When is it time?

Many people are different in their views of a dogs functions and that is fine with me. I think that you are probably a lot further away from the ultimate end than you think. There have been a lot of suggestions of what you can do to give this dog a better quality of life and to keep him hunting.

Do you have an off-season conditioning plan for this dog? If so, what is it? Many people get tied up in the business of life (me included) and think that the dog will be able to go out and lay it down for hours at a time after doing very little physical exercise in months prior to the hunt. This is asking too much of any dog and certainly to much of your geriatric friend. I think that bird dog owners take for granted the incredible athleticism of our canine companions and think they have a switch for that athleticism, but we must keep them in good shape as well. I find that exercising the dogs also keeps me from fattening up too much because I walk just like I would in a hunt.

I have seen the buffered aspirin and glucosomine do wonders for a dog with a permanent injury/arthritis. Weight loss has also helped that dog perform at a much more normal level as well. I'd suggest these things to you as well, a consult with a vet and to try to keep the dog active in the off-season (if you are not already).

With these things, I bet you are going to see marked improvement in this dog's overall health. He probably won't be able to hunt as much as you want him to, but he's going to be able to hunt some. These dogs live to hunt and if he can hunt at some, even if it is not long enough for you to be happy, you owe it to the dog for his 12 faithful years of service to hunt him as much as he can handle. Their bodies breakdown, but their desire never falters.
 
KATroutman13 said:
Many people are different in their views of a dogs functions and that is fine with me. I think that you are probably a lot further away from the ultimate end than you think. There have been a lot of suggestions of what you can do to give this dog a better quality of life and to keep him hunting.

Do you have an off-season conditioning plan for this dog? If so, what is it? Many people get tied up in the business of life (me included) and think that the dog will be able to go out and lay it down for hours at a time after doing very little physical exercise in months prior to the hunt. This is asking too much of any dog and certainly to much of your geriatric friend. I think that bird dog owners take for granted the incredible athleticism of our canine companions and think they have a switch for that athleticism, but we must keep them in good shape as well. I find that exercising the dogs also keeps me from fattening up too much because I walk just like I would in a hunt.

I have seen the buffered aspirin and glucosomine do wonders for a dog with a permanent injury/arthritis. Weight loss has also helped that dog perform at a much more normal level as well. I'd suggest these things to you as well, a consult with a vet and to try to keep the dog active in the off-season (if you are not already).

With these things, I bet you are going to see marked improvement in this dog's overall health. He probably won't be able to hunt as much as you want him to, but he's going to be able to hunt some. These dogs live to hunt and if he can hunt at some, even if it is not long enough for you to be happy, you owe it to the dog for his 12 faithful years of service to hunt him as much as he can handle. Their bodies breakdown, but their desire never falters.
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Thanks for the reply. I'll try and use proper grammer as not to offend anyone, if I don't please forgive me. Anyways, Hank broke a hip when he was a pup while hunting in Western Kansas. Since then he's been on a Synovicre powder with glucosomine as suggested by our vet. He thought the powder would help extend Hank's hunting life. I run him year round with my hunting buddies and their dogs. He's in great shape and soreness has never really been a problem. He's gotten a little stiff on long rides (South Dakota) but usually snaps out of it pretty quickly. What has me concerned is how it seems like it happened overnight and I've had him out hunting twice now since last Wednesday and both times he just not acting right. He normally carries his tail high, now not so which makes me think he's in some pain. Also, not much intensity on his points which up until last week has never been a problem. I'm planning on taking him to the vet in the morning to see what he has to say. Again, thanks for the response.
 
That certainly provides a lot more input and helps. You need to provide that information to your vet as well, if you haven't already. It could very well be something traumatic that happened on a hunt that you did not see.

I don't think it was your grammar that offended him. :) But maybe it was, I think he's a teacher.
 
IMO, having a hunting dog who is also a house dog is the only way to go. It helps with bonding (both with hunter and family) and obedience (sp?) My pointer is a house dog and I love hunting with him and is a great addtion to our family. Yes, he can get a little over excited in the house and has been known to break a few things, but that is part of being a pet owner. However, he is well mannered and listens in the field. Dogs are not tools, they are a companion and should be a part of the family.
My dogs brother lives in an apartment in KC, and again, excellent hunting dog, and well mannered.
I have hunted with kennel dogs. They are usually the ones jumping up on hunters, scratching the side of a truck with their nails etc. Which you cant blame the dog, he doesnt know any better, HE LIVES IN A KENNEL! Hell, the dog is probably just happy to be out of kennel. Not pointing a finger at anyone on this thread, however, it does happen.
I am not trying to chastise anyone either, this is just my 2 cents!

