Man's Best Friend

A

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
It been many years since I had a hunting waterfowl dog. I have a Scottish Deer hound as a pet. Her name is Allie and I can't lie, I love her. But I really do miss all the Labs that I had and trained over the years. I'll be 59 come August and I'm not healthy. I rather not go into details on my health. But I will share! that I still hunt and enjoy hunting as much today as back in the day. I'm not allowed to lift anything over 30 lbs. So I have my hunting partners do all the lifting . Thank God for them, My last Lab, I have talked about many times on here.
Henry Of The Hudson was his name. The best of the best, I lived a duck hunters dream during Henry's life. So to be truthful. I never got another Lab, because I knew there was only one Henry. Well I think I'm ready to train again. And to teach my son and my hunting partners how a dog is a game changer.
I don't want to hurt my pet feelings. I know that sound dumb , but she is like my best friend.
Can anyone out there relate to what I'm saying? Should I or shouldn't I get another lab? As always your input is most welcome.
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There is room in your heart and house for more than one dog. I am in the same dilemma. My health is good and I don't want to hurt my 9 year old feelings. It is time and hopefully I will get a new pup in July.
 
I firmly believe that my 11 year old Chesapeake "Nowack's Northern Flight Kodiak" IS my dog of a lifetime. That being said, our 11 week old, "Nowack's Red Branch River Otter" is make inroads into our hearts. He is very different than Kodi. Someone pointed out to me that the new dog does not replace the previous. It is just a different friend. Having a 2nd child does not replace the 1st.. unless the first is a real shit! LOL [;)] I will never be without a Chessie, and long as I am able to live on my own. Sarah and I did not want to steal any time or attention from Kodi. He was diagnosed with cancer and Larengetical Paralysis last November. He hunted all last year with no problems. We really wanted every moment to be his. His health is doing great. If we didn't know he had those issues, we would not know it. I think Otter is good for Kodi. They are getting along quite well. We felt that if we were to have a hunting dog when Kodi is no longer able, we had to get a pup now. I cannot imagine waterfowling with out a dog.

My advice would be get a dog if you want one. Just make sure there is a defined plan, incase you will no longer be able to care for it.
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Given the choice between gun and dog, the gun would stay home. Of course some one will comment that the days bag would be the same but oh well.
 

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Waterfowling just isn,t the same without a good retriever. I,d rather see one good retrieve than shoot a limit of birds. Knowing you,ve trained that dog even makes each retreive more memorable in my eyes. Sidelined my ol girl this season except for an easy shallow pond hunt where I hunted both dogs. Concentrated on my clf pup all season from dove till end of goose. Old dogs like laying by the fire as much as old waterfowlers!
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Sonny
I hope you get what you want my friend. There isn't any price for your health. While we are here are this great earth that God made us ,we should be happy. Get a Pup! good health and happiness.
 
Phil

Both of your dogs are so wonderful. They both belong on a post card. I had Labs most of my life until my last one pasted. And I just couldn't get myself to get another one. Then I got sick and so on and so fourth.
But I think I'm ready again. Life is to short! And my deer hound will make a good mother I think. Thanks for the very nice post.
 
Tom

When I was a younger man. I enjoyed walking the bays at low tide and picking up cripples with my lab Henry. I came home with more ducks then most, And i never fired a shot. [;)] Thank you for your post.
 
Roy

Over the past what ever years it been with a lab. Hunting hasn't been the same. Bad health didn't help matters any . But still went and hunted. Old dogs never die, they just fade away. That statement must be true. Because I have never stop thinking of all the dog that I have had in my life. Thank you for your nice post.
 
A good thread to start, Anthony. Like others, I'm in a situation with my chocolate lab who is 9 years old. She's a great companion and in good health. As we all know things can change quickly with our dogs. After lots of noodling I've decided to hunt her solo this season and bring a pup into the picture next spring when she'll be ten. After talking with a few members here I'm getting a Chessie pup. Part of the reasoning to switch breeds was not wanting to compare the next dog with Cree. Easy to do with another lab and not fair to the pup. And that darned Phil and Kodi had a lot to do with it too.
Get yourself a pup and have some fun.
 
One thing I was told when I was contemplating adopting my lab was to remember to do things with my non hunting dog. I had Kenz for 5 or 6 years before having the opportunity to adopt Drake. Kenz went to work with me early on in his life with me and we spent many many many hours at the beach together. I worried the same thing about how he would react to having another dog in the family, one that was going to take up a lot of my time. Luckily for me, Kenz was interested in almost everything that Drake was except the loud BANG of guns (or any other loud noise). Kenz is 14 now and I think one of the pluses for him is he may be loosing his hearing so he seems to not be as scared of loud noises, just cuz he can't hear them. But when I got Drake, he had skills but he needed some relearning and polishing of those skills and enforcing of what would be expected of him in the blind. He became my first hunting dog when I adopted him. As I said, Kenz was interested in pretty much everything Drake was: water, dummies, exploring, sniffing things out and other things expected of a retriever. So I was actually able to train with both of them, just only take Drake hunting. And we would of course have the days where we would all three just go out for a wander just to stretch our legs with no real expectation of anything but a bit of fun the three of us together. The advice I was given served me well. The boys enjoy doing things together and Kenz doesn't get his nose out of joint with us when Drake gets to go hunting.

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Drake and Kenz enjoying a stroll while Drake gets used to his "Superman Cape"....or as Steve laughs, his construction worker jacket. As he has slowed down a lot because of arthritis, he is a lot slower in the woods and Steve commented one hunt when we were woodcock hunting that he saw Drake but couldn't see me but didn't realize it was Drake in the brush. Thought he was a hog. That scared the both of us and the next hunt, Drake had his superman cape.

Kenz never gets to go hunting, but he does come to hunt camp from time to time. Drake will hunt and Kenz will relax at camp.


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And even though Drake gets to go all over the country and Kenz will get left home on the long trips, there is no grudge that Kenz holds towards me or Drake. He is always so happy to see the both of us when we come home.


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So, I'd say don't worry about it so long as you don't forget your old dog.

Dani
 
Jim

Thank you so much for your very nice reply. I understand why your going to a different breed. For years I knew I never could replace Henry (my dogs name). He was the best dog I ever seen . He turned Dog trainers heads. Most of all he was my best friend for a long time. Other then work he went every where with me. Alley My Scottish Deer hound is my dog now had her for about seven years. She a great hunter but doesn't swim. Tracks deer like crazy. But doesn't swim. So I'm going to get another lab most likely next month. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again, it really helpedView attachment IMAG0470.jpg
 
Dani

Thank you so much for the post. Your photos made me smile. I will be getting another lab most likely in July. I'll keep you posted. Its funny the love that one gives their dog. It really proves the point that dogs are mans best friends also woman lol. Thanks again!
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