Old Friends
Posted 04/09/2023
Your four legged friend is more than a hunting tool, but friend and family member. Even the hardest of souls crack when it is apparent that their hunting dog is slowing down and entering their final chapter. Growing up we had English Springer Spaniels and chocolate Labradors; chasing Valley Quail and waterfowl through the hunting seasons in the green Oregon valleys. During our Springer Jennifer’s final years, arthritis took hold but her drive to go hunting never diminished. She made sure she was always near the truck when it was time to go on any early morning, that short docked tail wagging furiously in her attempts to jump on to the tailgate, but ultimately not able to make it. The arthritis kept her short legs from making the jump despite repeated attempts that used to be effortless. Her eyesight was failing as well but her nose for flushing pheasants and tracking greenheads led the way.
Zeus, one of our chocolate labs, had a body that fit his name; weighing in at an athletic 110 pounds in his prime. His heart was as large for friends and family alike. When it came to being in the field, anything smaller than a wood duck he didn’t pay much attention to. Quail and doves he’d reluctantly retrieve. However, geese were what stoked his fire for hunting. Maybe it was the size of the birds and the heft between his jaws as he lumbered back through muddy dairy fields that made it feel like they were worth his while. He lived a long 14 year life, which is even more impressive given his size.
Watching your aging companion slow is never easy and finding the right time for their last hunt is just as difficult. Their ‘want’ does not deteriorate with age. While you should always be thinking about the weather and conditions, it is imperative as they get older. Will they be running in soft mud on the low tide? Are the temperatures going to be cold? Will they have a place for them to be out of the water?
Having a first aid kit on hand or in the truck for when things go wrong is critical. Additionally, being prepared to make them comfortable while they work and make their job easier is important. Extra water, a dog stand, if applicable, and a well-fitting dog vest are necessary tools that you’ll need more often as they get older. Taking ethical and decoying shots are the goal every time you go out. Minimize the chance of ‘sailers’ or putting your dog in scenarios where they have to swim against a hard tide on long retrieves.
When taking care of your own Sally or Zeus, watch what their bodies tell you during the season and throughout the day-to-day life. Have open communication with their veterinarian in addition to making sure that they are well-versed in the life of sporting dogs.
As Nash Buckingham eloquently put, “How kind it is that most of us will never know when we’ve fired our last shot.” In the case of your trusty bird dog you might, and for them, make it worth their life’s purpose.
Zeus, one of our chocolate labs, had a body that fit his name; weighing in at an athletic 110 pounds in his prime. His heart was as large for friends and family alike. When it came to being in the field, anything smaller than a wood duck he didn’t pay much attention to. Quail and doves he’d reluctantly retrieve. However, geese were what stoked his fire for hunting. Maybe it was the size of the birds and the heft between his jaws as he lumbered back through muddy dairy fields that made it feel like they were worth his while. He lived a long 14 year life, which is even more impressive given his size.
Watching your aging companion slow is never easy and finding the right time for their last hunt is just as difficult. Their ‘want’ does not deteriorate with age. While you should always be thinking about the weather and conditions, it is imperative as they get older. Will they be running in soft mud on the low tide? Are the temperatures going to be cold? Will they have a place for them to be out of the water?
Having a first aid kit on hand or in the truck for when things go wrong is critical. Additionally, being prepared to make them comfortable while they work and make their job easier is important. Extra water, a dog stand, if applicable, and a well-fitting dog vest are necessary tools that you’ll need more often as they get older. Taking ethical and decoying shots are the goal every time you go out. Minimize the chance of ‘sailers’ or putting your dog in scenarios where they have to swim against a hard tide on long retrieves.
When taking care of your own Sally or Zeus, watch what their bodies tell you during the season and throughout the day-to-day life. Have open communication with their veterinarian in addition to making sure that they are well-versed in the life of sporting dogs.
As Nash Buckingham eloquently put, “How kind it is that most of us will never know when we’ve fired our last shot.” In the case of your trusty bird dog you might, and for them, make it worth their life’s purpose.
About the Author : Shawn Swearingen
Visit authors website | View more articlesBorn and raised throughout the forests and farms of Oregon. The 9-5 work life led him to the D.C. area in 2008 a few short years after college at Oregon State. Writing about the outdoors is one of the ways he is able to cope with living in the suburbs of Northern Virginia. He is also callmaking, wingshooting, gardening, fishing, and introducing his two young sons with his wife to the great outdoors in hopes to do as well as his parents were able. He is a regular contributor for Split Reed and Mossy Oak, as well as being published by Free Range American, Tom Beckbe’s Field Journal and Dirtbag Magazine.
IG: @shawn_swearingen
