age of dog

[rickie]

at what age do you start getting rid of dogs mine i start letting go at 5 yrs that way some one else gets a yr or to out of them

[foxxy]

5 is still in prime

[dog]

have to agree , i have one now that is 7 and he is running better now than he ever has

[johns03272008]

5 years old they are mature and may be a year into their best years of running!! I would say 3-6 years of age is probably their best years!! Just my opinion but every dog is different and matures at a different time!!

[19rabbit52]

On the average I consider their 5th year a dog's best with 3 or 4 more top notch years coming.

[rickie]

it seems that at 5 they start to lose a step i dont gun hunt have not killed a rabbit in 35 yrs but run them every sat-sun maybe 1 day during week if lucky

[foxxy]

what i have seen 4 to7 is prime and they dont loose a step just are smart enough to run what there nose can smell and not just for the front,

[bbg]

I still find them useful at 8 years old. If they live here that long they are here to stay. After all they give me over the years, I can give them a good hound dog retirement.

[BullRooster]

At 5 years old they should be at their prime like everyone said. If they blow up or seem to loose their ability I would give it a little time before I got rid of them. By getting rid of them I don't mean sell them to someone else. If so they should be nuetered or spayed before you sell. If I have a hound really liked I would never sell it at 5 years old. In my opinion if someone is selling a dog at five years old you better go watch him run or take him on trial. More often then not you will be buying someones junk.

[TOBY]

3-5 there in there prime physically but
5-7 there in there prime mentally to make up for that older age.
Some dogs earlier and some later. Every dog is different!!

[JBrock]

I have a male that is 11 years old still runnin him this season he can't run all day,can't keep up with the younger dogs
but he still hunts his butt off and does some work he loves what he does and has earned his keep around here!!!! and as long as he is able I will still take him out once in awhile!!!

[mybeagles]

I keep 2 running dogs and 1-2 pups. I keep the running dogs until I get a pup that looks to have the potential to be better than one of the older dogs. I don't think I would base it on age, but rather performance. I guess I dont understand the logic of getting rid of a 5 year old to ensure the new owner gets good years out of it. Getting rid of a 5 year old because a young dog is better makes more sense.

If you run hard hitting dogs they will drop back in the pack at a younger age than a pack of medium speed dogs. Not as physically demanding and I can see where a dog 8-9 could still be the best dog in a medium speed pack. Not too many 6-7 year old dogs will lead a pack of fast dogs but there are always exceptions. Bottom line its an individual evaluation, not sure there is a set age.

Mybeagles

[Alabama John]

Dogs and men, both can do what they did at a younger age, but slower.

[goodpickens]

Dogs and men, both can do what they did at a younger age, but slower.

If a dog is worth feeding, then it is here to stay as long as I can take care of it. I like having a strong slower dog to train pups. I keep telling my wife that once my cornerstone female retires, I'm bringing her in the house. My dogs work hard to please me. If they don't please me, they don't stay. The least I can do is give them comfort when they get old. They've earned it.

[deerhost]

Geeze, getting rid of a dog at 5. They are at there best at 5-6 years old. You would be getting rid of a dog at its best. Even at 7 they are still running well. I don't think alot of dogs don't really start slowing down enough to make a deference after about 7 years old.....Just my opinion.....DH