Slightly unusual circumstances - I have a ridgeback which i co-own with my ex.  He is entire (the ridgeback I mean - actually they both are!!) and spends the weekends with my ex.  I also have a young springer spaniel bitch who is due to be speyed in a week.  The ridgeback has recently become a bit interested in her - i.e trying to hump etc and has really upped his interest since being dropped off this evening.

I dont know if this is a sign that the springer is about to come into season or whether he is just feeling particularly randy!  I spoke with the vet when i was discussing the speying of the spaniel and she said that if the ridgeback got particularly full on, then a shot of Tardak may help.  My question is has anyone used Tardak to help their male get through their bitch being in season and how quickly does it work?  Obviously she wont be able to be speyed for a few months if she is about to come in to season but thats another issue altogether!

Look forward to any advice x

Is your bitch due in season? She could be brewing an infection if not - this can confuse some boys who can get very randy

Tardak is sometimes used  pre castration as a test almost to see how the dog reacts to it , to what effect castration has.It does not have an immediate effect however.

Not sure how quickly Tardak takes effect but it doesn't last long - about 6 wks to my knowledge. So if it takes time to kick in, you've not got a very big window.

From what I've read on here, Suprelorin would seem to tick your boxes but it's more expensive and lasts longer.

I tried it years ago with my randy male when mt girl was due in season. He was still very interested in her so if it made any difference it wasn't much, Superlorin did work and we got through seasons with barely a howl but it does take 4 weeks to start working, during which time they have a higher level of testosterone which could make them worse.

It's 6 weeks before Suprelorin works properly -best not to risk a mating before that time has passed. We actually had a mating 6 weeks to the day from the implant, did not result in pregnancy and it was only the one mating , then he lost interest.

Thanks everyone.  The Superlorin sounds good but wont get me through this period of behaviour.  He seems a lot better this morning - in fact she was throwing herself at him! 

I will speak to the vet again - and definately get the springer checked for infection. 

Does anyone know if Superlorin affects the male parts in appearance?!  I have read that it can shrink the testicles - I show the male a bit so wondered how drastic this shrinking is!?!  Obviously the showing is very much secondary in importance to having a normal relationship between these two but did wonder if anyone knew?

Back to Tardak, if my male's behaviour is just him being over randy and not related to her coming into season etc, if i got her speyed and got him injected at the same time, then did intensive training to stop him playing inappropriately, would it be likely that by the time the Tardak wore off, he would no longer be interested in her in that way?  Does that make sense?  I just wonder if speying her wont affect how he is with her because he already views her as a possible mate? 

Does anyone know if Superlorin affects the male parts in appearance?!  I have read that it can shrink the testicles - I show the male a bit so wondered how drastic this shrinking is!?!

The only dog I have used this on the do slowly disappear and then slowly return not too much of a problem as the period when they are totally missing is not very long. Would not use it on a dog I may wish to breed from, may well not be a problem but I would not risk it.

Thanks Jackie - he has 2 cc's and i am hoping to get the elusive 3rd so would be a shame if they did disappear but if he continued to be as bad as he was last night i dont think i have an option.  That said this morning he is much better - totally ignoring her at the moment and just snoozing in the sun!  Typical Ridgeback!

Agree with an RR it would be obvious no hair to hide so I would suggest you kennel if it is a problem. From the showing point of view a dog that starves himself when a bitch is in season can be almost as bad as loosing the dangled bits. You  could always kennel the bitch for the 10 days of so if you have a local kennel you trust and will take an in season bitch.

Good luck with your third CC not many chances left this year so here's hoping for the best.

Thanks - we aren't doing Midland Counties so only have LKA so I think its unlikely we'll get it this year - if ever!

Fingers crossed he'll stay settled down and I wont need to do anything.  The bitch is booked in for Monday so I really hope she doesn't come into season before that - no obvious signs and we met other dogs on our walk today who didn't react to her so hopefully all will be ok.

Thanks again for your advice.

You could give your bitch a pill to stop the season but she will only postpone it and that could well bring her in for LKA that would be worse, think if he does not go off his food or walk around the house squeaking you may be able to manage using closed doors but it is always a risk.

I would be reconsidering the spay if she's coming into season as dangerous to spay too close toa season. Tardak takes 48 hours to have an effect if I remember the data sheet correctly. Ithinkyou have 2 dogs who are showing normal sypmtoms of 2 entire dogs together. Normal behaviour for a boy my 2 castrated males showed increased interest in my bitch whilst she was in season but nothing too terrible no humping etc. Doesyour ridgeback need to be entire? Couldhe be neutered first?