Deafness retires my spaniel

My cocker spaniel tends to range too far out so I've trained her on an electronic collar. She's 13 years old now and knows the drill very well. Unfortunately she's gone very deaf. While hunting a really remote area on the east side of Algonquin she lost here bearings (never had that happen before). The collar only works if she knows where to come back to.

After an afternoon of trying to reconnect with her and several gun blasts I realized she was hopelessly out of range and lost. I laid two coats down and headed home for a sleepless night. It had snowed most of the night and it was very windy.

The next morning she wasn't back and I was about to give up. The wind had died though and I though well one or two more gun shots won't hurt. First blast I heard a dog howl three times. Next blast I could see her running toward me through the bush. She was dry and rested. Guess we should never forget they aren't too far removed from wild animals. Looked like she'd piled up some leaves and slept under a spruce or cedar.

My wife ( her lawyer) says she's officially retired. She's lucky dog to have survived a night in the big bush at the age of 13.

Very lucky. That's terrifying. Glad it was a happy ending. Out of curiosity how does she get along hunting at 13 years old? Just wondering how many prime years I have with my boy. He'll be 6 in January. Everyone still thinks he's a puppy because he's so bouncy lol. Hasnt slowed down a bit a yet. To be honest I'm actually excited for the day he does.

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Its hard to retire a dog that loves to hunt. You do have options though if she is still in good health otherwise. Put a tracking collar on her and you will always know where she is.

I'm almost in the same boat. My 13 year old has her hearing slipping away too. She still wants to go and run, run, run though, and find those birds. Can't use a tracking collar here legally though so not sure what I'll be doing. I don't take her to new areas anymore.

I thought they brought a tracking collar to Canada??
The coat thing was a trick I was told, when I bought my first beagle, good to know it works with other breeds too.

Glad to hear she’s ok. If she still has run in her maybe get a gps collar.

She still has the will and drive to hunt. Her nose hasn't lost a step over the years. She does have a bad ACL which she's battled through for 2 years. I do walk/hunt with her on a leash and she's pretty good about scenting and not winding me into trees as long as the road isn't too narrow.

I though about a GPS collar but at 13 I hate to push her. She's never lost her own scent before in the bush. Got to wonder if her mental acuity might be going. I was surprised she knew enough to sit down once lost and wait. I had a black lab that would just continue to run much like a lost person would in the bush.

Yes we were shocked and glad to find her. Thank God she always returns to a gun shot. I had friends beagle that would head the other way!!

you could try one of those mini cowbells, you will be surprised how well you can hear them in the woods. Cheaper than a gps collar.

Thanks TB. Yes that would be a good idea, even when I walk her off leash. Where do you bell that type of bell?

I have seen them at pet stores, Sail, Bass pro, Cabelas. Biggest tip is to get the brass cowbell type, they seem to collect and retain less snow than the liberty bell shape.

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Originally Posted by Sharon

Can't use a tracking collar here legally though so not sure what I'll be doing. I don't take her to new areas anymore.

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Sharon …. Garmin's new Astro 900 is legal for use in Canada.

Thank you. I will be getting one of those , as soon as I can talk my husband into the price. :)
I use the Dogtra 2500 now - as you know- which gives me up to a mile of hearing the dog depending on the terrain. A cow bell is a good idea too. Thanks for the great service on the bark limiter I ordered too.

https://store.dakotacreekretrievers....0-02053-00.htm

Nothing wrong with retiring a well-loved older dog! Enjoy the rest of your days together regardless.

Many years ago, I wrote here about losing a three year old dog for 2 1/2 days in the bush. He was a beautiful mix of Yellow Lab and Brittany but he was gun-shy and ran away from me - in unfamiliar territory - during a cold Thanksgiving weekend. When I found him, he became the family pet and never hunted again. Lived to be almost 12 and left us with countless sweet memories.