Old dog!

[pycoed]

I've always put my own dogs down & found it the hardest thing I've had to do - but I've always felt it my duty. But... the last one my son came home just as I was about to do it. Afterwards he bollocked me properly because he reckoned I'd left her go too long. I thought long & hard about this & came to the conclusion he was right - so - what do I do next time? It won't be long - the oldest cocker is 13, though fine at present.
I think it must be a vet decision this time, since my son has made me doubt my own judgement when sentiment (not to mention grief) is involved. Doubt it'll be any easier mind...

 

[Irish NZ]

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?

Pretty common over here for dogs to retire off big(hard) country down to easier farms. If you have work for the dog go for it but even if it was a pup your probably going to out live it so will need to make a call at some stage only that will come decision will come sooner with an older dog just be realistic and humane about it.

On a small easy farm you might get 1 or 5 years from the dog quite happily. But don't leave it in a kennel 6 days waiting to do 30mins work on the 7th day.

 

[unlacedgecko]

On a small easy farm you might get 1 or 5 years from the dog quite happily. But don't leave it in a kennel 6 days waiting to do 30mins work on the 7th day.

This. I see so many dogs for sale on Facebook due to this.

 

[hendrebc]

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.

A vet came to inject my mums much loved house cat and ice seen a vet inject a cow to put her down. Both were much less pleasant for the animal than a shotgun would be but nicer for the people doing it so was the prefered option
I had a knackerman shoot a cow with one of those stupid 'humane killers'... 5 times and she still didnt die! She got up in the lorry after being winched up and had to be shot again. Ill never let anyone put anything down here again apart from me with a shotgun or well placed hammer if its small. Ive never missed or needed a second shot with either of those things. Much.more than i can say for 2 'experts' in the vet and knackerman with their stupid meant to be better ways of doing things

 

[matty]

The kindest thing is a bullet everything here gets one when its time .

 

[matty]

I took a young Collie pup to the(townie) vets once it was only 9 weeks old.
One day it was fine the next wouldn't get up eat or anything.
Left it with them to take bloods just about to walk out the door and was shouted back.
It had started fitting,yelping and foaming at the mouth.
I told her to put it down , well what a fudgeing performance she tried veins in both front legs not successful .
Pup was yelping its head off I was holding it down as the vet nurse was getting upset at this point ,decided to inject into heart tried one side, nope, turned it over and tried into the heart the other side, nope,vet nurse left the room in tears pup still yelping its head off...had to take it and give it some gas to knock it out ,then put it down...

 

[unlacedgecko]

I took a young Collie pup to the(townie) vets once it was only 9 weeks old.
One day it was fine the next wouldn't get up eat or anything.
Left it with them to take bloods just about to walk out the door and was shouted back.
It had started fitting,yelping and foaming at the mouth.
I told her to put it down , well what a fudgeing performance she tried veins in both front legs not successful .
Pup was yelping its head off I was holding it down as the vet nurse was getting upset at this point ,decided to inject into heart tried one side, nope, turned it over and tried into the heart the other side, nope,vet nurse left the room in tears pup still yelping its head off...had to take it and give it some gas to knock it out ,then put it down...

Bloody hell! Would of been better off tapping it on the head like a piglet.

 

[matty]

Bloody hell! Would of been better off tapping it on the head like a piglet.[/QUOTE

Absolutely !