I've got a yellow lab who turns 14 January 5th. He is nothing but a zoo exhibit these days sitting in a chair most of the day. I haven't hunted him in 2 years because he has arthritis and the guys on my lease have dogs.

Anyway, he was a warrior until he was about 10 and I would love to have on more good hunt with him. Is it irresponsible to take him on one more hunt? Am I just gonna kill him in the process?

The hunt will be just me, the dog, and my 9 year old son who's never seen his pet as retriever. Not a lot of action, maybe just one last retrieve.

i would do it. even if it was just one bird

Hopefully Cappy will respond.

I might take him out but only have him retrieve a duck you threw for him, not a long retrieve. If he hasn't swam in a while I'd make it a land retrieve.

You going take him to the lease?? That water is deep out there.

You know your dog better than anyone, If he could do it and enjoy it but if you have to force him to retrieve because he is in pain, Also i think a hunt where he would swim would be better than a muddy field on his joints

It all depends on what kind of shape he's in. You could even keep it real simple and there's nothing saying he has to retrieve. It would be cool just to have him there with ya.

i would say it will be fine, unless the temps are really cold and he has been in the house all those years.

Even if it does kill him in the process, you know he would die a happy dog. Better than taking him to the vet.

Just not sure how the boy would take it.

Do you have any shallow water where he could make a 15 or 20 yard retrieve without a lot of exertion and/or being placed in a position of danger?

If not, take him anyhow, keep him in the vehicle or leashed in the blind. After you've shot a couple that you retrieve on your own, "salt them" close by and then send your old fella off for a couple pick-ups. Be sure to keep your youngster and the yellar dawg together in the pics you take at that time.

I don't know if Ed actually remembered this or not but we do something very similar for our 12 year old retired Cappy when we return from a hunt. I drop off a bird or two along the drive next to some pampas grass about 75 yards from the house. It's the highlight of Cappy's day now to be able to prance out, catch scent, find the bird and come proudly prancing back to heel.

I was also going to say that it would be no more wrong than it would be to take your very elderly uncle to a house of ill repute "just one more time" ... but then my wife Carol was reading over my shoulder as I typed the previous reply.

I like the analogy...I hope that when I am an old uncle that I have a nephew like you Cappy

The best ending I could imagine for my dog is having it all end on one last retrieve!

Maybe this will help you decide:

Hunter's Last Search

WHAT IS IT THAT THEY LIVE FOR????
(I know what I would do.)

darn onions

Miss my Doc...DAMNED ONIONS!!! He would have been 15 on 11/11.

Enjoy ever moment you have with him. Do the best you can to let him enjoy what he loves the most. Give him short retrieves. Pick him up and put him on the bed with you. Carry him, if you must. But like I did, hold him until the end. Miss my Doc.

He deserves it Kevin. That dog made some incredible retrieves in his day and loved every minute of it.

Thanks for the feedback fellas. I'm gonna take him in the morning and let him have one last retrieve or two. It'll all be about ol Ranger boy. gonna get some video then take him back to the truck for a nap.

Got some green scouted out too so he can go out on top.

Sounds like a good plan.

My lab passed several years back, but I haven't had the heart to get another one. I know I would take him out at least one more time because i can remember seeing my lab retrieve birds as a kid. That would really mean something to your kid and probably put a little pep in your dogs step that you didn't think he had. I do agree that shallow water would be best, but dogs are more resilient than you think. Just leash him to make sure that he doesn't tak off on a wounded bird and I would say all is good! Good luck...

Any Green Kev?????

Ranger's last hurrah was a success. No green though - shot a couple gadburgers at lst. It was awesome really glad I took him. he still has it mentally, but he just can't get through the muck.

If it killed him... he would die doing what he loves for who he loves.

You get any pics of the beast doing work?

Sounds like you made his days - and yours.... while creating a memory that will last a lifetime. Y'all deserve no less.

very cool