Lindsay Janes Webboard User Reg: 10-24-2005
Posts: 749
Loc: Tucson, Az
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I am curious how old do you usually retire your dogs from working or doing unique sports like schutzhund, french ring, etc? You can have dogs up to three titles in all sports, but what do you do after they get too old? How did they handle when they found out that they are no longer doing what they love to do?
"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
Posts: 4531
Loc: South Dakota, USA
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I would say that it depends on the dog. Health, both physically and mentally plays the most important factors.
I have seen dogs that were great dogs for a couple years and then just soured on the whole thing at three or four years of age and had to be retired because they just wouldn't work effectively any longer and then I have seen the far end to where a dog was 9 years old and still going as strong as she could but had to be retired because her physical structure was failing......
Most of the dogs that are retired are kept by their handlers or adopted out to homes that have experience and they live long happy retired lives. They are played with, cared for and loved and they seem to be really happy with that.
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
Reg: 01-23-2006
Posts: 1608
Loc: Cali & Wash State
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I agree with Carol. I've seen sport dogs campaigned beyond 8 years, it just depends upon the dog. Most dogs, once retired from competition are still taken to club for OB & bites for fun. The old pros make great dogs to demonstrate proper handling techniques in all schutzhund phases as well as are marvelous at breaking in new helpers. Of course, as they age, they require fewer bites to feel "satisfied"!
The president of our schutzhund club has a 10.5 yr old Dutchie! He demonstrated for everyone at a recent trial and got his 17th SchHIII!!! Amazing dog!!
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Sport dogs or working dogs
#147883 - 07/10/2007 09:20 PM 
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