Hi everyone. As a new member posting for the first time im after some advice.
I have an eight year old uncastrated lab who ive been training as a gun dog for the last year or so, and was quite amazed how naturally he took to it. He's retreving and carrying well and has no problem in holding the retreve untill told to give, hes also responding well to different whistle comands, and loves coming out with me training.
He's used to being out with my brother in law's young female lab and doesn't show any interest in her. But when i took him out with four or five other working dogs last night, he instantly took a liking to one of the spanniels, who's owner thought she might be coming into season. As you can imagine it was as if he'd instanly forgotten all he's been taught, and spent the whole night trying to get to her, and so was kept on a lead.
Is there anything i can do to help with this behaviour eg going back to basics with heel and stay comands, or am i fighting a losing battle against natural instinct?
My local vet also mentioned once that you can chemically castrate male dogs with an injection which lasts for around six months. Is this worth looking into? It sounded a bit extreme at the time.
Thanks for any advice.
