when is a running dog at there 'peak' ?

[Catcher 1 639]

I think a dog in it's 4th season knows what's what. So I'd plump for that. I don't think I'd say it's peaked though, cos that suggests it is about to go down hill but it certainly should be doing it's best then.

i would say its 3rd season when it was legal to run hares,and you were at them 3 days a week.other quarry i would agree 4th and even 5th.

 

I'd agree with that benny. You should certainly know if it's got it or not on hares when it's 3.

 

 

Me too 4th and 5th.Sone will keep it up to the 7th.

[Tiny 7 1,694]

4-6 (ish).....

 

 

But what about keeping them at there peak fitness wise from the start of the season till end...Its hard enough getting there but the hard part is keeping them at that level for any length of time,

 

Without it dropping off or running stale ect ect,

 

 

Iv been out/spoke too people theses days that think after 3/4 yrs thats it, And only really wanna be running dogs 18 mths to about 2 and a half i think attitudes like that these day are the trend for dog after dog after dog, Selling then buying cause its all to easy to get lurchers these day than what it was years ago and well before the tin-ter net made it all to easy,

 

 

( Theres a short cut to everything bar experience and this is where an old dog somtimes out shines the younger ones)

[jacksbignose 8]

Wasn't Dancer 7 when she won the singles and doubles in 98?

 

I'd agree that it depends on the dog and how it's been entered but to think a dog has peaked by 3 is too early imho. A good dog has all the prey drive and enthusiasm early on but lacks the experience; the peak comes when it's got the brains and experience and yet still got the drive and enthusiasm. So I'd widen the window to anywhere from 4-8 years (obviously dependent upon type of dog and how it's been worked). It also depends on what discipline you are talking about; my old dog peaked as a ferreting dog at 9, he had an uncanny knack of knowing what was going on underground even without the usual squeaks and bumps and was always in the right place at the right time.

[border lad 1,047]

A good dog, is at its best 3to 4 years old, and then you see the craft of the dog coming in, especially on Hares, I have had running dogs for Hares

from 1958 up to the BAN, I still keep a dog but I am restricted by Law, for me a Hare dog, 18 to 20 months, you knew if the dog, was going to make a

Hare dog, in the first season, I always tried to keep the dog sweet, never over task him, his second season, he was full of running, able to take a Hard run, a good rub down, let it get his wind back, and he or she was fit and able for another good run, and better always to finish on a sweet note, on there 3rd season, you see your dog, do things, that you have to see it for yourself to believe it, they are the top of there game, for speed, and Stamina, the 4Th season you see more craft and cunning, and ability to take there quarry quicker, not wasting there energy, and then in the 5th season, if your dog got injured, back, shoulder, or a simple injury, they seem to take longer to get back to fitness, 8th and 9th they have to be good to still be there, and its up to you to say when is enough, ((((( ONCE A KING ALWAYS A KING, BUT ONCE A KNIGHT, IS ENOUGH,

[Blue one 89]

I think a dog in it's 4th season knows what's what. So I'd plump for that. I don't think I'd say it's peaked though, cos that suggests it is about to go down hill but it certainly should be doing it's best then.

 

 

yes 4 it knows the crack, but regards peaked its how much you give the dog really. Say you only go out couple times a week, and only give it dozen runs when out. It could work like this at 8-9 years old, but if given hard nights 20 30 runs when out, it could be knackerd at 6-7 years old , i think we forget they are dogs not machines

 

Good post.

[Giro 2,648]

My bitch is six i would cut my arm off to have her aged 3 again..

[rocky1 942]

My bitch is six i would cut my arm off to have her aged 3 again..

just a question mate why? for speed ? for her brain? for drive ?why?

[PoCk0 40]

ALRIGHT MATE I KNOW WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT IF THE DOG CANT DO IT./ ALL THE TRAINING/TIME/EXERCISE/FOOD/5STAR ACCOMADATION WONT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AND YOULL HAVE A STABLE FULL OF NO USERS THAT YOU WONT GET RID OFF.

WHERES THE SENSE IN THAT.

WHY KEEP A DOG THATLL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS JOHN DOS DOG THAT ALWAYS AND NEVER WILL DO THE JOB YOU WANT IT FOR.

THE REAL DEALS ARE ALWAYS STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE DOG MEN WHO SAY THERE NOT ARNT REAL DEALS.

REAL DOGMEN ARE ALWAYS STRIVING/BREEDING/LOOKING FOR THAT SUPERDOG WHICH ONLY COMES ALONG 1 OR 2 TIMES IN A LIFETIME.

