How can you lads say about minimum 5 hard seasons n all that ? Nothing is set in stone you give your dogs enough you know if they got it or not its that simple.i know dogs that at 3/4 year old want retiring because theyve had so much hammer.
Id rather buy a pup off some of the youngsters about getting out there and filling the boot then some of the old timers that live off days gone by.
Same with seeing parents run not allways possible nowadays is it. You ask ten people with young dogs did they see either parents go out i bet most give the same answer if there honest.