Life in the Old Dog yet.

[comanche 2,551]

After chatting with another TFL member last night about his latest doggy exploits l had an urge to charge up the lamp have a wander with my geriatric lurcher .

A bit hypocritical really as the conversation touched on my intention to let rabbit numbers build up on my permission. 

Still , in truth l didn't  think we'd actually see anything let alone  get a run . A catch seemed even more unlikely!

I don't think l've taken the dog out with the lamp for maybe eight years ,possibly more , and the old chap is probably somewhere either side of fourteen .

As l suspected  , there wasn't much rabbit action . So little in fact that l seriously looked up at Orion and cursed him. Well the old bugger was up there all aglint with his silly Spartacus sword ; supposedly the Great Hunter yet he couldn't be arsed to pull a few celestial strings for  one of his  Earthbound  fellows.

Then a few minutes later l saw it ;the rabbit , bobbing about in the only field l hadn't  scanned . 

I held it in the lamp and ticked the dog, who had been meandering in a bemused fashion at heel for the previous hour of boredom , onward.

Down the beam he stalked ,just as he had learned to do in his youth , before shooting like a rocket towards the unsuspecting bunny.

Actually he didn't.  He went off the wrong blooming way !

  I kept quiet , the rabbit  was getting concerned by the beam ,a bit twitchy .

Then the old dog appeared  in the spotlight. He must've suddenly had a flashback to his younger days and remembered what he was supposed to do. 

Anyway he caught the rabbit after a chase that luckily involved lots of twisty turns rather than a test of speed. He never was  a very fast dog.

I fussed the dog ,who was jolly pleased with himself  , and mentally apologised to Orion for doubting his credentials.

And then we came home

 

Edited February 24 by comanche

[Aussie Whip 3,596]

Good effort from the old boy. I used to think of retiring them when old but I now think they should just keep going to keep them going.

[mackem 20,432]

I enjoyed reading that,thank you.

[comanche 2,551]

25 minutes ago, Aussie Whip said:

Good effort from the old boy. I used to think of retiring them when old but I now think they should just keep going to keep them going.

I think it might be different with " point and squirt" dogs that are just run off a slip.  They are a sort of one trick pony. 

I try for a  modicum of obedience and steadyness type training and once its hairing about days are over the dog can still be useful in other ways like shooting and ferreting . Or just a stressless companion.

Edited February 24 by comanche

[Maximus Ferret 2,044]

I can relate to that. I have a couple of oldies myself and often look up to Orien if the sky is clear enough 

[OldPhil 4,827]

Lovely , inspiring tale,...I saw the Auld Fellah, as a young Buck,.and he has certainly done you proud

[RossM 7,977]

Quality, 

[bird 9,366]

a nice post this, old bryn my 1x collie x grey , could still knock few over at 10 year old, he died at 14 , but being honest from 8month old - 10 year old , he made catching day/ night easy .Same as big Buck  took to lamping dead quick, rabbits  easy more so how big he was , charlie the same and and big things, he 10 now, lost some pace  but i carnt complain , because he gave me some great 8 years lamping , big dogs slow up  bit quicker than smaller dogs. enjoy your old dog mate while  you still got him .

[terryd 7,520]

Love that the old dog be having dreams about that now

[Francie, 1,461]

Go on the old dog,thanks for sharing c

[Samrog 296]

great read 

[NEWKID 24,422]

Loved that read...Great post!

My old girl is 13 now, still ferreting but not had her lamping this season...might give her a spin for old times sake..

[eastcoast 3,295]

Nicest thing that I have read for a long time. A working dog out working, with warmth and humour. Lovely, thank you comanche.

[Aled 255]

What a great read. Thanks. A friend of  mine to this day (15 years ago) still talks about his 13year old dogs last duck retrieve. Brilliant! 

[TelephonePete 109]

Lovely read. He looks in great Nick. What is his pedigree? I dont like using that word for a Working Dog but you know what I mean.