Happy hunting everyone and have a great Thanksgiving!

PS
Dont feed the dog turkey, just trust me on that one
 
RoosterBuck said:
IMO, having a hunting dog who is also a house dog is the only way to go. It helps with bonding (both with hunter and family) and obedience (sp?) My pointer is a house dog and I love hunting with him and is a great addtion to our family. Yes, he can get a little over excited in the house and has been known to break a few things, but that is part of being a pet owner. However, he is well mannered and listens in the field. Dogs are not tools, they are a companion and should be a part of the family.
My dogs brother lives in an apartment in KC, and again, excellent hunting dog, and well mannered.
I have hunted with kennel dogs. They are usually the ones jumping up on hunters, scratching the side of a truck with their nails etc. Which you cant blame the dog, he doesnt know any better, HE LIVES IN A KENNEL! Hell, the dog is probably just happy to be out of kennel. Not pointing a finger at anyone on this thread, however, it does happen.
I am not trying to chastise anyone either, this is just my 2 cents!

Happy hunting everyone and have a great Thanksgiving!

PS
Dont feed the dog turkey, just trust me on that one
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This will be the last time I post on this topic because I don't think my heart can take it anymore. Not sure what some of you don't understand, my two hunting dogs are not able to come in my house, enough said! I'm not the only guy that hunts with "kennel dogs" and I can assure you my dogs are well behaved and are not "jumping on hunters and scratching the sides of trucks". IMO this is an ignorant statement and yes, you did point a finger!
 
KATroutman13 said:
That certainly provides a lot more input and helps. You need to provide that information to your vet as well, if you haven't already. It could very well be something traumatic that happened on a hunt that you did not see.

I don't think it was your grammar that offended him. :) But maybe it was, I think he's a teacher.
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I agree.... And believe me, it wasn't the grammar... I've been known to throw a "than" when a "then" is is necessary.

Yeah, I'm a teacher, and the stuff I see is just.... Terrible. :(

Good luck with the dog though. Hope he's alright.
 
Roosterbuck. Your kennel comment is totally wrong. :( I take care of kennel dogs everyday. I guide 1 or 2 times per week released birds and I guide with two wonderful kennel dogs. They would never even think of jumping on anyone. And if they did they would be corrected immediately. These issues are dealt with in yard training. Dumb comment for sure.:cool: Now, my dogs(pudelpointers) are house dogs and bird dogs-I would not keep my dogs in any kennel; but, don't detract from the kennel dogs that have been trained correctly.

arkrivco
 
Your dog is just sore and tired and worn out. Would you take a 90 some year old man out in the field 2 days in a rows. You can hunt the dog still you just need to keep a close eye on the dog and know when to keep your dog in the box. My last dog was 14 and 5 months when I had to put him down. One of the worst days of my life, I guarantee you its not something to look forward too. You will know when its time when they loose there bowels, When they don't want to get up, when they can't do what they normally do everyday. I agree that you should bring him in the house or in the basement. My dogs stay in the house all the time and always will.
 
arkrivco said:
Roosterbuck. Your kennel comment is totally wrong. :( I take care of kennel dogs everyday. I guide 1 or 2 times per week released birds and I guide with two wonderful kennel dogs. They would never even think of jumping on anyone. And if they did they would be corrected immediately. These issues are dealt with in yard training. Dumb comment for sure.:cool: Now, my dogs(pudelpointers) are house dogs and bird dogs-I would not keep my dogs in any kennel; but, don't detract from the kennel dogs that have been trained correctly.

arkrivco
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good rebuttal, maybe just what i have seen in kennel dogs happens to be a isolated incident. I just not have had good experiences with them. to say all kennel dogs are unruly is not correct and that was not my intent. I am sure there are many good kennel dogs, I have just yet to see them.
I just have a soft heart for dogs and consider them part of a family.
Was not trying to ruffle any feathers. I wish other kennel dogs where treated as they should be treated, not just left there only to be shown attention during hunting season.
Thumbs up to those who truly care about dogs that stay in a kennel and treat them they way they should be. I guess its the limited few who have tainted my view of the subject.
KansasGSP, cant bring them in the house and wont bring them in the house is two separate issues. My comment was ignorant. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge and I did not see that you cant bring your dogs in. As i stated earlier, as long as they are properly taken care of, Im fine with it.
Friends???? LOL
 
When my Brittany turns 12+... he'll ride in the front seat of the truck, eat canned/moist dog food, and sleep by the fireplace, simply dreaming of the 1500+ wild birds he pointed.

In my opinion, a good birddog has earned his place in the world, and it is only right to give him the best "final years" as a companion.
 
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