[TEALHNTR]

How many hunting years can I expect from my pup?
He is ten and showing signs of slowing now.

 

[Mike Barcaskey]

IMO depends on your expectations. I hunt them till the day they can't or they die. I just hunt down to their level, whether it be a slower pace or a shorter day.
That being said 12 or 13

 

[casey]

IMO depends on your expectations. I hunt them till the day they can't or they die. I just hunt down to their level, whether it be a slower pace or a shorter day.
That being said 12 or 13

Yep that's what I did. My last lab passed away a few months ago at the ripe age of 13.

Dang I miss him.

 

[huntined]

My last lab hunted until the week before he died, he was 15. My GSP is 13 this year and still hunts. I take him out for about 3 hrs then let him rest for at least 1hr in the truck while I hunt my 4yr old Lab. I do run my dogs all year to keep the them in shape and it depends on the type of hunting you are doing. I do mostly upland bird hunting where the dogs do a lot of running.

 

[Smtn10pt]

You are already in the danger zone. My lab didn't quite make it to 10 years.

 

[srr5008]

My parent's GSP is almost 13 and we still hunt her. We just go slow and limit the hunts to 1-2 hours max. Just can't bring ourselves to not take her. She still lights up when the collar and gun come out, so we figure as long as she is willing, we'll oblige her.

 

[TRAPJAW]

I had almost the same experience as Huntined. My dog was out the weekend before I lost him at 12. That was one of cues that he wasn't doing well. Still bounced off the walls when I pulled out the gun though. I just let him tell me when it was time to call it a day or take him back to the barn and go on a solo hunt.

 

[TEALHNTR]

Thanks guys, I'll just slow things down for now.

 

[BOOTOXEN]

You are already in the danger zone. My lab didn't quite make it to 10 years.

Yes, i'm in that situation now. Almost 10 yrs, cancer. Any week now. 5 weeks ago she was fine, ready for another season.

Tired of seeing pup pics right now cause mine should be hunting with me.

on the other hand, i know a few guys that lost their dogs at 7 from cancer. So i suppose Im lucky but dont feel it

 

[Smtn10pt]

Lost my guy to kidney failure. I knew it was bad when he stepped on the scale and was only 63 pounds, usually he was 74 or so. He made it a week after that first visit to the vet.

My new pup is going out with me for his first hunt tomorrow. Time and a new pup will help.