Prime

[Zilverhaze 1,627]

At what time whuld you say a dog reaches the prime of its working life ? Phisicly and mentally with enough experience to say he nows the job inside out ??

[ijf 109]

3 years coming, 3 years with ya and 3 years going. So between 3 and 6 would be in their prime.

[eastcoast 3,738]

Shortly before you start to appreciate what you have,soon after you realise it's been taken for granted and about the same time that it dawns on you that they don't live long enough

[Waz 4,213]

3rd 4th season should be flying

Edited February 14, 2017 by Waz

[the goat 642]

6 months

[Wales1234 5,425]

6 months

Don't be silly they retire at that age digging mine at 3 months

[foxdropper 17,092]

5 years not a day more .

[howdeeposxxt 1,448]

2,3 and 4 years. If they had some hard digs I think the best is leaving them once they hit five and six ease of on the digging well that's what I would do. Each to there own.

[Mary 352]

When does a terrier man hit his prime? Do you think many do?

[howdeeposxxt 1,448]

When he has had a few pints ??

[foxdropper 17,092]

Men are supposedly in their prime in their thirties which means I'm 20 years late lol.Animals like us are mere mortals , phsycal peaks and time at the top is based on how much the body is put through during that peak .The more a body does during this time ,the less likely hood of it lasting into the Autumn years .Just my opinion based on observations of life .

There are one offs to the norm obviously .

[leethedog 3,071]

So a dog entered at 18 months is at the top of its game by the following season is that what you lads are saying I would of thought it would take longer for a dog to know it's job inside out

[dillydog 8,422]

It's natural instincts and abilities that creates the terrier, it's the amount of work and kennel management that moulds it into the finished article. IMO a terrier won't be in it's prime until it's third season, there's always the exceptions. I can't do an under 10 second 100 MTR sprint but there's people that can, it's the same with dogs, some are just naturals.

[howdeeposxxt 1,448]

If I have a dog starting say 16 months doing a couple a digs I would have him digging full on the next season not holding back at this stage and seeing what he is made of and if he is up to scratch keep him going that way and hoping he keeps up that standard as long as the body is capable. Simple in my book but we all differ

[neil cooney 10,415]

I don't know about prime but I don't think a terrier is fully mature 'till it's three. Obviously they're all different (ie. bitches often mature earlier than dogs) but as a rule I think they mature at around three.

As for prime, they're all different. I dug to a 9 year old bitch 3 times last week, twice one day and once a few days later. The same bitches sister was retired after 3 seasons.

I've dug to 7, 8, 9 and 10 year old terriers that could still succeed where other fellows prides and joys wouldn't at 3 and 4.

There's not to many rules in this game regarding the working life of a terrier.