Re: nuetering.... Thanks Angela, it does sound drastic alright! Rachel, I agree the sowing of the wild oats is a consideration (although not the only one) - my point was just about considering the decision, not what Angela's decision should be. Sorry if that didn't come across.
Re: nuetering.... I have a 19 month entire Labrador (also one of 7 years neutered), the young one was confronted with a bitch almost out of her season, but not quite, at a training session and he then became difficult to handle, just wanted to sniff where she had been and to make eyes at her, she just presented her bottom instead of shouting "get off" I have then thought, I must have him neutered, but met a girl yesterday who says they do go through a very difficult time for a few months, don't make an issue out of it and they will come through the other side and be good again. So I am holding fire for a bit! Stacia
Re: nuetering.... Thanks Stacia,appreciate you writing.....if this is how it is going to be( ie his power and strength and escape drive to get to his object of desire) we are decided he will have to be neutered,we are just conflicted about when ....we've been talking tonight and realized that Dexters outside life is very restricted due to the temperature....We excercise him a lot earlier and later than most other owners and his contact with other dogs almost always comes at the end of his walks.......and we are always the ones who ask if its ok for us to approach a dog......that makes me a bit ticked off now i think about it ,we are always the one in sit,trying to have manners,even in the situation that blew up in my face yesterday.....dexter was sat( all be it in a strangle hold which moved into a total body hug ;D)and the owner let her dog approach us.I digress.....discussion tonight has been that whether we can manage him for a few months more to reach nearer to full maturity.if we could successfully then the situation you have described might even happen.The vet will tell me tomorrow how much notice I would need to get him booked in.....
Re: nuetering.... oh poor angela,.....we had the same discussions we have decided to wait for a later date ...i understand your upset with all that as happened to you over the last day or so...sending big hugs to you all
Re: nuetering.... As someone said the owner of the bitch shouldnt have had her in such a public place o at least should have been wearing a t-shirt saying "caution, bitch in heat" Unfortunately we cant control other dogs or their owners. Another little thing to consider. Having had such a fright with the recent mishap your behaviour might change when meeting new dogs out and about thus also changing your boys behaviour. If you are now anxious then he will likely be too creating a new problem :-\
Re: nuetering.... Spoke to our vet today......she is very pro -neutering so I was a bit surprised with her opinion...she says if we can wait until October-November she would be happier to operate then.She said wearing the collar in the heat causes ear infections and they see a higher incidence of the actual operation wound getting infected...so they advise owners unless they are having an absolute nightmare to wait for the cooler weather.In one respect I feel like the decision has been made for us....we've always wanted him to be fully mature before he was operated on..he wouldn't be quite but he would be nearer to it.However this is very much a watch and wait,carefully monitored situation....if it becomes unmanageable I' ll take my chances with his after care and book him straight in..........he's been as good as gold today,but we haven't been in our park and he's only been out in the garden once not on the lead ( Chris's watch.....couldn't you have guessed !)
Re: nuetering.... It's not nearly as trying as your situation but Riley's recall was truly awful for a while and he would leg it to other dogs quite far distances. I reckon he spent somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks in a harness on a long line for all his walks while we worked hard on sorting it out. It wasn't the most fun we've had but it wasn't terrible either and now it's over I can barely remember it although it was probably just over a year ago (he's only two). So take heart if you have to manage til later in the year you will and it will be a distant memory very soon after
Re: nuetering.... No thankyou Barbara,I appreciate you writing and I also appreciate that everyone's situation is trying When You are working through it it can be a lonely place ....so thank goodness for this forum,you are all the people who understand ;D I was at my best friends house for a cuppa yesterday afternoon,the most un-dog person ever.......and mentioned the whole Sexy Dexty thing to her and you would have thought I was talking about castrating her Husband!!!but I love her dearly even though she still thinks dogs get trained the WoodHouse' way and eat maltesers for treats! ;D ;D ;D
Re: nuetering.... Barbara Woodhouse!!!! Wow I had totally forgotten about her!!! We got her show here in Canada too....methinks your "Walkies!!" won't sound nearly so excited as hers did, at least for a little while! Or maybe it should be "Draggies!!" sorry, couldn't resist....
Re: nuetering.... I'm waiting for the bill from the community committee to replace the area of grass with the furrows in it Lisa! ;D ;D ;D
Re: nuetering.... Sounds like your vet is taking a very considered approach with the timing, which is great Neutering before growth has finished doesn't stop physical development, so don't worry about that if that is a concern. It actually extends the growing period. They can end up a little taller as a result (read that on here and on a vet site).
Re: nuetering.... I really like our Vet and my conversation with her made me feel even more confident in her. She said exactly the same Rachael and she said she doesn't believe through studies she has read that intact dogs suffer any less with joint issues than castrated dogs....there's too many other factors involved,genetics,excercise levels,diet,general care.........unless he starts howling the neighbourhood down we'll wait until after the Summer.We think we can manage all the issues that have been thrown up so far .....but Universe Im saying that humbly not smugly so don't send anything else at me please.........
