retired dogs

[Waterway]

The questions posed here are gut questions that each houndsman must deal with individually according to his own situation and views. Personally I can't imagine selling a old freind. On the other hand I have never allowed one to suffer his last days or hours either no matter how it hurt to put them down. Like I say though, each person has to deal with this situation extremely personally and I can appreciate each persons opinion that has posted here. I don't think any of your views make you more or less a houndsman.

Mel

[Terry L. Zink]

I have two that are retired, Trigger going to be 14 ( in picture) and Gator 13. I myself wouldn't sell those two for all the money in the world.


Terry L. Zink

[houndnhorse]

I’ll chime in just once on this, because it is to close to home. I live next to an old fart that is in no way a houndsman, and he and I came to a crossroads one day. My partner Sailor died on the mountain, minutes after treeing his last lion. It wasn’t an especially hard race, but it was a tricky female that laid a trail that gave me and my hunting buddy a wonderful show. I’ll never forget looking across that canyon watching those dogs heading out to points and running up the backtrack, and then going down into the depths of those canyons out of site. Of course it was just Lilly and Tank that I saw; I knew Sailor was close behind, or from previous experience out ahead looking for this cat’s hiding place. You see, Sailor never really did say much unless he was looking at a cat, so who knows where he was. In the end, I had to work my way around to the bottom of the canyon, and back up to them. When I got there Lilly and Tank were in this cat’s face up a leaning Mahogany tree with Sailor and some pups cheering on. If I could have remembered the Wife’s Christmas present of a new camera, we all would still be looking at them, trust me. In-your-face hound work was what I saw, and as I turned to urge my hunting buddy along, off they went to the bottom of the canyon. Little Lilly found and treed the cat first. I’ll say it surprised me that she got there first, but it didn’t take long for her support. In the end we paid the cat ado, and headed for the truck. I noticed Sailor falling a little behind on the walk out, but he really never was in a hurry. I little while longer I noticed him falling down face first in the snow, and I ran back to see what was going on. He was not good. I loaded him in my pack, and headed for the truck. He was whining uncharacteristically and I hurried my pace. Exhaustion can’t explain how I felt when I hit the truck. I put electrolytes in his mouth, and he didn’t respond as I had hoped. Nothing was said as I hurried off the mountain and made it to the highway. I went back to check on him, but we already knew.
Is this a houndsman? Am I a houndsman? Hmm, I don’t need any of you to tell me that. I already know. The old fart, he thinks Sailor should have died on the porch of his cabin, and I agree. My Wife, she thinks Sailor died an honorable death, doing what he loved and I Agree. It’s not my place, nor anyone else’s to measure what a houndsman is, nor is it anyone’s place to judge another houndsman on their perspective.

[LCK]

Is this a houndsman? Am I a houndsman? Hmm, I don’t need any of you to tell me that. I already know. The old fart, he thinks Sailor should have died on the porch of his cabin, and I agree. My Wife, she thinks Sailor died an honorable death, doing what he loved and I Agree. It’s not my place, nor anyone else’s to measure what a houndsman is, nor is it anyone’s place to judge another houndsman on their perspective.[/quote]


That is well said.

[Cowboyvon]

Is this a houndsman? Am I a houndsman? Hmm, I don’t need any of you to tell me that. I already know

There you go...

[Ike]

nor anyone else’s to measure what a houndsman is, nor is it anyone’s place to judge another houndsman on their perspective.

That is well said.[/quote]



If there have been any posts on this board, or people for that matter, that haven't been judged on what they said or did (with just cause of not) then feel free to point it out to me! It seems the nature of man (and certainly of hounddoggers) to judge and measure the next man, and wouldn't it be an interesting world if that weren't so? I can point you to one post in the CAGE where someone titled their attack on me as "Internet Ike", which I took offense to. If any of you guys think that you are real hunters and old Ike aint then let's hear and see the proof of it.

ike

[Brady Davis]

I've seen Ike's videos...Ike is surely a houndsman! Ike, be glad they called you internet Ike...most guys on here couldn't write like you or Mike L....Always enjoy your writings...

[gkckak]

With myself I always loved my dogs and think it is sick to use a dog for 8-10 years and just sell it. When my dogs are too old to hunt they will be living in style with a dog door with the freedom to run out and hunt when ever they want on my property. I think it is bs to just give it away after 10 years but to ones own opinion.

