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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

Can anyone help? Boarder has said dog can't come back if not sorted

22 replies

XiCi · 08/02/2022 11:37

I have a 17 month old entire male shih tzu x bichon. We were lucky to find a really great boarder who he's been going to since he was a pup. He's spent numerous days and overnights there and a couple of longer periods to cover holidays. She always tells me how much she loves him and he loves going there, is literally champing at the bit to get in when I drop him off.
He spent a night there at the weekend and when I picked him up the boarder was in tears. She said that her house had just been fully redecorated and my dog had scented everywhere and some brand new white furnishings had been stained. We have a holiday coming up and she is unsure whether she could have him for a week when it was so bad just for a day. He has never scented in our house and never before at the boarders. We have left it that we could try again for a night prior to the longer holiday but I don't know what could have caused it or how to stop it.
I dont know if this could have had an affect but for the last week there has been an in season bitch off lead in the park. Whenever we walk in the park she finds my dog and I literally have to drag him away. It's really changed his behaviour. Not eating, whining all day and night at the door to get out etc. I've noticed him scenting more on walks since this happened so wondered whether it was connected . There was a bitch staying with him at the boarders on the day in question (but obvs not in season).
Does anyone have any advice? She's a great boarder and we'd hate to lose her but not sure where to start!

OP posts:

Alittlepotofrosie · 08/02/2022 11:41

Neuter him.

pumpkinpie01 · 08/02/2022 11:47

Whining all day and night to get out ! He needs neutering

Beamur · 08/02/2022 11:48

Is there a reason why he's not neutered? This behaviour is directly linked.

MrsWooster · 08/02/2022 11:50

Why wouldn’t you neuter him, when it’s making him not eat and whine all day and night?

powershowerforanhour · 08/02/2022 11:52

By "scenting" I assume you mean "pissing on". Your options are

Chop his balls off
Get a house sitter to look after him in your own house.
Send him to traditional boarding kennels where he will be kept outside in a kennel and run which can be hosed down.

WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly · 08/02/2022 12:11

Most boarders won’t take unneutered dogs in my experience?

Original poster

XiCi · 08/02/2022 12:13

@MrsWooster

Why wouldn’t you neuter him, when it’s making him not eat and whine all day and night?

Well obviously that is a temporary thing due to coming across the bitch in season. Its actually settled down now as I've walked him in a different park the last few days. My vet told me neutering was not recommended in male dogs anymore. As he has never scent marked in the boarders or anyone else's house before I thought there may be a reason for the change in behaviour. I certainly wouldn't want him to have unnecessary surgery when it might not even stop it. I think I'll chat it through with vet again.

OP posts:

Rickrollme · 08/02/2022 12:18

I would get a new vet. And yes, neuter your dog.

takemetomars · 08/02/2022 12:21

@Rickrollme

I would get a new vet. And yes, neuter your dog.

Neturing large breeds or recommended in dogs until 2 yes of age. Not sure about small breeds

Shmithecat2 · 08/02/2022 12:23

@Rickrollme

I would get a new vet. And yes, neuter your dog.

This. Interested to hear their reasoning for not neutering though.

FazedNotPhased · 08/02/2022 12:23

It's not not recommended, it's just not necessarily to be done as standard eg if the dog is particularly timid. But it's clearly required here in my opinion.

Original poster

XiCi · 08/02/2022 13:13

@FazedNotPhased

It's not not recommended, it's just not necessarily to be done as standard eg if the dog is particularly timid. But it's clearly required here in my opinion.

Yes exactly. So in the past it was standard for all dogs but recent evidence has shown that the benefits for male neutering are not as much as previously thought and in fact can cause a number of health problems in certain breeds. If your dog is anxious (which mine is) then it can make it worse. So it's not clear cut if you pardon the pun. I'll go back and chat it through with the vet.

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 08/02/2022 13:27

Your options seem to be neuter him or find another boarder but you will find that hard as most won't accept un neutered dogs so then you would have to neuter him so I think your options are neuter him or dont go on holiday.

1990s · 08/02/2022 13:31

There is an injection you can get which is temporary castration. Wears off after 6 months I think and then you’d know what he was like neutered.

Original poster

XiCi · 08/02/2022 13:35

Yes I think I've reached that conclusion Hellocatshome. He sulks for a couple of days if his coat is cut too short at the groomers so he'll probably never interact with me again if I get his bollocks chopped off

OP posts:

Original poster

XiCi · 08/02/2022 13:35

@1990s

There is an injection you can get which is temporary castration. Wears off after 6 months I think and then you’d know what he was like neutered.

Thanks. I think I might go down this road first.

OP posts:

wetotter · 08/02/2022 13:42

There is no medicalreadin to avoid neutering a shihtzu, and it does not need to be delayed (as recommended fir some breeds, and for a few not all)

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full#SM1

www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/548304/fvets-07-00388-HTML-r1/image_m/fvets-07-00388-t001.jpg

It does sound as though your dog would benefit from being neutered

Littlehouseonthefairy · 08/02/2022 13:42

I have been given the same advice for my dog, not to neuter until he is at least 2 as early neutering can damage confidence and joints apparently.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 08/02/2022 16:02

If he is timid then I would not neuter him yet. Marking is as much a behavioural problem as anything else and it won't necessarily be solved if you get him castrated. I would, however, speak to the vet about chemical castration and give that a go first.

However, this is a reason why many boarders don't take entire dogs - so it may be that you need to look into another setting for him. Perhaps a pet-sitter who can sleep at your house so your dog stays in his home environment may be best for him.

Lena18lou · 08/02/2022 20:56

Unless you plan to breed why wouldn't you neuter him. Our vet encouraged us to do so to prevent diseases

luckylavender · 08/02/2022 22:09

So you won't neuter him even though he's ruined the boarder's house?!

linchinton · 16/02/2022 14:43

Pretty sure you'd neuter him if he was pissing all over your home!

But yes he can go to kennels or you can have a dog-sitter at your house.
I wouldn't recommend taking him away with you unless you have your own holiday home. Would be horrible for holiday home/hotel owners to have their properties ruined by your dog.

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