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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

To Neuter ?

13 replies

binnhill · 02/12/2020 00:13

Dog ,male,18 months ,had him since 6 wks old, he has started escaping, I've locked all gates and taking him longer walks.
But whines all time in house, seems sad and withdrawn, no longer plays with his toys, BUT worst of all HOWLS. at night when we all go to bed.
I'm guessing he's escaping to find girls on heat?
Should I get him neutered asap?

OP posts:

Doublebubblebubble · 02/12/2020 19:16

Yup. Asap. Not just because he's escaping.

AlCalavicci · 02/12/2020 19:27

Yes , there are already to many dogs that need rehoming , if he gets out he could get a bitch pregnant , get run over , get stolen or just never come back home.

To help stop the night time whining take him for a long walk just before bedtime , give him a small meal just a couple of spoons of meat or biscuits , and a frozen kong.

Hard as it may be try to ignor his whining or it will become a learned trait.
DOG - I whine at night I get food / attention / walked therefore I will keep whining.

talk to your neighbours 1st explain why you are doing it and you hope it will only last a few nights but be prepared for them to not be to happy about it

TheoriginalLEM · 02/12/2020 19:28

Yes!!

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 03/12/2020 06:21

Is he bored? If he is from an active and intelligent breed, he might need some training and a chance to use his brain, and that might be enough to settle him down.

And if he's from a larger breed, I would hold off neutering for a bit longer if you can.

vanillandhoney · 03/12/2020 08:27

He sounds bored. Neutering won't fix that.

What's his routine like? Dogs shouldn't be whining, crying and howling in the house all the time - does he get enough exercise and mental stimulation? Does he get plenty of company? A chance to run off lead occasionally to burn energy?

All things I would look at before neutering tbh. The whines/howls could be also be anxiety based in which case neutering could make his behaviour a lot worse.

Original poster

binnhill · 03/12/2020 10:15

He's 12 kg, mix collie/pug.

He has company all the time. Gets 2 walks a day, also has a yard 80 X 60 ft to run in.

Used to play a lot,bring toys over,chew bones, chase me round the table, lots fun. All stopped.

I think he's got a taste for running away .He's been seen 6 miles away but found his way home.
But one thing may be that he misses my daughter who moved out 2 months ago. He adored her.

OP posts:

vanillandhoney · 03/12/2020 11:01

That's definitely an interesting mix

What are his walks like? On or off lead? Do you vary the location and the type of walk he gets? So some walks where he can run, some where he can do lots of slow sniffs, some that involve training or scent work or maybe some agility if possible?

Collies are working dogs and need mental as well as physical stimulation - so you could try slow feeders, kongs, toys and games. Do you do training with him to keep his mind active too?

He could be missing your daughter and the night time howling does point to some kind of anxiety tbh, which is why I would be reluctant to neuter as it can make anxiety or nerves much worse.

Hoppinggreen · 03/12/2020 12:49

Collies are very mentally active, he could be bored .
We neutered our large breed boy at 18 months and it was the right thing for us and I think you should definitely consider it but it might not fix the problem

Original poster

binnhill · 03/12/2020 14:10

Hi , I try and vary the walks,. He gets off lead a lot , he gets to sniff and take his time . On way home he goes on retractable 8 m lead because there's a road he will escape down to nearest busy road.. We are rural and live in amongst fields. He gets a lot of attention, bones,balls, goes in car with me so isn't left.
Gets Kong's etc. He has toy box where he chooses a toy. He learns quickly new commands. Has several warm furry mats to lie on , a huge yard to run in . I do think neutering may help.

OP posts:

Stellaris22 · 03/12/2020 14:36

I would talk to your vet or a professional (qualified) behaviourist. But if he is escaping then I'd be be concerned about finding girls in season.

vanillandhoney · 03/12/2020 15:24

You can always try chemical castration to see if neutering will have the effect you want. I would go down that road first before neutering a dog with some behavioural problems.

Sitdowncupoftea · 03/12/2020 17:05

@binnhill

Hi , I try and vary the walks,. He gets off lead a lot , he gets to sniff and take his time . On way home he goes on retractable 8 m lead because there's a road he will escape down to nearest busy road.. We are rural and live in amongst fields. He gets a lot of attention, bones,balls, goes in car with me so isn't left. Gets Kong's etc. He has toy box where he chooses a toy. He learns quickly new commands. Has several warm furry mats to lie on , a huge yard to run in . I do think neutering may help.

You live rural that might be the issue. I live rural we get foxes , deer and pheasants. Your dog might be smelling them in the fields behind. I can walk my dogs 10 mile but if there's pheasants or a deer behind my house no amount of exercise will stop them trying to get out.

vanillandhoney · 03/12/2020 17:30

Yeah, this is a really good point. If my (neutered) dog catches a scent, nothing will stop him - it's nose down, ears off, let's go!

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