castration ( ouch )

[darren m]

Castration -- what are your thoughts on it please .

As anyone had there dog castrated , and it has improved there handling , or visa versa ...

At what age would it be best to have it done.

 

The reason i'm thinking of having it done to Jack ( black lab ) , is that he's been a right pain this last month , he seems to have lost the plot slightly .

Its like every thing i've taught him as gone out the window , he's disobedient , he's marking territory like its going out of fashion , he's concentration as not been as good ( but never was anyways) , and he's even wandered off over the fields to the neighbouring farm .

Is this his teenage hormones kicking in , he's now 14 months old ( next week ).

i don't want to give up on him , he's supposed to have a decent pedigree ie . Breeze of drakeshead , Haretor mark of drakeshead , Lewyn lumpus , Flash mount socrates etc , and may more ( if there genuine papers that is !!!).

So i need your advice again please , on what to do , good points and bad ....

THANKS

Darren .

[MadSpringer]

Hi Darren,

 

I would only consider having a dog castrated for aggression problems that I was unable to correct or for medical reasons.

 

Castration is not the full answer to behaviour problems, once castrated you will still have to work hard with the dog to correct unwanted and learned behaviour. If Jack has been allowed to scent everywhere when he is out, then he will think that it's ok for him to do so, learned behaviour will take a while to correct and require a lot of input from yourself!

 

Remember Jack is a rebellious youngster at 14 months old!

 

I believe your problems stem from Jack not respecting you as Top Dog. Go back to basics again and establish your position!

 

Talk to your vet about Tardac injections (chemical castration, not permanent), I think they are around £25 a go, you will probably need 2 or 3 to see a difference, depends on the dog! I know this may seem expensive when castration is £80 - £100 but it may take the edge off him and help you to regain control of him over the next few months.

 

I know a few people who have had Labs and Springers castrated and it has not affected their working ability, which is often a concern with working dogs.

 

Have a look at this site http://www.gsdhelpline.com/castration.htm

should help you with a few questions!

 

 

 

I hope this helps!

 

 

 

Cheers

[potshot]

Absolutetly right Mad Springer. Also ask your vet about trying potassium bromide (remember the war!!!) which can be given orally and is cheaper still....

 

Good luck

[lurcherboy]

I had the same with my first lurcher, Jack. Had him fixed and lived to regret it. If I had a pound for every moocher who wanted him to cover their bitch I would be able to have a good night out.

 

I am now on Jack IV. He was a bad teen too but we got through it and he is now getting paid to ****!

 

 

Wish I was a real dog sometimes

 

 

LB

[jordan]

i personally dont agree with castration just my views but i dont think its right unless it absolutely has to be done(say a medical condition)

[Fisherman Mike]

Though I agree with Mad to some extent about the merits of not castrating a dog I would say in my experience of 3 springers and 2 cockers since I was a boy that there are definate benefits to be had in terms of temperment and obedience.

 

Mad is right in that castration is not the universal panacea to behavioural problems which have surfaced because of poor training.

 

It is adviseable to have the dog done at about 6 months if you intend to do it and I would say, again in my experience and in the opinion of my vet that it is in the dogs interests to have it done if you do not intend breeding from it. But be very careful as obviously this is a irreversible process.

 

Of all the working dogs I have had experience of (5) not including the pup and the Cocker I have at the moment 3 were neutered and those were easily the easiest to train were sedate and quite markedly did not suffer the same extent of health problems generally during their life span.

 

My current cocker is Neutered and is coming along nicely and my previous springer was as mad as a hatter and totally untrainable until I had him done after that he was a completely different dog! I do not intend to have the recent arival neutered at the moment but we will see how he turns out.

 

I would definately talk to your vet. Some of them as mine does have behavioral specialists attached to the practice which can be consulted. I am sure I read somewhere that pottassium bromide was a carcinogen and I ceratinly wouldnt recommend any DIY forms of treatment.

 

Check out this site bolloxoff

 

Dont lose patience mate it will all come good in the end.

 

FM

[darren m]

cheers lads -- very usefull , daft question you may think , but how do i get Jack to think of / respect me as top dog ( i thought he already did , but maybe not ).

any more info please .

cheers .

[Fisherman Mike]

Darren,

 

First off all let me apologise for posting the same information website as Mad.

 

I must take more care of reading the posts.

 

I used to have a good book on Dog Phsycology by a chap called Roger Mugford which was well worth a read... You have to use a bit of it on these type of dogs as they need "BREAKING". for want of a better word.

 

As dogs are pack animals they have an Established Hierarchy within the pack which is now replaced with you and your family. You must demonstrate to him that you are on a higher plane than him. Simple things like occasionally shutting him away or taking his food bowl away ( Mind your hand!) when he is eating. Making him wait obediently for his food so that he knows you are the provider.

 

It sounds like he could benefit from a refresher on the leadwork with a system of action and reward. You can chastise your dog with your voice when he does something wrong but equally you must steep praise and reward on him when he does what is required.

 

I had an unruly GSP 18 month old which I part trained for a friend when he was in America on Business a few years back. They thought the dog was good but he was a bloody nightmare.. I took him back to basics with lead training for a couple of weeks and you should have seen the difference when they returned. They would not believe it was the same dog.

 

Have another chat with Mad Springer he will know what is best..

 

But dont give up on the dog I am sure he will come through for you.

 

Good luck

 

FM.

[Jeff B]

Darren

 

You really shouldn't be looking for surgical solutions to training problems. Your dog is enjoying a certain amount of sexual maturity, he's at that age [i bet you are glad they didn't castrate you when you went through puberty].

 

You have to gain control and you will not achieve that through shouting, bullying or any such behaviour, any frustrations you show will transmit to the dog you really don't know what you are doing so he will try to sort thing out for himself. You have to learn to be consistant, be confidently in control. Make you dog earn all his privilages, sitting for his food, lying down before being let out, sitting to have his lead put on etc. etc.

 

You cannot insist your dog respects you, it just don't work like that, respect is different to fear. Respect is something that is earned, all dogs do what works for them, so if working with you works for your dog you will make progress. Get the basics in thoroughly, do it in short but positive sessions, show the dog you are in control by steering him to successes, that way he will earn his praise and you camn move forward in small successful steps.

 

Jeff