Need Male Yorkie Opinions Please

[OwnedByJezebel]

Originally Posted by Teegy

It will reduce conflict with other male dogs as they will smell the testosterone and it creates aggression in males, do you want your dog attacked?

I saw something, perhaps, similar to this yesterday at the dog park.

It was on the "big dog side" of the dog park, so mine weren't in danger, but it was very upsetting just the same.

Someone brought in a "bully breed," and it preceded to cause commotion among the other large dogs that had been in the large dog side of the dog park. Then the dog started attacking a medium sized mixed breed, that wasn't even an imposing or dominate dog at all. Three or four people jumped in to try and stop the attack (and the owner of the bad dog wasn't one of them).

Both dogs had blood on them. The attacked dog just laid there and cried, for several minutes, and other people offered to help the owner get the dog to her car. The owner of the attacking dog just put it on a leash and didn't even leave the park. She just said "oh that dog still has it's nuts. When he smells another dogs testosterone, he attacks." Well, duh. If that sets your dog off, your dog shouldn't be brought to the dog park.

Just another reason why, even though my pups love all dogs no matter what the size, even large dogs, they only go to the small dog side of the dog park. Others on the large dog side of the park, leashed their dogs and led them out of the park after the incident.

The intact male didn't cause the problem -- it was an aggressive fixed male that attacked him. If there isn't a profound reason to use your male to breed, then neuter him.

Aside from that, most dogs that are hit by cars are intact males. They will do anything -- ANYTHING -- if they smell a bitch in heat from (which they can do from several miles away) to reach her. Dig under fences, scratch through doors, chew threw anything. Even if they can't get out of your home, do you really want them to be put through that?? Human males refer to that as having "blue balls," and they say it is somewhat painful. Do you want to put your pup through that? (It will also be difficult for you to deal with). Just get them neutered, and all of this will not be an issue, for you or for them. And the issue with testicular cancer will also be non-existent as well.

[PattiNumber_H]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

The intact male didn't cause the problem -- it was an aggressive fixed male that attacked him. If there isn't a profound reason to use your male to breed, then neuter him.

Aside from that, most dogs that are hit by cars are intact males. They will do anything -- ANYTHING -- if they smell a bitch in heat from (which they can do from several miles away) to reach her. Dig under fences, scratch through doors, chew threw anything. Even if they can't get out of your home, do you really want them to be put through that?? Human males refer to that as having "blue balls," and they say it is somewhat painful. Do you want to put your pup through that? (It will also be difficult for you to deal with). Just get them neutered, and all of this will not be an issue, for you or for them. And the issue with testicular cancer will also be non-existent as well.

Although I have not experienced any of the above behaviors with our lab, I don't have the same reason to leave Bubba intact as I did the lab. I wanted the lab to fill out, to reach his maximum physical potential and possibly breed. The breeding is now out of the question, only because he seems to be so naive and still very much our follower. It would pain me to lose that.

I don't know that our lab has ever even smelled a female in season, which is probably the reason his behavior is still predictable. I have a lot of research ahead of me. In a perfect world my boys will only socialize with their cousins (our family members' dogs). They are very sheltered for the most part, thanks to mom's agoraphobia

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by PattiNumber_H

Thanks everyone for your replies, opinions.

I was most curious as to whether the breed is more apt to mark or have aggression related to not neutering. If it comes down to diligent training and being able to leave both of my males in tact, that is what I will strive for.

Charlie my lab has been extensively trained, never ran off, but also not given any opportunity to do so. We have a few acres completely walled/gated in, Charlie's area is half back porch half grass, his potty area is a gravel/sand (100 ft x100 ft) that he has used since day 1.

I don't mind the training, the results are worth it, my question stemmed from never having had an intact male with free range of the inside of our home, but it sounds as though it is more of a training issue than a neutering issue. Still I am open to others experiences and opinions.

I disagree with idea it a training issue, training has only minimal results when it comes to marking. Training works with housebreaking and peeing, but marking is different. Marking is considered "wired in behavior", and while you can modify it a little, you can't do much. It's a little like sneezing, you get the urge and it's very hard to stop, sometimes you have no control. Punishment is not effective when it comes to marking behavior; dogs have suffered from extreme electric shock, and still will continue to mark. I think people with only one dog have a much better chance that their unneutered dog will never mark, it's the smells from other dogs that sets off the marking in many cases. So don't be surprised if your Lab starts marking when a new dog is introduced.

[PattiNumber_H]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I disagree with idea it a training issue, training has only minimal results when it comes to marking. Training works with housebreaking and peeing, but marking is different. Marking is considered "wired in behavior", and while you can modify it a little, you can't do much. It's a little like sneezing, you get the urge and it's very hard to stop, sometimes you have no control. Punishment is not effective when it comes to marking behavior; dogs have suffered from extreme electric shock, and still will continue to mark. I think people with only one dog have a much better chance that their unneutered dog will never mark, it's the smells from other dogs that sets off the marking in many cases. So don't be surprised if your Lab starts marking when a new dog is introduced.

Good to know... very good to know. I have heard my husband tell relatives, to walk/relieve their pets outside of our property, because "Charlie would go nuts trying to right all the wrongs". Marking, I get it. Charlie doesn't go on any of our trees/grass or landscaping, he has his gravel/sand area, that is his only spot. Bubba already has a separate gravel area along the side of the house and we may always keep them separate. We have walked Bubba over to Charlie's area, he doesn't sniff or try to potty, but he may still be too young to exhibit marking behavior. I haven't tried the opposite, Charlie in Bubba's area. But I am curious if Charlie would want to mark.

