[nagdu] [NAGDU] Guide Dog Age and Retirement

[JULIE PHILLIPSON]

I don't think it's unusual to start slowing down around that age, but it
doesn't always mean it's time to retire.  You might want to consider giving
your dog more time off and leave him or her at home more often.  It really
depends on what your life style is.  If you are a person who goes out every
day to work then it would probably do what you intend to do.  On the other
hand if you say work at home or do not go out much then it may not be time
to retire as long as there are no other medical problems.  I have had 3
dogs one died at 9 from cancer, the second was with me in good health until
the age of 11.5 and retired a few months before that. the third was with me
until the age of 12.5 and was in good health and workinguntil about the age
of 12 Again though I left him home when ever I haddd to travel or be out
after there tenth birthday. Once they turned 10 years old it was time to
give them time off.  I worked them enough to keep them happy but many days
we both stayed in side in the air conditioning.  If it was too hot or to
cold to go out we just waited for a better day.  My current dog is 4 and
pretty full of energy but I have noticed he has settled down more already.
He is behaving much more seriously sinse I got him 2 years ago.    He still
gets pretty silly though and acts like a puppy just not as often or as long
as he use to.  


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
avapup.7 at gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2013 6:42 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [NAGDU] Guide Dog Age and Retirement

Hi,

I have a question I hate to ask, but I guess my curiosity overrides my not
wanting to know.

How old were others' guide dogs when they first began to slow down a bit,
and how old were your dog's when you retired them? Does anyone have a guide
dog who is still working (or has been in the past) at 9 years or older?

My Lab guide Cocoa is 9 years old, and I know she is slowing down a bit.
Though she still loves to work, her energy level is slowly dropping, and I
am nearly certain she will retire perhaps by the end of this year, maybe
early in 2014.

My first dog retired at 6, but from a minor medical condition that didn't
affect her quality of life a bit, just meant guiding wouldn't be the best
idea.

Is 9 young for a Lab to begin slowing down? Is 9 or 10 young for a Lab to
retire? I will do what is best for Cocoa, and when retired, she will still
stay with me at home, though I may wait to apply anywhere for a successor
dog until (a long time from now) when she passes on, I'm not sure.

I just don't know -- 9 sounds so young, yet so scarily old, for a big dog.

Thanks.
Ava and Cocoa

Sent from my iPhone
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