Dogs starting to show their age

[seth30]

My labs are about to turn eight, and after the last few grouse hunts it has been a little slow on the recovery time.  I had to lift my male onto the couch last weekend and fear that his season may be coming to a end.  Will be trying them on duck hunting this weekend and hopefully there are no more incidents like this last one.  What age are you guys putting your labs into retirement? They have given me seven great  seasons in the past

[Special T]

I think as they get older regular excercise gluecosimine supplements and how hard you hunt them determine that.

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[AspenBud]

How are you keeping the dogs conditioned for hunting season?

[Blackjaw]

Eight seems a little young to retire them, but every dog is different. If you don't already do this, try hunting them one at a time so they get a lot more rest.

[seth30]

Well I just got them back after six months of being with my sister.  She walked them daily but did not hunt them.  Hoping that its due to that and nothing more. 

[AspenBud]

Well I just got them back after six months of being with my sister.  She walked them daily but did not hunt them.  Hoping that its due to that and nothing more.

It's probably a contributing factor in addition to age. Grouse hunting works muscles and stretches ligaments and sinews in ways that walking does not. I know of a vet who runs his setters year round in the woods (outside the quiet season that is) just to keep them loosened up and in shape.

Having said that, if hips and/or elbows are going, no amount of conditioning will prevent that.

[seth30]

Took them out duck hunting yesterday and they did pretty good.  This morning both of them were very robust and alert.  I think they thought we were going again this am   After reading a few of the comments, I presume that they either pulled muscles running up and down the mountain or were that out of shape. 

[Daisy May]

I had the same problem with my chocolate lab. Took her to the vet and he recommended glucosamine (I think that's what its called) and less walking/running and as much swimming as possible. Swimming is less impact but will keep them in great shape for hunting time. Took her out a few times last year for her last season. She turned 14 this last September.

[Birdguy]

As mentioned if the joints and such are going then retirement is near. However, with what you are saying about them being "house" dogs the last few months I would suggest conditioning and keep a very sharp eye on the weight, a few extra pounds can be tough on dogs  just like it is on us. I know 10 or 15 extra pounds on me the first few trips out makes me slow and lethargic the next morning or five  .

[ghosthunter]

You can get years of more hunting with a dog if you limit the jumping in and out of a pick up.
Swimming is good off season conditioning too.

[netcoyote]

I ran my setter hard for 8 years chasing grouse. We were on a conditioning outing in the spring that year and he blew out an ACL. He missed that year and he just seemed to loose a lot of conditioning in that time. It was a long slow recovery and I couldn't get him out much the next year. We get out in the woods 4-5 times a week but it just seemed like he could never get to the  same level after he got his leg fixed. I decided to retire him but we go out for a token hunt a few times during the season. He can tolerate 4-5 miles of walking but noting like the 10-12 we used to do....well, I'm not so good at that either.
Grouse hunting is hard on dogs, especially in the terrain we have in the northwest. My setter is 11 now and still has the heart to chase birds but he just can't throttle himself and I'm afraid he'll run himself to death. If we are out in the field I usually leash him after a few miles. It's hard to watch a good hunter get old but I just remember the golden days we had in years past, and that makes it all worthwhile.

[constructeur]

Swimming is less impact but will keep them in great shape for hunting time.

The hot months are a great time to work a dogs butt off with water work. I often enjoy a beer whilst I stand calf deep tossing bumpers myself...