I have thought neuter Bubba leave Charlie intact, neuter both, leave both intact. Arrrrghhh, I really just want two predictable animals, I think neutering is the surest bet for this.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by PattiNumber_H

Good to know... very good to know. I have heard my husband tell relatives, to walk/relieve their pets outside of our property, because "Charlie would go nuts trying to right all the wrongs". Marking, I get it. Charlie doesn't go on any of our trees/grass or landscaping, he has his gravel/sand area, that is his only spot. Bubba already has a separate gravel area along the side of the house and we may always keep them separate. We have walked Bubba over to Charlie's area, he doesn't sniff or try to potty, but he may still be too young to exhibit marking behavior. I haven't tried the opposite, Charlie in Bubba's area. But I am curious if Charlie would want to mark.

I have thought neuter Bubba leave Charlie intact, neuter both, leave both intact. Arrrrghhh, I really just want two predictable animals, I think neutering is the surest bet for this.

Ha ha, it's challenging isn't it? My grown son’s dog use to visit my house before we got Joey, and I’m sure he felt like this was his house first. He was older but never even lifted his leg to pee; he squatted. So we get Joey and Baxter comes for a visit and boom, at 4 years old he finally starts lifting his leg to pee, and marking all over our house, he then went to his own home and marked all over that. Now, Baxter was neutered, but the adrenal glands make testosterone as well, so even though a dog is neutered he could still mark, if he’s feeling the competition. One more thing to consider is that an unneutered dog marking and pee is much much stronger smelling than neutered dogs. Bubba will start to have testosterone around 6 months, but it won't be pumping solidly in veins for another couple of months. I would think you are safe to leave Charlie alone, since there is no advantage to doing it quickly with him, and neuter Bubba before 8 months. By the way, Yorkies don't lose all the baby teeth on their own, and many of us get the remaining teeth pulled during a neuter or spay. A double row of teeth can cause later problems and you have to put them out to pull the teeth. These are just suggestions, and I wish you luck with your decision.

[gracielove]

The sex drive of a dog is based on hormones and scent. Much of the dog's perception of his world is based on his nose and what he smells. It has been recorded that some dogs are so sensitive in their sense of smell that they can sense chemical changes in humans such as when a diabetic's blood glucose is getting too high.

An un-neutered male can smell the sent of a female dog in heat from over a mile away. That scent causes very great stress on the male dog. A human may not sense what is bothering the male but the dog knows very well. Even if your male dog is not aggressive or territorial I would not put him through the stress of having to deal with a sex drive when he is not being used for breeding. It is a cruel fate to assign a dog to when the operation to rid him of that issue is so easily done.

My son has a Lab and he had a problem with getting him neutered. Joe is a great dog. Very friendly and well behaved but he was always getting lose and would go in search of a "friend." He would slip out the door or the gate to the fence when the kids would open them and off he would go. At the age of two they finally got him neutered. After several months he lost the urge to wander and is a homebody now. While his general behavior did not indicate he had a problem obviously the desire to mate was an issue with him. Do they guys a favor and neuter them. There is no good reason to put them through the stress of a hormonal life.

[PattiNumber_H]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Ha ha, it's challenging isn't it? My grown son’s dog use to visit my house before we got Joey, and I’m sure he felt like this was his house first. He was older but never even lifted his leg to pee; he squatted. So we get Joey and Baxter comes for a visit and boom, at 4 years old he finally starts lifting his leg to pee, and marking all over our house, he then went to his own home and marked all over that. Now, Baxter was neutered, but the adrenal glands make testosterone as well, so even though a dog is neutered he could still mark, if he’s feeling the competition. One more thing to consider is that an unneutered dog marking and pee is much much stronger smelling than neutered dogs. Bubba will start to have testosterone around 6 months, but it won't be pumping solidly in veins for another couple of months. I would think you are safe to leave Charlie alone, since there is no advantage to doing it quickly with him, and neuter Bubba before 8 months. By the way, Yorkies don't lose all the baby teeth on their own, and many of us get the remaining teeth pulled during a neuter or spay. A double row of teeth can cause later problems and you have to put them out to pull the teeth. These are just suggestions, and I wish you luck with your decision.

Thank you, great suggestion, I have read other posts about teeth, I need to pay close attention and make sure my vet is familiar with this.

I would like some peace of mind with these two guys when we do leave our compound. With Charlie, I always feel extra cautious because I know he's intact. Thanks again for the advice.

[Charlie_Boy2011]

Hi Patti...what did you decide?

How can you tell if they have baby or adult teeth yet?!?

[PattiNumber_H]

Originally Posted by Charlie_Boy2011

Hi Patti...what did you decide?

How can you tell if they have baby or adult teeth yet?!?

Bubba has another doctor's appointment on Monday morning, I noticed him limping and it seems like the same nail from last week His vet said to bring him in early Monday just in case he needs to be put under and we can also discuss neutering... Happening so fast But I have decided to neuter him. And sometime in the near future we will also neuter Charlie our lab.

As far as the baby teeth, I have heard to check their mouths regularly and around six or seven months old be especially concerned of doubled teeth. Posters recommend bully stix and playing lots of tug-of-war.

[Charlie_Boy2011]

Originally Posted by PattiNumber_H

Bubba has another doctor's appointment on Monday morning, I noticed him limping and it seems like the same nail from last week His vet said to bring him in early Monday just in case he needs to be put under and we can also discuss neutering... Happening so fast But I have decided to neuter him. And sometime in the near future we will also neuter Charlie our lab.

As far as the baby teeth, I have heard to check their mouths regularly and around six or seven months old be especially concerned of doubled teeth. Posters recommend bully stix and playing lots of tug-of-war.

Aww, hope Bubba's appt goes well Monday. I need to start really considering getting him neutered too. They are growing fast!