Useful

**ugly** · 01-02-2009, 15:53

End of the shooting season and now I'm wondering if one of my old girls will even manage the daily walk, she has had a tough working life and is adorable but hates to give in and always pulled at the lead to be in the front, nowadays its a strugglle to keep up although a few minutes rest and she still has that sparkle in her eyes.
I know I cant put off the inevitable and have just the spot for her ready in the wood, I'll name that drive after her when she goes!

**29072010** · 01-02-2009, 16:49

Originally Posted by ugly

End of the shooting season and now I'm wondering if one of my old girls will even manage the daily walk, she has had a tough working life and is adorable but hates to give in and always pulled at the lead to be in the front, nowadays its a strugglle to keep up although a few minutes rest and she still has that sparkle in her eyes.
I know I cant put off the inevitable and have just the spot for her ready in the wood, I'll name that drive after her when she goes!

I grew up in a game keeping environment and it was standard that when a working dog came to a point where it needed to be put down, the keeper would take the dog up the fells or woods, to the dog's favorite place. They would go either by themselves or with a person they knew to be the best shot. The dog would be sent to work and when the keeper was satisfied that the dog was as happy as could be and the dog would be put down. Now I was talking to a friend about this and they were disgusted. The dogs died when they were happy, and the keeper would not have them shot if they couldn't trust the shot to be clean. If the dog had gone to the vets they would have known there was something wrong, they would have been stressed and upset.
So to the keepers on here, what are your thoughts, how would you want your best friend to go?

**ugly** · 01-02-2009, 16:57

As a part time keeper I'm in favour of this but only if the dog is ill and unable to walk, wait to go out for a wee etc. I am happy to have a retired spaniel as a companion with me on my feeding rounds, she wont chase and peg the poults unlike young dogs who havent got the self control for all that energy!

**29072010** · 01-02-2009, 17:38

Originally Posted by ugly

As a part time keeper I'm in favour of this but only if the dog is ill and unable to walk, wait to go out for a wee etc. I am happy to have a retired spaniel as a companion with me on my feeding rounds, she wont chase and peg the poults unlike young dogs who havent got the self control for all that energy!

That is the only time it has been used that I know of. I cant imagine doing that to a dog just because it couldn't work anymore, although I know some who would do that. Our yellow lab went this way. He had a massive brain tumour and was incapacitated with fits. He would wake up after a fit after losing control of his bladder and bowels and would be mortified. He was depressed enough at being in the house instead of in the kennel and run with the other dogs. After Dad had to take the other dogs to work without him, and he stopped eating, he decided it was for the best.

**ugly** · 01-02-2009, 18:58

It is something you owe your friend and companion.

**OldRedCap** · 01-02-2009, 20:51

After all the dog has done for us, I reckon it is the least we can do for it to have a calm and peaceful end in an environment that the dog has enjoyed. I have had to take a dog to the vets and it tore me up for a fair few months.

**Longlenny** · 01-02-2009, 21:41

In answer to Bluey Girl, I used to take my Jack Russell terrier with me in my truck for years, she loved getting out and about all over the coutry, she lived until she was over eighteen years old.

**Longlenny** · 01-02-2009, 21:47

A question. We have two dogs, mine is a Patterdale terrier, she's as mad as a box of wasps and twice ten times as hard. The other dog is a welsh collie/ pointer cross. Trouble is this dog eats shit. It has always eaten shit. It is not fussy as to the type of shit, horse, cow, chicken, pig or any fresh dog shit. The dogs diet is good, so I wouldn't think that this is a mineral defficiancy, the terrier eats from the same source and doesn't eat shit at all. Any ideas?

**JoseyWales** · 01-02-2009, 22:01

Originally Posted by D0lly86

Originally Posted by ugly

End of the shooting season and now I'm wondering if one of my old girls will even manage the daily walk, she has had a tough working life and is adorable but hates to give in and always pulled at the lead to be in the front, nowadays its a strugglle to keep up although a few minutes rest and she still has that sparkle in her eyes.
I know I cant put off the inevitable and have just the spot for her ready in the wood, I'll name that drive after her when she goes!

I grew up in a game keeping environment and it was standard that when a working dog came to a point where it needed to be put down, the keeper would take the dog up the fells or woods, to the dog's favorite place. They would go either by themselves or with a person they knew to be the best shot. The dog would be sent to work and when the keeper was satisfied that the dog was as happy as could be and the dog would be put down. Now I was talking to a friend about this and they were disgusted. The dogs died when they were happy, and the keeper would not have them shot if they couldn't trust the shot to be clean. If the dog had gone to the vets they would have known there was something wrong, they would have been stressed and upset.
So to the keepers on here, what are your thoughts, how would you want your best friend to go?

I took Ben, Patty and a few others I caught on fox wire to the dingle and dropped them there.

The 2 named dogs were old - the others were out on the loose during lambing.