Just like people, different dogs request to be retired at different ages. Some like to work well into their golden years, and on occasion, some want to retire in middle age. As long as they are still barking to go, and are not too stiff, we like to include them. As elders, they may only go out in harness once a week, but it fosters that pride that is so important to a working dog. When they let us know that they are not interested in jumping into their harness anymore, they are retired. These dogs are sometimes placed in adoption homes or remain with us to grace the couches or snooze under a shady tree. Enki,  at 14, is our kennel patriarch, and he just outran Megan on 5 km trot.