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The doghouse

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Original poster

Neutering and dog walkers

26 replies

fufulina · 22/04/2021 09:12

Hi - we have a nearly 7 month old male shih tzu. He is our first dog. Before we got him I assumed we would have him neutered, but doing lots of reading it doesn’t seem to be as black and white as I thought. He has been going out with a dog Walker since he was about 5 months, once a week with lots of other dogs - he seems to enjoy it, goes off wagging his tail. But last week, the Walker when she dropped him home said he was ‘a nightmare’ and wouldn’t leave the other dogs alone - humping.

They have said they can’t have him unless he is neutered. We wanted to give him the benefit of puberty on his physical development so we’re thinking about 12 months. But they say that’s too late. But also aware that humping is rarely stopped by neutering, and could be a stress response anyway; he may just find the walks too overwhelming 😕 I suppose what I’m worried about is we neuter him, it doesn’t stop the humping, and they can’t walk him anyway.... also, are the walks actually too stressful for him?

When he is with us, we do supervised puppy wrestling with dogs who we have checked with the owners it’s ok (we are in London; dogs everywhere). He’s on a long line (working on recall), but he doesn’t hump dogs, us, toys or anything.

What would you do?

OP posts:
SirDidymus · 22/04/2021 09:48

Honestly? I'd expect the walker to work with you on this and keep him on a lead for the time being to see whether or not it's a behaviour that can be dissuaded/settled down. It's a poor walker that takes on a 7 month old pup and does not expect issues/to have to play a role in shaping how he behaves on walks.

I'd probably also want to see this for myself and so accompany the walker on at least one walk with my dog so we can collaborate and allign on ways to handle the behaviour.

I can be a bit intolerant but I wouldn't be neutering a seven month old dog just to satisfy the dog walker. If working with me through the issue wasn't something they wanted to do, I'd find another walker (or no walker at all until he's older).

Original poster
fufulina · 22/04/2021 10:02

Thanks so much for your reply - I think you’ve articulated what was in my head. He’s a puppy - he will get overexcited. The Walker also told me they had a bitch on heat - because the owner was a key worker, but ddog wouldn’t leave her alone Confused

Great shout about going with them - I’ll suggest that and see what they reckon.

OP posts:
Original poster
fufulina · 22/04/2021 10:04

And to clarify he is on a lead the whole time with the Walker - she said that’s the only way to stop him.

OP posts:
StrongTea · 22/04/2021 10:04

The dog on heat should have been walked alone. Dog walker not being reasonable in this situation.

SirDidymus · 22/04/2021 10:08

@StrongTea

The dog on heat should have been walked alone. Dog walker not being reasonable in this situation.
Absolutely - walking a dog on heat with other dogs and then complaining that they won't leave her alone is bloody stupid (imo).
MikeWozniaksGloriousTache · 22/04/2021 10:09

What would I do? Get a new walker. She’s already shown her lack of knowledge about dogs by saying “neutering at 12 months is too late” when it’s quite well known now even to laypeople now that neutering too early can cause a whole host of physical and emotional issues.

The fact that he doesn’t hump around you on walks indicates something is happening on these walks that makes him want to hump. As you say, neutering doesn’t resolve humping unless it is purely hormonal but if this was the case you would be seeing the humping on your own walks and you don’t. It could be something simple as the dogs he is being walked with (humping often manifests itself as play) or her style of communication / training.

I’d also want to witness this behaviour, what leads up to it, how she acts etc.

MikeWozniaksGloriousTache · 22/04/2021 10:10

Crossposted as I hadn’t refreshed the page. I’m shocked she took a female in heat on a walk with other dogs. This alone would make me change walkers, she obviously has no fucking clue with dogs and I’d tell her that!

Original poster
fufulina · 22/04/2021 10:14

All good advice thank you. I had just let the bitch on heat thing go, but you’re right - that’s a no go.

Really helpful everyone thank you. I think I was just so pleased we had found someone and he seemed to enjoy the walks. New Walker I think.

OP posts:
XiCi · 22/04/2021 10:28

I’m shocked she took a female in heat on a walk with other dogs. This alone would make me change walkers, she obviously has no fucking clue with dogs and I’d tell her that!
Absolutely this. How completely irresponsible of her

SlothMama · 22/04/2021 10:35

I'd get rid of your dog walker, they sound like they are completely irresponsible. No right minded dog walker will walk a bitch in season with other dogs, nor would they tell you to neuter your dog because they tried to hump a bitch in season...

