16ga.com ~ View topic

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1188

Throughout my years of running bird dogs I tried to stick to a 5-year schedule for getting a new pup to train as a replacement for my aging dog and ensured I had at least two trained and healthy dogs for hunting. Often, I would have three dogs ready, willing and able to hunt, but never less than two. I got my last pup, Dan, after his half-brother died at just over a year old from a ruptured artery in his lungs. Currently I have a 12 year old GSP, Rebel, who is still relatively healthy, but limited to shorter, easier hunts. Dan the six year old, has been a real ball of fire, but is experiencing undiagnosed health issue that are very concerning and if not resolved I would not want to hunt him. I didn't get a new pup when Dan turned 5 because I was 84 years old and it didn't seem ethical to me to get a pup that would almost surely outlive me,

Now I find myself at 85 with just a limited 12 year old GSP as a hunting dog and a 6 year old dog that's been through 4 vets without resolving his stomach issues. It appears to me my only choice at this time is to try to find a mature bird dog needing a new home and adopt it.

My question is does it seem ethical to get a new dog at what is surely going to be the twilight years of my bird hunting experience, or is it time to just concentrate on getting the 6 year old healthy and limit my hunting to what I can do with the 12 year old?

Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 1066 Location: Minnesota

I have never owned a bird dog, but have hunted with quite a few via friends and family.
If I were you, I’d make sure that I had a good/healthy dog to hunt with for the remainder of your life, so go get one. If it outlives you, another person will get to enjoy hunting with it.

Well said DF , Always enjoy hearing your posts Riflemeister , go for it as long as you are feeling good , yes someone will enjoy your new dog but hopefully you will still be here to tell us of your hunts together, happy hunting WJ.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1815 Location: Minnesota

85 and still willing and able to play the game?? Youre what I want to be when i grow up. Very Happy

Maybe look for started dog or rehome?

Riflemeister,

I am pretty much in the same situation you are, I was in bad shape because of a major foot operation due to my Agent Orange problems. I gifted my latest Ryman Setter pup to my hunting partner Ken Graft and his wife Kim because I could not take proper care of the pup. Now I am pretty much healed up, with only one healthy Gordon Setter gun dog, who is now 5 years old. My next dog will be a started, partially trained dog due to my health issues at 76 years old. Having trained Grouse dogs all my life, I now realize I can not handle a super active puppy, my legs & foot will just not allow it.

As a professional Grouse Dog Trainer I recommend my older clients purchase started dogs, from a reputable breeder/trainer and I seriously believe you should head in that direction for your next dog.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richard Man
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers

Kim Graft with our latest Ryman Setter puppy, a very happy master and puppy!
[url=https://ibb.co/whWr9hbx]

[/url]

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1188

Thanks for all the good advice on my bird dog situation. I'm going to the field trial association meeting tonight and I'll put out the word that I may need a mature dog to hunt with. A lot of the older guys (younger than me) are getting a bit stove up and may have a dog they can't hunt any more. I'll also put out feelers with the local breeders and preserve owners and see what happens.

Joined: 11 Nov 2012 Posts: 6 Location: southeast iowa

Don’t know where you live, you may want to contact second chance bird dogs NE of Grand Rapids MI. Michael Mapes has been successful in rehoming bird dogs. Go to his face book and you’ll see his system. He loves bird dogs. We got our Annie from him 2 years ago she is now 7. She’s a gsp great pheasant dog a
Great companion.