Sorry if this has been done to death, I did do a search but didn't find quite what I was after. After doing a fair bit of reading on the suprelorin implant I am considering using it in my boy. I do have a few concerns though.

I'm going to try to keep this brief. My 16 month old boy has hit that lovely testosterone fuelled stage with a vengeance. He has always been a 'doggy' dog, and fortunately has a wonderful nature and is nice with it, but it is getting a bit OTT now!! Although he is bone dry in the house, he has cocked his leg on a couple of small dogs and a couple of people, is a real Casanova with the ladies to the point of it being a huge distraction, and most recently has been set on by an even more 'doggy' lab. He really does ooze testosterone, and I'm sure it is offensive to dogs like that lab. He has met many dogs since and not had a problem. He mounts my goldie/me/unsuspecting friends/random objects when fairly regularly when excited, but he is easy to redirect so that's not a huge concern. He is a little less reliable on his recall with other dogs since the real hormone surge took off. Today I asked all of the dogs to sit and wait whilst two bitches walked past and he paddled his feet, whined, and wouldn't take his eyes off of them until they were out of sight. And even then it was a 'nose in the air, where have they gone' job. I have worked very hard on his recall, especially with being an HPR breed, it was always my no.1 priority, and though I'm sure I could always do better in my training, it is pretty clearly trouser-brain related!

I am a bit worried that he will get himself into trouble with doggy dogs again, or that he will take off after a bitch and get himself into trouble, and I am also aware that his competitive obedience training is starting to suffer a little from his teenage brain.

So- in your experience, can you train a dog 'out' of this, let them go through it, or would you implant and just hope you get the result you want? I have read cases of dogs becoming aggressive on it, which is a worry. I also worry that he is young to think about messing with hormones.

If you have used suprelorin, how long did it take before it had an effect? How long til their bits shrank? How did it change your dog? How long did it last? I have read that it lasts longer in smaller dogs, but that it should last around the 6 months for my 33kg boy.

Thanks in advance, really appreciate anyone's experiences with it. Don't know what to do at the mo.

Jess

I would not use this on a juvenile and yes the dog will grow out of it when he is mature, if you have to keep him under tighter control then that is the way to go. Suprelorin shrinks the testis and stops the production of the male hormone so IMO it should only be used on dogs that are fully mature and not needing the hormones to complete maturity.

Thanks for that, pretty much what I'd hoped/expected. I can only hope that the hard work will pay off and we will come out the other side! I would not even be contemplating castration at his age so I suppose it makes sense.

I've used it on a youngster and used it for years and my boy is older and back on it.
If its going to work then yes you get a small surge in hormones but it does soo of very quickly.
Used it on two males, one it worked for and the other it didn't make any difference to his behaviour..

I wouldn't have any issue in giving it a go, either it works or not..

Yes, I have used it on mature males and it works but I would not use it on an immature dog because it interferes with the hormone production, certainly the testis but possible other parts of the endocrine system, it is just not worth the risk when training and patients will do the trick.

You do have a point Nova, I needed it for different reasons but yes with training is give that a good shot first x

Think a good deal of the problem is that owners who have not had a pubescent dog or if it comes to it a teenage son, are taken by surprise when hit by the 'Kevin' period - the result is if the youth is canine it is rushed to the vet for castration or a Suprelorin injection, if human it leads to loads of arguments or long periods of not speaking. But in both cases, allowed to grow to maturity the dog will become a calm and stable companion who will know when he may be required to perform fathering duties and the teenage lad will become human again mind you in this case there is no guarantee he will become a gentleman.

Yes, I'm sure you are right. He is the first male I have owned, though he is easily the highest sexed male I have lived with! Our relationship is slightly strained at the moment and I too have made the teenage human comparison. I will give him more time and I am very prepared for the hard work. I have spoken with one of my dog trainers about this and how I know that really I am thinking about a quick fix rather than thinking in the long run. It is just very tempting when so many people say 'just get the implant, it changed my dog from the devil incarnate to the most biddable, easy dog in the world'.
I want what is in his best interest, what I wanted to hear more than anything was that this isn't forever and we can emerge through the other side with training. Right now he has lost a bit of freedom on walks and I feel guilty for that. I also have real problems with him ignoring me when another dog appears on walks. I have gone back to puppy training 101 in this respect but it's been about a month with no real progress. I don't care if he doesn't compete for years to come but he has a lot of potential and amazes me when he is focused.

He is very easy to live with, and is very, very good natured, I am just very aware that he is likely to take off after bitches, appear offensive to entire males and he has lost focus in training which is all slightly stressful but I'm sure normal. I am a bit too young to be going grey just yet but I'm sure he'll be worth it!

I do appreciate all the input though, thank you very much. I am a bit overwhelmed with all of the advice I have been offered, dog people are fab.

You have my sympathy there is nothing worse than a randy dog but it will end you have to grit your teeth and if you have to curtail his activities off lead so be it, don't feel guilty he has to fit in with everyone else and a rampant sex pest does not. If you have the time and energy lots of interesting training exercise helps as does anything that takes his interest like a juicy bone - however as in the human, sex is an incredible powerful driving force and will override almost anything, in the wild it leads to fights and the younger males frequently leaving the pack - no doubt designed by nature for this purpose but in the domestic dog it can be a real pain. I would always council that it will end and if you can deal with it then in the long run it is better for both the dog and you but if you really can't cope then you will have to resort to chemical castration but please as the very last resort.

Well, just in case anyone wonders the same things I did, thought I'd quickly update.

I'm SO glad I didn't go through with the implant. I'm not saying he is Mr. Perfect, he is a young gundog brained boy after all, but his personality is changing day by day. I would have put it down to the implant if he had had it! Just took a bit of time, thought and effort. He is becoming more responsive and thoughtful. His obedience training is coming on well, and he is more focused around the ladies. He is still quite humpy but that doesn't bother me. And he is still a real Cassanova with the girls but it's just a case of teaching him when it is and isn't appropriate, he is responding well to it all. He is a complete dream to live with, the sweetest boy and the light at the end of the tunnel is fast approaching :) Think it's commonly known as "growing up" :) However, I would certainly use it in the future if need be.

Thanks for all your advice. So glad I gave it time!