That dog walker and her owners are risking an unwanted litter! Every dog walker I know will do a home visit for an hour when the bitches are in season. But they would never walk them in groups.

Find a new dog walker and don't neuter your dog until he is mature, which is breed dependant but I'd wait until they are at least 18 months

SirDidymus · 22/04/2021 10:44

Not for the first time on here, I am doubly grateful to have found such a collaborative and responsible dog walker for my own dog. One that welcomes owners joining her on walks to see how their specific dog behaves and talk about ways she can handle them to improve behaviour (or just improve enjoyments etc). Who would always provide a seperate on lead walk in an isolated location or an in heat bitch and who I trust absolutely to have the dog's safety and happiness as her paramount concern.

My biggest regret with my own dog is that I did not hold high enough standards in the early days, wrt to whose services I used (training, daycare). I should have cut off anyone whose approach to dog care did not 100% sit well with me. I wouldn't hesistate now.

There are really good walkers out there, OP. Keep looking!

sunflowersandbuttercups · 22/04/2021 12:41

As a dog walker myself I think your walker has been highly unprofessional and incredibly irresponsible. Is she at least insured and qualified in canine first aid?

What on EARTH is she thinking walking an entire male and a bitch in heat the same time? That's appalling.

I walk an entire male and he's either walker solo or with other dogs I've matched him with. He's too nervous to be in a group setting yet but there's no way I'd drop him because he's not been neutered yet!

Please, please find yourself a new walker. I hope you and your pup are okay Thanks

Stellaris22 · 22/04/2021 12:43

Get a new walker asap. Walking a dog in heat with others is so irresponsible, clearly she doesn't know what she's doing. Equally, owners of the dog in heat should not be allowing this either. I'm surprised there weren't serious fights between the male dogs, it's very dangerous.

HappyThursdays · 22/04/2021 14:52

That's really bad of the walker. Happypup is an entire male and is in a special group with his walkers. I would be absolutely furious if they walked a bitch on heat with him but they wouldn't as we already discussed this. I would be immediately finding another walker - not fair on your dog at all and no wonder he was humping!

Original poster
fufulina · 23/04/2021 11:12

Update I told the Walker we are giving him a break and don’t want to neuter him yet. Apparently it’s our fault because he’s not neutered (which they knew when they took him on). And they know best. 😟

OP posts:
0ntheg0again · 23/04/2021 11:32

Wow Shock definitely need to look for a new dog walker!

XiCi · 23/04/2021 13:34

Did you tell them how irresponsible and dangerous it was? I'd be spreading the word about how unprofessional they were. Thankfully you found out before there was any incident with your pup!

SirDidymus · 23/04/2021 13:36

Sounds like you are well shot...

Original poster
fufulina · 23/04/2021 13:38

They said that her season had finished (not what the walker actually told me at the time), but that she still smelt. Isn’t that still in season?

The guy who runs the business was really aggressive with me. But in a nutshell they said - if you don’t neuter him, we won’t take him, I said fine - but also not sure about walking an intact male with a female pup in season, all hell broke loose. Confused

OP posts:
Helenluvsrob · 23/04/2021 13:42

Umm most bitches on heat aren’t walked or are walked away from other dogs surely ?

If you were minded to thinking neutering there is an implant you could try as a temp fix.

However you need a new dog Walker.

My dog is intact and 20 months. No worries except possible sometimes getting a bit of a growl from another intact dog

CandyLeBonBon · 23/04/2021 13:48

Completely missing the point of the thread but what ON EARTH is 'supervised puppy wrestling'?

M

Original poster
fufulina · 23/04/2021 13:49

Puppies playing together.

OP posts:
sunflowersandbuttercups · 23/04/2021 14:12

The company sound appalling Angry

I would be furious about them putting my dog and the bitch at risk. I wonder if the bitches owners know what's been going on?

tabulahrasa · 23/04/2021 15:42

The dog Walker complained about him trying to hump an in season bitch?!!!

WTF?

Neutered dogs and some bitches will do that too! I mean...

wetotter · 23/04/2021 15:52

They said that her season had finished (not what the walker actually told me at the time), but that she still smelt. Isn’t that still in season?

Yes. For a classic 3 week season, the first weeks the hormones are building up but the bitch is not yet receptive, week two the vuiva is fully softened and the bitch is receptive. Week 3 the hormone levels gradually fall, the bitch is no longer receptive and the vulva returns to normal.

She smells alluring to male dogs throughout, and so should be walked separately the whole time, even though the chances of a successful mating are low in the last week.