I have a 9 year old female that is the smartest dog I have had--have kept Britts and Labs previously.I do have the same problem that 'deke12ga' has with his, but she more than makes up for it in the field, and blind. She does put on a show for my wife after a day hunting, you'd think she just hates to go hunting........my wife tells me every year that she is done, no more trips to Kansas, or Iowa.If yours has the"high energy" problem, don't worry it gets better around year 6 or 7!