What to do with a horny dog?!

A question for owners of male dogs who are intact but not used for breeding - what do you do with them? Mine is currently going through a difficult period (not helped by the bitch in season next door) and I hate to see him so agitated. I don't intend to use him as a stud but I also don't want him neutered. Can they go through their whole lives like this?

Sorry, I've only had girls

unless you intend to breed from him,and be a responsible breeder,then there is no reason not to neuter him.
all dog owners have a moral resonsibility to ensure that no further unwanted puppies are brought into this world.

Milo is castrated and you'd never ever really know except lack of the dangly doodahs. He's still muscley, looks fab, non aggressive with boy dogs & just doesn't get fazed by the girlies. I'd recommend it definitely.

Thanks, Niffer. It is a decision i'm weighing up. My main reason not to right now is because I don't want to stunt his growth and development as he is only a year old. He is also fed raw because I believe it is better for him to have a more natural diet. It would seem a bit hypocritical then, and contrary to my beliefs to have him neutered.

Dazoldo - I'm sure you didn't intend your post to come across in such a condescending manner so I'll just say this - I think your assertion that there is "no reason not to neuter him" makes light of an issue that is perhaps a little more complex than you either know or understand.

Niffer - what age was yours when he was neutered?

If you are going to neuter your dog id wait until aged 3 as thats when the dogs matured and stops problems later have you thought of politely asking the neighbour about speying? Alternatively have you thought of taking the dog somewhere most of the day when the dogs in season?

Hi Rubio,

I've an 18 month intact boy, he too goes a little crackers when the girls are in season, can be a challenge moving on a 3 stone sexpest but extra encouragement and treats normally do the trick.

Never considered having him nurtured, don't like the idea of him being put through an operation for no reason (personal opinion) he isn't off lead unless it's with dogs we know and especially not with any in season so no plans to book in for op.

If your worried about his growth, I've only really started to notice muscle growth the last month or so, seems his 3 mile runs around a local lake are resulting in him filling out along with him starting to mature.

my own opinion is that owners that refuse to spey or neuter are irresponsible and i will always stand by that.
i cant belive that someone would actually suggest that you talk to your neighbour about speying when you wont consider neutering your own animal.
????????????????

There are of course health reasons for/against spaying/neutering and it is ultimately personal choice. I am for spaying/neutering in MOST pet dogs as many owners make "mistakes" that contribute to the over population of shelters - but that is not all. My Lurcher stayed entire his whole life and never sired a litter - he did however become very stressed if there was a bitch in season nearby, and was hard to control in that time.

but had you decided to have him neutered then life would have been so much better and stress free for him and you

i havent got millie speyed yet but i dont have any problems behaviourally and she isnt interested in dogs when we are out even in her season so i am still weighing up whether or not i will get her done, as we do a lot of sport i want to keep her in optimum condition, i am extremely careful with her and my other dog is a boy he has been done and couldnt careless when she is in season

Ive moved this to health issues you may get a better opinion than mine

My boy was neutered when he was about 1 1/2 and he grew absolutely perfect with no health issues. I personally believe that you should neuter your pet if you don't intend on breeding them, only to stop any accidents. The shelters are overrun already! Times will be stressful for him when he is about bitches in season but it doesn't mean he will be stress free if hes neutered...mine still dives on females from time to time but its difficult to put this down to domineering behaviour or the female being in season.

Bo was done at 14 months. He's a relatively small guy but he's still put on 1.2kg of muscle in the three months since it was done, so it's not like it's stunted his development.

The difference when meeting bitches in heat is amazing. Obviously I knew it would make a difference but I didn't know how much. He met one such lady dog a month before his op and he scented her from hundreds of yards off. When we got close he pulled so hard I sprained a tendon in my shoulder that still isn't right to this day. Very difficult to control.

But now, he met a Lab girl in heat a couple of weeks back and he didn't do anything but sniff her nose. Not a hint of what he was like before.

Bane is entire and coming up to 19 months old and also raw fed. We haven't had much interaction with bitches in heat, but the few we have met coming into/out of was a bit of a challenge should I say. He pulls to meet most dogs, so he didn't really behave differently in that sense, it was just the extra strength and force he had once he clocked onto them...I nearly lost my arms!

But then our neighbours dog is male and neutered and he was equally as interested on one occasion so it may not make much of a difference. Every dog is different, just if he is neutered you have that piece of mind that there will be no 'accidents'.

As for growth worries, I think it's more of a concern when neutering really young at say 6 months.

So is there a particular reason you have decided not to get Bane done then?

Vinnie is 4 in August have never had him neutered and wont be. I am a responsible owner at all times and he is always on lead when needed, so no probs here. In fact he only humps his bed and that through simple excitement usually after eatin his tea! not sexually in fact I dont think he knows what its for lol!

mias been speyed since 3

Rubio wrote:So is there a particular reason you have decided not to get Bane done then?

Not really. When we first got him, we were ready to neuter at 6 months as advised by the vet. But after reading more into it, decided that we just wanted to let him grow up and mature and then make a decision.

We have no desire to breed him but no constant interaction with bitches that it is a problem for us. He does get a bit randy at times with his pillow and blanket but he soon gives up. And as I said if we meet a bitch near season, he is very interested but it's just a case of we walk on and go somewhere else.

I guess what's different in your situation is the fact that you have a female dog next door, which I'm sure in most cases the male dog would be bouncing off the walls.