1st litter Pal was down south when my girl was in heat, so I bred to a ME chessie from the Treasure Lake line of Ohio.
I kept a female from that litter that has remarkable marking/memory...been doing triples well since Spring. Still too puppy-like to focus well for blinds, but I will try her in Senior this month. Anyway, she must get her playful attitude from her mother, as Jane loves nothing better that to be 1st to get to a thrown bumper (she is fast & driven) & have all the other dogs chase her trying to get the bumper. That's w/ fun bumpers. When we are working, of course she waits her turn.
You are in a tough spot w/ your boy. 7 & 8 are hard yrs for most working dogs. The mind says "go" but the body is starting to say "not so fast". Add in his injuries, & oh man, it must suck to be him. Are joint supplements of any help? I have an older male w/ poor hips that I put of Cosequin & it gave him another yr or 2 of activity that I don't think he would have had otherwise.
I kept a female from that litter that has remarkable marking/memory...been doing triples well since Spring. Still too puppy-like to focus well for blinds, but I will try her in Senior this month. Anyway, she must get her playful attitude from her mother, as Jane loves nothing better that to be 1st to get to a thrown bumper (she is fast & driven) & have all the other dogs chase her trying to get the bumper. That's w/ fun bumpers. When we are working, of course she waits her turn.
You are in a tough spot w/ your boy. 7 & 8 are hard yrs for most working dogs. The mind says "go" but the body is starting to say "not so fast". Add in his injuries, & oh man, it must suck to be him. Are joint supplements of any help? I have an older male w/ poor hips that I put of Cosequin & it gave him another yr or 2 of activity that I don't think he would have had otherwise.