fenboy Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Are there any benefits training / working wise to having a dog neutered ? Though my lab has Improved greatly I am still having issues with one of two things . Firstly he is now 2 years old but is still very immature and this is causing problems with his ongoing training . Secondly and perhaps the biggest issue is he is mad on scent marking everywhere , he will at times even stop to do it on a retrieve , he is also a pain in the backside around bitches even when they are not in season , though that may also be down to his immaturity in part and his desire to play . I have only ever had a dog neutered for medical reasons before and am reluctant to have him done if there is no benefit to it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 We did have this problem with Leo our springer and were advised to have him neutered as a quick fix. We didn't go ahead with it as one of our other dogs who is neutered was just as bad at one point. Leo eventually grew out of it as the desire to hunt and retrieve became more exciting than scent marking. They all go through a stage when it seems 1 step forward 2 steps back. There is an excellent article by Laura Sanborn on the long term health effects of spaying and neutering which is another consideration. I will see if I can find the link for you. I am on my tablet at the moment, but have a link on my computer that I can put on for you to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickB65 Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Blue is "in tact" and at first I did find that he would scent mark at every lamp post or tree when out for a walk but when on the lead I don't let him. He is kept close to heel and as soon as he starts to show signs it is the no command and then heel and he is fine. When working he is so intent of bringing the game back to me as fast as he can he stops for nothing. As for other dogs and bitches, Blue will show an interest and want to play but as soon as I start to walk off or ask for heel he is there with me as he knows its work time..... With the greatest of respect could this be just a training issue rather than his anatomy? Always had bitches so blue is my first dog so I have limited knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I have had a look. I put that article on here on the 14th September. Sorry I can't put a link to it on as I have not worked out how to copy and paste with an android tablet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwizard Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I have kept dogs and bitches for long time and always kept them intact but then was advised by our vet the risk of cancer so had both our young Terrier and Lurchers neutered when young at that time , the lurcher then had cancer at 8 years of age so didn't make any difference , we then had a male Whippet pup five years ago and again considered it but have not had it done , at the same time my son had a pup and did have it done , ours is calm and quiet (but does still scent mark ) my sons is mad to extremes and also still scent marks and chase bitches , he can also be quite aggressive . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fal Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Fenboy, the number of people I know that have had their dogs "done" and it has made no difference at all is crazy! Labs are one of the slowest maturing dogs around, I wouldn't ever have mine done unless it was for a serious life threatening issue. You never know, you may like to have a pup from him one day if he starts settling down, which he probably will. I like mine crazy, he's hyper all the time, everything he doe's is 100 mph! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Blue is "in tact" and at first I did find that he would scent mark at every lamp post or tree when out for a walk but when on the lead I don't let him. He is kept close to heel and as soon as he starts to show signs it is the no command and then heel and he is fine. When working he is so intent of bringing the game back to me as fast as he can he stops for nothing. As for other dogs and bitches, Blue will show an interest and want to play but as soon as I start to walk off or ask for heel he is there with me as he knows its work time..... With the greatest of respect could this be just a training issue rather than his anatomy? Always had bitches so blue is my first dog so I have limited knowledge. I dont know about a training issue , but it certainly makes training more difficult . I think a lot of our issues are due to his lack of maturity and to be honest I think I should have started his training at a much later stage than what I did , he is a much different dog personality wise than any I have had before , he is usually fine when I am on my own with him but introduce other dogs or people and things go out of the window , as he would rather play with them than do anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I dont know about a training issue , but it certainly makes training more difficult . I think a lot of our issues are due to his lack of maturity and to be honest I think I should have started his training at a much later stage than what I did , he is a much different dog personality wise than any I have had before , he is usually fine when I am on my own with him but introduce other dogs or people and things go out of the window , as he would rather play with them than do anything. All dogs are different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jame Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I dont know about a training issue , but it certainly makes training more difficult . I think a lot of our issues are due to his lack of maturity and to be honest I think I should have started his training at a much later stage than what I did , he is a much different dog personality wise than any I have had before , he is usually fine when I am on my own with him but introduce other dogs or people and things go out of the window , as he would rather play with them than do anything. Although a different breed of dog, I think that sounds like an issue with the amount of focus the dog has on you, I went through a similar "phase" with my Cocker, she would want to engage other people or dogs if given the chance more than wanting to interact with me. I worked around this by paying a lot more attention to each time she made eye contact with me and praising her for doing so verbally, therefore building up the level of focus she has on me all the time when out and about whether training solo or somewhere with people/other dogs. She now makes a lot more eye contact with me because she knows its a good thing as I praise her for it and maintains a lot more focus on me in situations where people/dogs are present. May or may not help, I felt it worth a post anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Thanks for the replies all. It pretty much goes with my initial thoughts that it would not make much difference to his behaviour , perhaps I have been fortunate with how soon my previous dogs have matured but it seems like it is going to be a much longer process this time around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEADLY PLUMBER Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Thanks for raising this issue today Fenboy. I have a similar dilemma with my Cocker. He's 21 months old and just needs to calm down a bit and listen a bit more. He is less driven by other dogs. But is mad for working. He has one hell of a nose on him and loves getting into thick cover. I think he just needs a bit more time and I need to improve my training skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Your dog just seems to be taking a time to grow up. My first Labrador was 'fully trained' at a year old, my second at 18 months and my third didn't get any working brain cells until he was two and a half years old. Would you have appreciated it if your parents had had you castrated when you were in your late teens because you were 'sniffing around?