THERES MILLIONS OF GREAT DOGS OUT THERE BUT YOUR ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR THAT ONE SHOW STOPPER.

Isn't that just greed, always wanting a dog that is better than everyone elses?

[baw 4,360]

My bitch is six i would cut my arm off to have her aged 3 again..

just a question mate why? for speed ? for her brain? for drive ?why?

 

Probably so he can relive her best days I'd imagine

[Giro 2,648]

The bitches feet now look terrible.. she dose not turn as well and she has less gas in the tank..

 

Still takes good numbers regularly on the lamp, daytime quarry is less forgiving to the wide turns she can throw.

 

The bitch was worked hard and its just ware and tear... She has the broken toe and pulled ligiments and i have the photos and fond memorys..

 

The bitch still seems as fast off the mark and still is a good dog but was far better 3 years ago she made things look efortless....

[rocky1 942]

My bitch is six i would cut my arm off to have her aged 3 again..

just a question mate why? for speed ? for her brain? for drive ?why?

 

Probably so he can relive her best days I'd imagine

the reason i ask is i have a 7 year old bitch here and she still going strong she might have lost abit of pace ,but her heart is still in it and she uses her brain more then her legs,the only thing i would like 2 have back is her recovery time ,and thats it ,but since i,m running her 2 sons aswell she gets that

[rocky1 942]

The bitches feet now look terrible.. she dose not turn as well and she has less gas in the tank..

 

Still takes good numbers regularly on the lamp, daytime quarry is less forgiving to the wide turns she can throw.

 

The bitch was worked hard and its just ware and tear... She has the broken toe and pulled ligiments and i have the photos and fond memorys..

 

The bitch still seems as fast off the mark and still is a good dog but was far better 3 years ago she made things look efortless....

answered every question ,i know were you coming from now ,when she was.nt injured ,but with out the knocks and pulls ,i bet she would have still been on fire

Edited February 26, 2011 by rocky1

[3 Turns 326]

ALRIGHT MATE I KNOW WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT IF THE DOG CANT DO IT./ ALL THE TRAINING/TIME/EXERCISE/FOOD/5STAR ACCOMADATION WONT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AND YOULL HAVE A STABLE FULL OF NO USERS THAT YOU WONT GET RID OFF.

WHERES THE SENSE IN THAT.

WHY KEEP A DOG THATLL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS JOHN DOS DOG THAT ALWAYS AND NEVER WILL DO THE JOB YOU WANT IT FOR.

THE REAL DEALS ARE ALWAYS STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE DOG MEN WHO SAY THERE NOT ARNT REAL DEALS.

REAL DOGMEN ARE ALWAYS STRIVING/BREEDING/LOOKING FOR THAT SUPERDOG WHICH ONLY COMES ALONG 1 OR 2 TIMES IN A LIFETIME.

THERES MILLIONS OF GREAT DOGS OUT THERE BUT YOUR ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR THAT ONE SHOW STOPPER.

Isn't that just greed, always wanting a dog that is better than everyone elses?

 

 

ALRIGHT MATE

I DONT GET THE GREED BIT.

EVERYONE WANTS THERE DOGS TO BE BETTER THAN THE NEXT GUYS,

WOULD YOU LIKE OWNING A DOG THAT WAS NEVER AS GOOD AS EVERYONE ELSES.

YOU SHOULD JUST GET A LABRADOR CAUSE THATLL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS A LURCHER THEN YOU CAN JUST STAND BY AND WATCH AND SAY IT DOESNT BOTHER YOU.

[iceman001979 1,316]

True doggy men will know when there dog is at its best.

Should know when there is sick.

Should know when there as had enough.

Should know how much more there dog can take.

Think also it depends on the game there running at and the breed off the dog how it is keep how will it feed and exercised there lot to think about when it comes till a dog being at its very best.

A good feed dog well exercised and looked after should hit its peck 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old IMO if not pushed to hard to young what you in is what you get back

[foxlamper80 28]

True doggy men will know when there dog is at its best.

Should know when there is sick.

Should know when there as had enough.

Should know how much more there dog can take.

Think also it depends on the game there running at and the breed off the dog how it is keep how will it feed and exercised there lot to think about when it comes till a dog being at its very best.

A good feed dog well exercised and looked after should hit its peck 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old IMO if not pushed to hard to young what you in is what you get back

 

wise word s iceman