It was just bad timing. I have had this lineage since about 1992, with the same sire each time. He's a pretty solid sample and having the sire train the pup is just the easiest way to go.
Yeah you've told me about your dog before. I'm sure there will be another chance. He's not that old is he?
Oh, there's plenty of time - assuming nothing happens. He's 8 years old currently. He'll live for another few years and is still perfectly capable of breeding. I usually have the sire mate at 7 years. Golden's can start having hip issues at 9 to 10, even as early as 7 or 8, - but this genetic line doesn't have much in the way of the degenerative hip genomes. So, he'll be just fine for the duration. When they do develop hip dysplasia, it's time to have them put down. It's painful and degenerative. So, that's why you'll see old goldens kinda wobbling in the hind end when they walk - it means they're in pain. There's a surgery but it's really not all that effective and it's pointless for a working dog.
I realize it may sound shitty to be so clinical about the dog, but he is a tool - and a friend. I know he's going to die and I'm prepared for that. I'll be sad when it happens, but it's just a fact of life. Much of the meat I consume was hand-picked from the living animal. So, you just kinda get used to the cycle of life.
I was more thinking about the dog being capable of training the pup than breeding.
(post is archived)