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 No I dont think I would , but then I never licked my own balls or rolled in fox **** , and I always did what my parents told me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Scent marking instead of obeying a ommand could be a dominance thing and the dog giving u 2 fingers. Just do as wot someone else said above dog on lad walking to heel and a no/leave command if it treis to scent mark. My old lab used to do it if he was on a retreive and thought about it i'd give him a growl/OI quietly at first then a loud one, if u growl the instant he thinks about it it really doesnae take much. The best advice would be to join a group training club or even the local obediance class in the village/kirk hall. Sounds like it needs more training in a controled environment with other dogs around It is almost alway lack of training that the problem is rather than the dog being 'whole' , even some of the vets nuetring ogs at 6-8 months old, i was lways told by the old school vets and trainers ur dog had to reach/finish puberty afore u should carstrate it. If u still think carstration would help can u not get a straw inserted into ur dog, like a male versoin of the pill meant to be like carstration and last's for 3 months ish so u can see if it would make any difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 No I dont think I would , but then I never licked my own balls or rolled in fox **** , and I always did what my parents told me. :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crowdie2013 Posted December 13, 2015 Report Share Posted December 13, 2015 How's your dog doing now fenboy and in particular around bitches? Has anything calmed him and is so what? My lab is out for his 1st season at 3yrs old and doing reasonably well when working but is possessed when we stop between drives and trying to hump any bitch about. He's been pretty immature to get to this stage but eventually doing fine now; recalls, stops etc and steady to shot- all fine for our needs. He doesn't pay any attention to the bitches in the line when working just when stopped. Tried lug pulling, shock collar, ####ing at him but end up having to physically haul him off and it's starting to **** me off! Maybe he'll grow out of it in time but I doubt it............ thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted December 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2015 (edited) How's your dog doing now fenboy and in particular around bitches? Has anything calmed him and is so what? My lab is out for his 1st season at 3yrs old and doing reasonably well when working but is possessed when we stop between drives and trying to hump any bitch about. He's been pretty immature to get to this stage but eventually doing fine now; recalls, stops etc and steady to shot- all fine for our needs. He doesn't pay any attention to the bitches in the line when working just when stopped. Tried lug pulling, shock collar, ####ing at him but end up having to physically haul him off and it's starting to **** me off! Maybe he'll grow out of it in time but I doubt it............ thanks When working he is brilliant , will find and retrieve anything he has made some fantastic retrieves this season . Other than that he is a total pain in the **** he just will not do a thing he is asked unless he feels like it , the other day I had him out for a run down the marsh and he ran 5-600 yards to say hello to a woman walking two dogs along the sea wall and there was no stopping him . He is no worse around bitches than he is around dogs in general . I have resigned myself that he is always going to be like that. I was asked about taking him picking up the other day but frankly I would not dare ! Thank god the new dog seems to be of different ilk Edited December 13, 2015 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy.plinker Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Jdog and fenboy haha that made me laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 When working he is brilliant , will find and retrieve anything he has made some fantastic retrieves this season . Other than that he is a total pain in the **** he just will not do a thing he is asked unless he feels like it , the other day I had him out for a run down the marsh and he ran 5-600 yards to say hello to a woman walking two dogs along the sea wall and there was no stopping him . He is no worse around bitches than he is around dogs in general . I have resigned myself that he is always going to be like that. I was asked about taking him picking up the other day but frankly I would not dare ! Thank god the new dog seems to be of different ilk Lab dogs do not mature till about 2 years old,hence they are still much like a puppy. As for running off and won't come back,,,,,,its back to HEEL,SIT,STAY,I'm afraid.. Never ever been in favour of mating either,once that step is taken,it can be hell when in company and even on the marsh,,as like all males,,,He Wants it Again..lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 My springer bitch had to be sprayed because she had pymetria (spelling) (womb infection). She rolled in badger poop before and she still does it now If she can. So no change there. She is more aggressive towards strangers and other dogs since she was spayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 We tend to have dogs now not bitches, but coat quality tends to suffer on neutered dogs. I have two older dogs who we did have neutered before we decided not to anymore. Both of them have got skin problems that they have had long term and are on permanent medication for it. The 4 that are intact are fine and have lovely coats and skin. Years ago we had a GSD that was neutered and that had skin problems too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Lab dogs do not mature till about 2 years old,hence they are still much like a puppy. As for running off and won't come back,,,,,,its back to HEEL,SIT,STAY,I'm afraid.. Never ever been in favour of mating either,once that step is taken,it can be hell when in company and even on the marsh,,as like all males,,,He Wants it Again..lol. Mine is three , thankfully I seem to have cured most of his issues now and he is much better behaved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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