Advice about 'boys' please.

[Helen]

why don't you have him castrated,
then you will never have this problem again, and your dog will be much more relaxed
with his hormones under control

I don't think that is entirely true - my entire dog is completely relaxed and this only happens a couple of times a year with him - and only when in-season bitches are paraded in front of him if I'm perfectly honest.  Now we know his reactions we can usually stop it before it starts and this year he had one day when he was a bit off and that was it.  We went to completely different walks and he was back to normal very quickly.

Neutered dogs can and do react to bitches in season - in fact Jarv's friend Alfie (neutered) will often be the first to realise there is a bitch in season and does take 'action'  

....and hormones are not just for sexual purposes - I don't think my dog would be half as confident with other dogs without his testosterone...that doesn't mean he throws his weight around but I strongly feel it adds to his maturity and confidence when meeting other dogs.

I'm not anti-neutering - and if anything changed (behaviourally or physically) with Jarvis that meant I should neuter than I would.   I just believe it should be a well considered choice and if you do have an entire dog than as a good owner you accept this comes with added responsibilities  

[SandraD]

I sympathise, poor boy.  We went to training this morning and just as we were arriving one of the usual members of our group left rather hurridly.  It transpired that her bitch had come into season and she hadn't noticed  .  Our training sessions are held on a farm out doors and she had only been there a few minutes but nearly all the male dogs, entire and neutered were a nightmare this morning - have to say the training session turned into a bit of a humping fest!!!!

[Hurtwood Dogs]

I lost Dave after an in season bitch - she was on lead and I kept him on lead for half an hour after he'd clocked her (walking in the opposite direction), he duped me into a false sense of security and the second I let him off... he was gone like a rocket Fortunately the woman with the bitch remembered seeing him earlier and which direction I'd gone in so she put him on a lead and walked back to meet me. I was a little caught out at quite how obsessed he was - I had a male before him that wasn't in the slightest bit interested in the ladies so it was new to me

I'd have thought the bitch in season must be very close to where you live if he's reacting like that in the home though so he should be ok if you're walking further away from home..... in theory anyway

PS. Just to add Dave is now nearly 3yrs and castrated and he's still pretty interested but not quite as bad as he was, although he's not had thaaaaaaat much opportunity of late I have to admit.

[Lily Freya]

why don't you have him castrated,
then you will never have this problem again, and your dog will be much more relaxed
with his hormones under control

I have all sorts of concerns with the castration idea.  Firstly, I don't like the idea of elective surgery...............I lost my dearest dog, Lily, after allowing her to have surgery which was elective.

Also, I just can't get my head around the idea of 'mutilation'.  This sounds awful, I know, and I don't want to offend anyone who has had their dogs castrated.  It is just a personal thing. 

I honestly do know that there are good things, and bad things about castration.  But, it is just something I can't bring myself around to considering at the moment.

[ClareB]

why don't you have him castrated,
then you will never have this problem again, and your dog will be much more relaxed
with his hormones under control

I don't think that is entirely true - my entire dog is completely relaxed and this only happens a couple of times a year with him - and only when in-season bitches are paraded in front of him if I'm perfectly honest.  Now we know his reactions we can usually stop it before it starts and this year he had one day when he was a bit off and that was it.  We went to completely different walks and he was back to normal very quickly.

Neutered dogs can and do react to bitches in season - in fact Jarv's friend Alfie (neutered) will often be the first to realise there is a bitch in season and does take 'action'  

....and hormones are not just for sexual purposes - I don't think my dog would be half as confident with other dogs without his testosterone...that doesn't mean he throws his weight around but I strongly feel it adds to his maturity and confidence when meeting other dogs.

I'm not anti-neutering - and if anything changed (behaviourally or physically) with Jarvis that meant I should neuter than I would.   I just believe it should be a well considered choice and if you do have an entire dog than as a good owner you accept this comes with added responsibilities  

I agree 100%.  Milo is only interested in an in-season bitch when they're right in front of his nose, once they're out of sight he forgets all about them.  He's entire for the same reason Helen's Jarv is entire.     Unlike Jarv though, he can be a bit grumbly with other entire male dogs, but it's only grumbling and he would never act on it, he's too much of a wuss.  We did give him a Tardak injection some months ago to see if that changed anything so we had an indication of what effect neutering might have, but it didn't make the slightest bit of difference. Hence he's still entire and will remain so unless anything significant changes.

A good friend of mine had a rescue crossbreed who was neutered young as he became inconsolable when there was a nearby bitch in season, plus he only had one descended testicle.  Even when neutered and aged 12+, he was far more interested in in-season bitches than Milo has ever been.   

[Rats and Dogs]

I wonder if I should be worried that Duggie isn't interested in girls?! We met his Husky friend, Reilly, the other day, they normally play rough and tumble for ages and have so much fun together, but this time Reilly was onlead. Duggie ran up to her as usual, tried to engage her in a bit of play, and then just walked off to find someone else (he always does that if a dog won't play), I asked her owners why she was onlead, and they replied that she was in her first season. Duggie didn't even take any notice!

Long may it continue, no one is good enough for my boy.

[Helen]

I wonder if I should be worried that Duggie isn't interested in girls?! We met his Husky friend, Reilly, the other day, they normally play rough and tumble for ages and have so much fun together, but this time Reilly was onlead. Duggie ran up to her as usual, tried to engage her in a bit of play, and then just walked off to find someone else (he always does that if a dog won't play), I asked her owners why she was onlead, and they replied that she was in her first season. Duggie didn't even take any notice!

Long may it continue, no one is good enough for my boy.

depends how far into their season they are - Jarv is pretty disinterested until mid season when he's mean t to be interested 

[Rats and Dogs]

I didn't ask how far in she was, but so far, apart from a little humping at the puppy class we got chucked out of, he has never done anything. He must be a late developer.

I probably shouldn't have said that, I bet he now starts to hump everything in sight and everyone he meets.

[sarahbe]

Can I ask- how old my boy should be before he gets the snip? Also if I get another cocker would it be alright to have another boy- apparently they are more loving and loyal? Is that true?
Thanks

[*Theresa*]

Erm no...how loyal and loving they are is not dependant on their sex but more on their personality. Of my two my girl is definitely the more loyal and loving and she completeyl adores her dad and will sit for hours and hours being cuddled. My boy is very loving but loyal....erm depends who has the food...I guess you can say he is loyal to his belly 

[Pip895]

Can I ask- how old my boy should be before he gets the snip? Also if I get another cocker would it be alright to have another boy- apparently they are more loving and loyal? Is that true?
Thanks

The general perception is the opposite which is why girls are in more demand and often slightly more expensive to buy as pups.  But really its a personality thing.  I think there is probably a greater incidence of problems in adding another boy than adding a bitch if you have a boy already, neutered or not.  Perhaps someone with more experience will be able to advise – I’ve only ever had one at a time.

[vixen]

Although I have girls now, in the past I have had male dogs and they were left entire.  I never had a problem with them humping or being aggressive.
I had only one occasion when my GSP got the scent of a bitch and was offfffffffff,  at the time I was quite scared but I then learnt to notice the signs and take the necessary precautions (take him on another route).
I think a lot of vet practices (particularly the large ones) encourage owners to get their males castrated early as it makes financial sense for them.
My vet (a one man practice) said to leave it and see how the dog copes with his sexuality.  As your dog is re-acting to a outside stimulant I can see no reason to have him 'done', particularly as you are quite opposed to it. The bitch's season will end and if you are no exposing him to the scent he should be fine.
When I have another cocker it will be male and I have no plans to have him castrated ( unless there are medical or other problems).