Old dog!

keany1976

Member
Interested in opinions about taking in an old dog to work our smallish flock. We have downsized a lot over the years, and just have a couple hundred sheep now. As my old dogs died I chose not to replace them, and just brought sheep in with the quad.
I've now been offered a 9yo dog who is being retired off the hill, and I am tempted. I've always had my dogs from about six months old, so wondering if i'm asking for trouble taking on an old boy, but I miss working the dogs!
What are your thoughts?
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
If you accept the practicalities and are prepared to take on the responsibilities, I'd say go ahead.

But the dog is not going to get any younger and at some point there will be the choice between retiring into your home or putting to sleep. What does the current owner say about that?
 

Doc

Member
Livestock Farmer
I gave a friend a dog.
An 8yr old spaniel which was shooting mad. I simply didn’t have time to work him regularly. What a good decision. Dog is out every day with new owner, beats at least weekly during the season and is a much loved companion to a new household.
Was a difficult decision at the time as he was a brilliant dog and much loved by my family but I still believe it’s worked out for the best for him as they have the time I don’t.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
I've let several old favourites live out their natural lifespan and I don't think I did them any favours. Death comes to all living creatures, it is really a matter of timing. But I do it myself when they are not aware to make sure it is totally humane.

A police dog handler told me his harrowing story of taking his dog for it's final trip to the vet as it had cancer and was in pain. He had to stand in line while others got routine vaccinations and mnor injuries attended to. The poor guy was almost in tears just telling me about it.

I wouldn't pass an old dog on either unless I was 150% sure it would get good treatment. Horses even more so because folk don't want the huge costs involved in pts and disposal, so sell cheap to a "good home" to save money.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
I've let several old favourites live out their natural lifespan and I don't think I did them any favours. Death comes to all living creatures, it is really a matter of timing. But I do it myself when they are not aware to make sure it is totally humane.

A police dog handler told me his harrowing story of taking his dog for it's final trip to the vet as it had cancer and was in pain. He had to stand in line while others got routine vaccinations and mnor injuries attended to. The poor guy was almost in tears just telling me about it.

I wouldn't pass an old dog on either unless I was 150% sure it would get good treatment. Horses even more so because folk don't want the huge costs involved in pts and disposal, so sell cheap to a "good home" to save money.

Can't get more humane than a walk, a play and a 12 bore.


Look at this egotistical rubbish.


That poor whippet should have been shot months ago! This stunt was for the benefit of the people, not the dog.
 

Campbell

Member
Location
Herefordshire
Working farm dogs are bred differently and don't do well domestically. But we re-homed /gave away one of our older Labs to an elderly man who's wife and dog had died within a few months. It has transformed both their lives for the better, and we will certainly do it again in the same situation.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
A very good dog man (Labs) expressed an interest in training and working an English pointer. As he was a friend and a good trainer, I gave him a pup, free of charge.

A year later, I asked how he was getting on. He told me he'd given the dog to the daughter of a neighbour as a pet but she'd made nothing of it and it spent it's time raiding dustbins. I was shocked at this. He said if I wanted the dog back, he could get it for me. I did and eventually got the dog which was promptly exported to one of my overseas clients as a brood bitch for a four figure sum (which was a lot back then).

I've never given a dog away since, not would I. Sadly, some people think value is the same as price. I probably should add that I made a full sister of this dog a field trial champion that went on to breed several more of the same quality.

Once you've sold or given an animal away, you have no control over how it is treated or what happens to it. We owe it to our animals to choose wisely and not just dispose of them to avoid an unpleasant duty or expense.
 

Grain Buyer

Member
Location
Omnipresent
I've let several old favourites live out their natural lifespan and I don't think I did them any favours. Death comes to all living creatures, it is really a matter of timing. But I do it myself when they are not aware to make sure it is totally humane.

A police dog handler told me his harrowing story of taking his dog for it's final trip to the vet as it had cancer and was in pain. He had to stand in line while others got routine vaccinations and mnor injuries attended to. The poor guy was almost in tears just telling me about it.

I wouldn't pass an old dog on either unless I was 150% sure it would get good treatment. Horses even more so because folk don't want the huge costs involved in pts and disposal, so sell cheap to a "good home" to save money.

vet will come to the house and inject them while they sleep in their basket. No way could I do the trip to the vets. Then they are buried in the garden with a plum or apple tree on top of them.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
I'd rather a bullet than a jab. Local hunt take the bodies for £10.

Same here. My old GSD is buried in the field next to the yard. I carefully replaced the turves and now it is impossible to see that anything is buried there. I think I prefer it that way.

Had a horse pts by injection once, that's another 'never again'. I just sit quietly in the field with the .222 and when the horse is in the right position and still grazing, put a bullet into the brain.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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