dog neutering(is lankeela about for some advice!!)

[blue eyes ;)]

hi all,

i wasnt going to neuter my 9mnth old min pin but lately he has been getting very dominant and aggresive,i feel cruel to do it but it may be for the best.also he wees in the night still and im wondering why?he just started doing it again when i thought he was trained! anyway what can i expext my dog to be like once neutered.thanks xxxx

[lankeela]

First of all neutering is not 'cruel' in fact if a dog is not to be used for breeding it makes life a lot easier for you and him. I would however, wait until he is a bit more mature, say about fourteen or fifteen months. Neutering will not stop 'learned' behaviour, and any dominance or aggresion will have to be dealt with by you. You must be firm with him and let him see you are not impressed by what he is doing. One of the best things is to make sure he has lots of exercise, he is old enough now to get longer walks and lots of play time. Make sure you decide when any play starts and stops.

I would enrol at a training class either for obedience or ringcraft (even if you don't intent showing him) as the interaction with other dogs and doggy people will give him and you something to think about. You can also chat to the ther owners and see how they are coping. I would suggest a ringcraft, as obedience classes tend to be full of other people in your situation, and many will not yet know how to train their own dogs. At ringcraft you will have lots of experienced dog owners and they will be able to guide you.

Let me know what area you live in and I will find one for you.

As for the weeing, where does he sleep? Does he sleep downstairs or in your bedroom? If he sleeps downstairs it could be part of him trying to 'punish' you for leaving him. I would get him used to sleeping in a cage either in your room, or if he is not able to sleep in your bedroom, then a cage downstairs might help as he will be reluctant to soil his bed. Maybe a check up at the vet would also be in order, just to ensure there is no physical reason, such as an infection.

[leelapops]

Hi there, I agree with the previous answer! Neutering is definitely good thing. It reduces/stops territorial marking, may improve aggressive/dominating behaviour, and removes the risk of any tumours in the dog's bits.
I got our Collie done when we moved house, as he began to mark, and displayed super-nervous behaviour that didn't improve (even more than usual!) He was about 16 months, there were no complications whatsoever.
We took him to the Vet first thing in the morning, and they called us mid-afternoon to let us know he was fine and we could collect him. Other than being a bit subdued for the evening, he was absolutely fine!
We were advised to take it easy with him for a few days, gentle walks on the lead and no stressful scenarios etc.
He has since stopped marking, calmed down and is still my boy! A lovely mix of grown-up dog and absolute puppy!
Of course, I have met people who say that neutering made no change to their dog's behaviour whatsoever, but the majority say otherwise, and even if that's the case, it is a better option for health (and safety!) reasons.
Best bet is to have a chat with your Vet. Some vets neuter your dog for �25 through Dogs Trust if you're on certain benefits.
Lisa :)

[drgnrdr]

Neuter him NOW> If you wait the more habits he is going to develop. The drive (hormone) will be gone but the habit remains, it's better to teach it right the first time than trying to break habits. So alot of ppl think it doesn't help but you still have to train the dog what is acceptable. It takes a couple of months for the hormones to get out of the system.
Dogs do not "punish" you, nor do they get "revenge". He will loose urine if he has sep anxiety, also if he hasn't been accident free for at least 2 months solid, he's not potty trained, if left with water or food he will need to go, stop food and water 3-4 hours before bed, take him out last thing, and if you need to get up (he's a small dog, may not hold it as long yet) set your alarm and get up, see if he's gone already, if so get up earlier the next night until you can get up and he has had no mistakes. Also I agree to get him checked if his potty routine is off.
Be a benevolent leader that is calm and assertive. Get into a class so they can show you how. Make sure they are certified or Accredited., using positive reinforcement techniques.