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Just curious as to what others think...

Well theres been acouple dogs that ive hunted behind that are old lead dogs that have caught a lot of game...but now they're getting up there in age about 10+ and these dogs seem to be making up "GHOST TRAILS" and trailing things that just arnt there, which never result to anything.

Then when these old lead dogs are hunted with other lead dogs they will peal off the track and start striking the track where it isnt...while the rest of the dogs trail in the right direction...seems to me they are trying to steal the thunder from the other lead dog...which just maybe a pride deal?

Any input is appreciated.

thnx

Bency,

In my opinion, which is certainly no better than anyone else's, they are similar to older people who have dementia. They realize they should do something or respond to a set of circumstances, but they no longer have the capacity to understand just what. Because of this desire to act, without really understanding why or what, they are likely to do something completely inappropriate. I doubt that it is from jealously or the desire to lead. For what it is worth,

briarpatch

Once a lead dog gets to this condition it is time to RETIRE them and let the young take thier place. Why some older dogs do this is beyond me. ALL I CAN SAY IS IT MUST BE HELL TO GET OLD! later, Andy

ALL I CAN SAY IS IT MUST BE HELL TO GET OLD

Yep!

I have 2 old dogs 11+ that will act goofy when running with younger dogs, I think they get pissed when they fall behind and go find something else to do. If I run them alone they still get it done, just takes them a while longer.

Had an old dog do that kinda of stuff. She went to starting coyote tracks. When I quit hunting her she would just walk aroun the barn trailing. Probably thinking of past good times.

Time to turn them to pets, and let the next generation take over

catdogs wrote:

ALL I CAN SAY IS IT MUST BE HELL TO GET OLD

Yep!

I have 2 old dogs 11+ that will act goofy when running with younger dogs, I think they get pissed when they fall behind and go find something else to do. If I run them alone they still get it done, just takes them a while longer.

I know some old hound doggers that act just like this.

Reture them or hunt them alone becasue they will ruin pups.


And for you folks that have younger dogs running ghost trails wanting not to come in. Don't tolerate it once it starts it gets worse. Shock the crap out of them as long as you know for sure they are pulling your leg.

One of the best dogs I ever had started this crap as a 4 year old becasue he didn't want to go home. I didn't have e-collars then or anything but I had a Ruger single 6 with birdshot and I filled his but full of it, and it stopped. I guess another dog I could have ruined or made gun shy so I wouldn't recommend that but I didn't have a choice. Oild Earl got the message and quit that crap when I blew the horn or the whistle and said let's go.

Thanks for the input, theres some good stuff here.

Sounds like your dog has a case of dogzheimer's disease bency.

Retirement might be the best option.

And BTW, +1 to what briarpatch said.

Like everyone else said, when they get old it's time to retire. Right now one of the best bear I've owned is 12 years old. She's definitly in the senile catagory. A couple weeks ago I put her on two different cougar tracks. One she back tracked while my pups went the right way. The other track I put her on she seemed to struggle with while my year and a half old pup was out ahead going good. I told my hunting partner that I wasn't turning her loose again, and I mean it, she isn't the same dog she used be. My young dogs are taking over, she is officially retired.