I've been going through the same thing...wondering what to do. I haven't got my pup yet, but making plans. He is born. I am getting him in April. My last Yorkie was neutered and still showed a few signs of humping a pillow when he was very young or over excited. Somtimes he would pee in someone's house if it was the first time he had ever been there. And he definatly marked on walks and around houses when we first got to a new house. He wasn't bad though and was house trained imediatly. Just if it was the first time in there. I think...if I hadn't of had him neutered...how much worse could it have been? I know of dogs who hump people's legs as they walked in the door! Not fun!
BUT on the flip side. I am more on the holistic side. Limited vax, natural flee and heartworm, homecooking, etc so I think...oh...that surgery and putting them under...and people giving me horror stories about what the vets do to the dogs in the room...their heads banging back and forth and all kinds of stories. And oh...is it bad because they aren't in their natural state...and my holistic friends make some good points that make me think! And they tell me that humping and marking can be controlled through training.
BUT on the flip side of that...in my living situation right now...a humping dog would not make for a pleasent houshold. It would make the situation much worse. The person I live with FREAKS out about it and that is why we almost got a female instead. It would put a lot more stress on me besides the regular training and how could that be good for anyone all around? Plus...is it good that they have all these hormones going around inside and no way to let it out? In fact...aren't some diseases caused by an imbalance of hormones.
I don't know.
I don't have an answer one way or the other. I see points of view on both sides of the story and they both make sense to me. I think in my situation I have to neuter because of my living situation and increased traveling I will be doing. It may make it harder on me and my new pup if we have to worry about the negatives of leaving him natural.
suzie |