I know how you feel, Slate. My yellow Lab, Suwannee is 13 this year and I'm afraid it may be his last hurrah. At 11 he got to where he couldn't jump into the dog-box in the back of the truck, and about the same time I got to where I couldn't pick his ole fat self up to put him there. Last year we built him a ramp/ladder arrangement and that still works pretty well.
Suwannee has been out twice this year to pick up doves (he walks to them), but isn't any good for anything else afterward for 3 or 4 days. His understudy, Willy, is a German Wirehair puppy and 10mo. old now.
Willy is pretty well yard-broke now and we put out 25 kick-em-up quail this last Saturday. Willy hunted with an older well-broke dog and aquitted herself quite well. She seems to want to retrieve the birds by the head, and she pointed the last "covey" while the older dog backed her.
I hate seeing Suwannee getting old, but I sure am looking forward to watching Willy come along...Geo
