slowly got to the spot and mouthed the rooster, my young dog was not pleased. This has actually made me a little sad thinking about the dogs I have owned or hunted behind over the years. Take every trip and enjoy it as if it were your last.
AtTheMurph
Well-known member
I had a Weim I hunted until she was 15.5 but I stopped because her hearing and eyesight wasn't good enough. I nearly lost her in some deep stuff and then couldn't call her back because she couldn't see or hear us.
That was quite a panic attack for both of us when we realized we had lost sight of each other. I hunter her the rest of the year only in narrow cover or cover that wasn't taller than she was.
I was really hoping to hunt my Vizsla this year. he was approaching 12 and in great shape but he got cancer late summer and had to put him down in Sept. I think that dog would have hunted until he fell over. That's the way I want to go out.
That was quite a panic attack for both of us when we realized we had lost sight of each other. I hunter her the rest of the year only in narrow cover or cover that wasn't taller than she was.
I was really hoping to hunt my Vizsla this year. he was approaching 12 and in great shape but he got cancer late summer and had to put him down in Sept. I think that dog would have hunted until he fell over. That's the way I want to go out.
I've had two dogs reach retirement age due to health issues. I retired them and they had long happy retirements. Sure, they still wanted to go, but I stopped taking them because I think it's the right thing to do for them. Me and the Sam boy will be chasing birds again this season, but the Bruce boy will be staying home with mama.
SetterNut
New member
I have had one live to 18 and hunt till 16.5. But pretty much all the rest were in the 12 - 14 range.
My old Gordon that passed away 13 just be for the hunting season.
But the season before, she fell down in tall grass and could not get back up. If it had not been for my younger dog, finding her, it might not have ended as well as it did. It was so windy I could not hear her.
Just be sure if you take an older dog. You can find them in the field if there is a problem. Garmin, Beeper .....
My old Gordon that passed away 13 just be for the hunting season.
But the season before, she fell down in tall grass and could not get back up. If it had not been for my younger dog, finding her, it might not have ended as well as it did. It was so windy I could not hear her.
Just be sure if you take an older dog. You can find them in the field if there is a problem. Garmin, Beeper .....
I have been there.
Hey Truth, I know what you are going through about your dog. I have done the same thing and took an old lab of mine hunting. She was 13 could not really run that well, but when I was getting ready to leave her home and just take my young lab it was like putting a dagger through her heart. I took her with me and she was just happy to come along. Anyhow, I am leaving for ND near the Medina and Jamestown area on Monday. How dod you do over all? Is crop coming down ?
Hey Truth, I know what you are going through about your dog. I have done the same thing and took an old lab of mine hunting. She was 13 could not really run that well, but when I was getting ready to leave her home and just take my young lab it was like putting a dagger through her heart. I took her with me and she was just happy to come along. Anyhow, I am leaving for ND near the Medina and Jamestown area on Monday. How dod you do over all? Is crop coming down ?
We hunted the opening week (for non-residents) in the Mott area. At that time, corn was still up. We saw a fair number of birds near/around the corn. We limited out first two days and fell short of our limit the last two days. I am not sure the status of the harvest since we were there a couple of weeks ago but when we were there, farmers were waiting for it to dry up. If you can find cover near the corn while or right after the corn comes down you should have a decent hunt. Even if the corn is still up, if you work hard, you should find some birds. Have a safe and fun trip!
mnmthunting
Banned
Uncle Buck
New member
Agreed. I have a fourteen year old and I hunt her a couple of times a year in the "back yard", about 35 acres, as tho she still runs and digs, has problems getting in and out of the truck. I do shoot birds back there, just a few miles from Sioux Falls.
Toad
Active member
A couple years ago I hunted behind a 13yo GSP, and I swear I would never have known it was an old dog if the owner didn't tell me. That dog was outstanding! As far as I know he was still good to hunt last year too, but I think the owner had some health issues.
Not to change the subject, but I still think about that dog sometimes and wonder if there are any dog breeders who keep track of how many healthy years a dog has... Honestly, wouldn't you pay a premium if you looked at the pedigree and all the great grandparents were still healthy and hunting at 15? I've never thought to ask about how old the dogs on the pedigree were when they retired or passed. But I would think that if you could track back a few generations, you might find out they all got cancer and died before they were 10 or they were healthy and hunted until they were 15, it might be worth knowing...
:cheers:
Not to change the subject, but I still think about that dog sometimes and wonder if there are any dog breeders who keep track of how many healthy years a dog has... Honestly, wouldn't you pay a premium if you looked at the pedigree and all the great grandparents were still healthy and hunting at 15? I've never thought to ask about how old the dogs on the pedigree were when they retired or passed. But I would think that if you could track back a few generations, you might find out they all got cancer and died before they were 10 or they were healthy and hunted until they were 15, it might be worth knowing...
:cheers:
Honestly, wouldn't you pay a premium if you looked at the pedigree and all the great grandparents were still healthy and hunting at 15? I've never thought to ask about how old the dogs on the pedigree were when they retired or passed. But I would think that if you could track back a few generations, you might find out they all got cancer and died before they were 10 or they were healthy and hunted until they were 15, it might be worth knowing...
:cheers:
Excellent question. I know of a lot of excellent pointers that are dying very early in life of cancer. That certainly raises a red flag, and yet they are still being bred.
Conversely, though, you would think that a good long life in a dog would mean something just as significant as well.
JeremyS
New member
Most of what I would call the "quality breeders" will be able to tell you about the health of the parents, grandparents and so on and if they researched the dogs before doing the breeding they will be able to tell you how old they were, how they died and what kind of health issues, if any, they had. If they had health issues, they probably aren't breeding to those dogs. I can say that many of the dogs behind what I have been breeding lived and hunted past 12 years. Some are still alive and kicking. A couple of them died in accidents and at least 1 died after complications after being spayed.
Within hours of writing this I noticed swelling on one side of the old dog's nose. Kept an eye on it and the swelling got progressively worse with small drops of blood coming from his mouth. Had a vet examine the dog whom suspected but could not confirm what appeared to be a tumor growing in the old guy's mouth. Too make a long story short, we made the very difficult decision to put him down. Not a human being, a dog, but still very difficult. So many memories. Twenty trips out west. Hunted in 7 different states during his 16 hunting seasons dating back 1998, his first season. My daughter, who is now a senior in college, was only 5 when he was whelped in our basement. I owned and hunted over the dam and sire for many years as well. Just three weeks ago he made his last trip to North Dakota. While there, he even got out of the box a few times and attempted to hunt. I watched him make his last retrieve of a young rooster and deliver to my buddy's hand. I am so happy he got to make one last trip. I buried him 50' from the outdoor kennel where he resided for nearly 16 years. His only remaining kennel mate, Tim, watched from the kennel as I buried him. Great dog, wonderful memories.................... Tim has been getting a lot of attention the last couple of days.