All good things end

[johnrussell84 2,764]

Well if someone told me at the start of this day I’d be hanging the old dog’s boots up I’d have smirked and said life in him yet. It started like our normal walk only I had had a shitty day An pushes further a field. I always let him bush he always has the bellman on so him An the wee man entered a small block of trees he flushed 4 roe an then Ewan appeared but no old timer. After 10-15 mins whistling I entered the strip not long went till I found him at ground . But my school boy error spade was over a mile away in the car. We sat for half hour hoping for a bolt, not to be an where he sat was showing 4.4 no way. I sent Ewan the long walk back to the spade and I sat I heard a rumble right thru the earth to the other side box on 1.4 well now we are talking!!! I started to clear some top layer with a stick the ground was ash so I made good the stick and got to 0.7 before the wee man got back , as I broke thru Zak still thinking he’s a young thing An giving it all he had but the old wounds don’t hold like they used to nor do the teeth,  back home it was evident a few teeth missing a few holes reappeared and he was feeling it . Now some folk would say he will come good and try again but I’ve had some sport some excellent flushing days he’s found me more earths than I ever knew so tonight showering him down hit me like a ton of bricks it’s over and time to chill out 

[fireman 10,774]

Fare to say in a few days once he's healed the old dog might not agree with you but respect for calling it for him as your the only one who knows when to call it a day for him...

[johnrussell84 2,764]

Yeh mate that’s it, we disagree on most things. I like him in general mate An seeing him worse for wear now isn’t fair. He will still walk and still have collar for safe keep but anywhere I think holes he will be leaded 

[Bosun11 537]

Never easy making such decisions, especially when the've done so well.

Though in my limited expierience, sometimes its better to say, never say never...

Betcha you'll find it tough to see his eyes and attitude when your buckling younger dogs up and leaving him behind, seeing his beat up face, full of fire for wanting to do what he'd rather do, what he was bred to do!

I recon it'd be far better to limit when and where he finds his quarry and keep him both going and doing what he wants to do.

Better to die with a sword in your hand than to pine away in a kennel or by a fire....

[johnrussell84 2,764]

Yeh he will always come with me mate on your basic walks where there ain’t a lot of holes about ,  a won’t leave him behind , but I don’t lead him to check places I’ve always had him free hunting flushing to the big dogs. Most the time he’s already in an doing his business by the time I get to him . It’s the places I collar him up and take the spade with optimism that I could have a good day either pushing or him dropping that’s over for him.

[big napper 3,559]

Nice one mate, you know whats best for your dog

[dillydog 8,414]

I've had the good fortune to own a few that lasted into semi retirement, Bosun is right, after beating myself up about the earlier dogs in my career IMO It's much kinder to limit where and when you work them.

They don't know they're old and tired, the drive that's in them will frustrate and destroy them watching you get out with the younger dogs, it's much kinder to limit their work and to keep their place on the team.

[Lenmcharristar 9,172]

Nobody told your we dog he’s too old, lol hope he enjoys his retirement, could have been a lot worse where he had to be pts, so enjoy him whilst ya still have him as all too quickly they’re gone for ever and only alive in your memory

[ziggy 604]

10 minutes ago, dillydog said:

I've had the good fortune to own a few that lasted into semi retirement, Bosun is right, after beating myself up about the earlier dogs in my career IMO It's much kinder to limit where and when you work them.

They don't know they're old and tired, the drive that's in them will frustrate and destroy them watching you get out with the younger dogs, it's much kinder to limit their work and to keep their place on the team.

Your spot on the r bud... I've an old dog here at coming 14 years.. last year I dug 17ft to her.. she's been he'll of a dog....but I've said the same dilly to my mates keep them working .. maybe not as much . but you have to pick your place ..ive have found over the years once you retire them they age very quickly.. as if you keep them ticking on still they seem to still have that bounce in the r step.. Just my opinion..

[johnrussell84 2,764]

I will keep him mooching flushing etc he’s valuable for me in that way will still have his days ferreting next season just the old digging al cut out. No doubt he will drop at some point I just won’t go looking 

[Ace Boone coon 648]

19 hours ago, johnrussell84 said:

Well if someone told me at the start of this day I’d be hanging the old dog’s boots up I’d have smirked and said life in him yet. It started like our normal walk only I had had a shitty day An pushes further a field. I always let him bush he always has the bellman on so him An the wee man entered a small block of trees he flushed 4 roe an then Ewan appeared but no old timer. After 10-15 mins whistling I entered the strip not long went till I found him at ground . But my school boy error spade was over a mile away in the car. We sat for half hour hoping for a bolt, not to be an where he sat was showing 4.4 no way. I sent Ewan the long walk back to the spade and I sat I heard a rumble right thru the earth to the other side box on 1.4 well now we are talking!!! I started to clear some top layer with a stick the ground was ash so I made good the stick and got to 0.7 before the wee man got back , as I broke thru Zak still thinking he’s a young thing An giving it all he had but the old wounds don’t hold like they used to nor do the teeth,  back home it was evident a few teeth missing a few holes reappeared and he was feeling it . Now some folk would say he will come good and try again but I’ve had some sport some excellent flushing days he’s found me more earths than I ever knew so tonight showering him down hit me like a ton of bricks it’s over and time to chill out 

It's nice to hear when someone knows when to call it quits.  A lot of folks don't seem to know when and keep going off of ego.  Good for you

[nick703 446]

 Had a very similar thing happen to my old Russell a few weeks back , I was gutted to see he'd opened up old wounds, lower lip not attached again, he's been on easy ones for a while now an this was the easiest one ever,  but probably one of his worst 2nd place ever, back in his day he'd of killed it and started eating it in minutes , he's fully retired now as his plastic surgeon says he's had two many chin lifts , be careful with him even on the easy ones

[johnrussell84 2,764]

That was a straight forward set easy enough he was just reckless and his nose will be like mush for a while . Like a say he has a use in other ways

[dogmandont 9,314]

For some it has to be full retirement for if they only get dug a couple of times a season they just be too reckless and never get a chance to settle in. It’s nice when a good one makes old bones. 

[johnrussell84 2,764]

Yeh I dug him just the other week he was spot on just a few peppers but nothing could have dug him the following day. No one knows why they think or what makes them be careless time to time. Part of the ups and downs of the terrier game I suppose .