[BEAR HUNTER]

I agree. Why keep an old dog that can no longer be of use to you. I'm sure that an old dog that has spent his life giving you his love and loyalty would realize that it's absolutely selfish of him/her to expect you to keep him when he can't give you anything more. Shoot I'm applying the same logic to my parents. Mom Since I have a young pretty wife to cook, clean, and care for me I don't need you anymore. You are to old to do me any good anymore so pack your bags and get out. Don't care where you go just get out. I don't have the room for you since I have children. Can't afford to feed you anymore since the economy turned. So goodby don't call or write, cause I have no time for old useless things in my important busy life.

[Patrick]

I found the many responses interesting to read.
As with most things there are no absolute right answers to this. When I read BEAR HUNTER’s post, I read a logic that I do not feel. I don’t see my dogs loving me or showing me loyalty. I could give them to BEAR HUNTER and given a short acclimation period they would be running the trash out of his woods fast enough to impress him.

I can appreciate a good hound and I respect his abilities, but I do not give them human attributes, nor do I equate hounds or any other animals with humans, especially my immediate family. That just rings of the Disney channel; bambi and thumper taking on human attributes and emotions. I do not subscribe to the “modern” notion that animals are on an equal standing as humans.

I imagine even BEAR HUNTER draws the line somewhere in the middle. For example, who hasn’t known of someone spending the family resources (mortgage, rent and grocery money) trying to extend the short life of an already dying pet? That is a logic so far from what I feel that I can’t even summon empathy for them. My line is in the middle somewhere as well, because I do feel more angst when a good hound is sold or dies than when I shoot the steer to make hamburgers.

Pat

[Nolte]

Who can get a dog to live to an old age anymore. It seems like every decent one I've seen lately has died way too young. 14 -15 that is just a pipe dream, with most not making it half that.

I can see this from all angles and I agree with most of them. Everyone has a different circumstance and each person needs to figure out what works best for them. If I have a choice, my best dogs got a spot until they pass on. My 2,3,4 might all be on the block at one time or another for different reasons. Just depends.

If I had a choice, I'd have all of them go quick and sudden in the kennel. It sure beats watching one be sick and not being able figure out what's wrong. When it ends, go find a memorable spot and lay them to rest. I have had dogs die at the vet before while being observed and in those cases sometimes I've just had the vet take care of it. It's probably cheaper (with gas money and time off work) but I'd much rather do it myself. Sometimes it doesn't work out that way. It's a pretty somber, lonely experience but I think it really makes a guy appreciate one of those real special ones.

[groaners]

Interesting topic...I have one dog who is starting to get up in her years, I haven't been in the hunting dogs for along time. But I have all the respect in the world for a good hunting dog and I'll let em hunt (when they get old, at their own pace) and do what they want to do more than anything else. Some folks even say it's cruel but,, watching an old dog still out there doing what it loves takes it all. Born and raised, live and die doing what it loves. They might not catch a lot of game no more, but if they earned their place for 10 years, they're keeping it. Still can be pup trainers, trapline dogs, guards, barn raider killers, etc,,. I couldn't sell off an old dog, but that's just me! At the same time, I couldn't stand watching an old dog slowly wasteing away.

[Darvin Ecklund]

I've had hounds all my life, and have had 2 pass away at 14 yrs old, 1 pass away at 13 and 2 at 12. I currently have one that is 14 and one that is 11. They will both pass away at my home or in the woods hunting with me. I have spent many of days and nights with all my hounds and I would not trade anything in the world for the many hours we have hunted together. I understand that some people just don't have the time, money or place to keep a bunch of old dogs around and take up space at their house, but for me, I have been lucky enough to care for the old dogs that stuck it out with me for so many years from the time they were puppies. They may not be as good as they once were, but the memories I have shared with my dogs will not be forgotten - " If I would not sell my kid or wife, Why in the heck could I ever even think about selling my good ole' hound?"

[fallriverwalker1]

well men i have two old dog,s here one is 11 his mother is 13 yr's they gave me everything they had for alot of years , no way i;d let them go anywhere 'they earned there retirment gaurantee you they eat before i do . www.fallriverwalker.com

[B.B.BD]

The thing with me is i like my dogs more than most men. All my dogs i would put my life on the line to save them and keep them well. I run the piss out of them on and off season ( and i may be just getting back in to hounds after 6 yrs off ) But their my dogs and its my job to keep them safe to the end.. Their family and as i said they put their lives out there for me and so i can atleast do the same for them And its always a sad day when we lose one