Not all vets recommend neutering for every dog, and certainly don't advice that it will fix behavioural issues. I'm a Vet Nurse and my practice we have long discussions with regards to whether to neuter or not, we don't advise it before dog is fully grown, so up to 2 years for larger breeds, and certainly don't recommend it in terms of helping with the vast majority of behaviours, and have never said to someone that it will calm their dog down. Most owners who want their dog neutered think it will help calm them down, we advise that it generally wont, that time, maturity, training and mental/physical training is the way to go. We also advise a behavioural work up if there is any indication of fear aggression before we would neuter. We actually postponed a castrate last week as at the admit appt the owners mentioned that the dog was fearful of other dogs and very barky at them.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Not all vets recommend neutering for every dog, and certainly don't advice that it will fix behavioural issues. I'm a Vet Nurse and my practice we have long discussions with regards to whether to neuter or not, we don't advise it before dog is fully grown, so up to 2 years for larger breeds, and certainly don't recommend it in terms of helping with the vast majority of behaviours, and have never said to someone that it will calm their dog down. Most owners who want their dog neutered think it will help calm them down, we advise that it generally wont, that time, maturity, training and mental/physical training is the way to go. We also advise a behavioural work up if there is any indication of fear aggression before we would neuter. We actually postponed a castrate last week as at the admit appt the owners mentioned that the dog was fearful of other dogs and very barky at them.

Suz
Sounds if you work at an enlightened practice but I'm one of the numpties who was persuaded by breeder & vet to neuter a fearful insecure dog with disastrous results, that I would never neuter again (unless for medical reasons). There was no discussion or advice & from talking to many other owners they didn't either just 'when are you going to neuter' & they get asked time & time again.

Yep lost track of the puppy owners who have vets pushing for neutering, sadly some succuumb.

I know of many vets that propose neutering for a range of behaviour issues, often the word dominance is used too. I have also heard of that word and neutering being offered to help with cases of fear aggression. Too many vets seem to lack knowledge about behaviour.

http://www.dog-breeds-expert.com/Caucasian-Shepherd-Dog.html

Because I had a need to know, I found this website and it's worth reading.  

I'm not pro castration other than for medical reasons.  Training should always come first.  My opinion.

They have a list of 'Most Dangerous Dogs in the World' which includes Rotts and Dobes???

'Most Dangerous Dogs in the World' which includes Rotts and Dobes???

Apart from colour markings there is no significant similarity between UK KC bred Dobes & a Euro dobe - All working breeds in Europe must pass a fit for purpose working test & have been doing for near a hundred years with Dobes in Germany. I noticed that site advertises with GBP £ signs so presumably its UK based WTF do they know about Euro dogs.

Just before Xmas I spent a few moments talking to a couple with UK Dobe bitch, I haven't seen many close up for years, its activity levels & conformations were way, way different to the Euro standard but maybe most noticable was the complete absence of alertness and constant environmental assesment & awarness of everything that moves anywhere in its environment - if you open the vid link its just random shots her occupation (alertness) with everything around her, all euro dobs have that alertness charcteristic as normal it seems absent in the UK dogs - she is 2 months short of 11 year old when I shot those clips.

http://youtu.be/54dhPFfEbu4
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As the majority of dobes and all other breeds of dog are bred in the UK as companions a placid temperament is one to be encouraged, especially a well socialised elderly animal at 11 years of age, close to the end of the normal lifespan of the breed.

I know it's a contentious issue regarding whether breeds should be fit for their original purpose to the nth degree when this is no longer required of 90%+ of the breed, and perhaps only the Police and Military etc should keep their own seperate lines of any breed where the selection criteria is for sharpened breed traits that make them best suited to guard/protection/patrol work, which is less suited to a family urban environment..

Unlike some countries it is actually illegal to keep a 'Guard' dog in the UK without a License, and without a handler present at all times.

Unlike hunting breeds, to some extend herding breeds, which can be kept from doing their original tasks and still be suitable companions, those dogs with heightened guarding and prey drives are less easy to keep safely, when the majority of the general public do not have enough knowledge and ability.

Unlike some countries it is actually illegal to keep a 'Guard' dog in the UK without a License, and without a handler present at all times.

The way you have written the above makes no sence or identifies any law in the UK!?

What you might be talking about is a law that states something similar to your post and which is specific to dogs left on unenclosed or closed premisis without a handler & generaly meant to be applied to 'commercial' dog deployment & not to private individuals.

Can you please, for the sake of clarity & sanity, find the legislation you mean it can be accessed and looked at by everyone for the details of what the law you meantioned really means in practice & who it applies to -

I think it was brought in as a legislative instrument around 1976, I also think there are laws in place going back to 19th century which amount to if a dog bites someone in your garden when they have no permission to enter or be in your garden then the owner can be charged with an existing criminal offence & the dog PTS, depending on the judge or magisrate.
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>generaly meant to be applied to 'commercial' dog deployment & not to private individuals.

It applies to all premises that claim to have a 'guard dog'.
Guard Dogs Act 1975

Have a look at Section 7: 'Interpretation'.

Thanks Jeanigenie - thats a usefull post:

quote from 7  -."guard dog kennels" means a place where  a person in the course of business keeps a dog which (not withstanding that it is used for other purposes) is used as a guard dog elsewhere, >other< than a dog which is used as a guard dog only at premises belonging to its owner;
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One study that examined behavioural differences in intact versus neutered dogs found some disturbing results of MORE aggression in the neutered.  Ovcharka were not one of the breeds in the study.  And, breed and gender differences were observed.  Still, it's pretty interesting and serves to warn against the one size fits all sort of advice; in this case it would be fixes all, with intended play on "fix."

http://saova.org/articles/Early%20SN%20and%20Behavior.pdf

Just thought I'd update everyone. Bear seems to have gone back to his usual behaviour, there has been no incident since the one I posted about. We have taken everyone's advice on here, upped his exercise and mental stimulation which is given by all members of the family. There may be relapse but for now everything is good. Just goes to show that if you put in the work and don't give up you can see results.

Luckygirl, good news but hope you are still seeing the breed expert. It'll be intersting to follow your boy's progress.

Little update! Bear is continuing making good progress, we have taken the advice given and have not had an incident since the one I previously posted about. We are now using the mantra mental exercise and physical exercise result in a calm and civilised dog and it appears to be working! I have seen a lot of Caucasians for sale on certain pet selling sites, I have recently seen a Caucsian x Akita litter for sale. It makes my blood run cold. I am seriously considering setting up a Facebook page to put people in contact with expers and those who live with the breed. I am so worried as to what is to come that I feel that if I can help a few then I have made some form of difference.

Little update! Bear is continuing making good progress, we have taken the advice given and have not had an incident since the one I previously posted about. We are now using the mantra mental exercise and physical exercise result in a calm and civilised dog and it appears to be working! I have seen a lot of Caucasians for sale on certain pet selling sites, I have recently seen a Caucsian x Akita litter for sale. It makes my blood run cold. I am seriously considering setting up a Facebook page to put people in contact with expers and those who live with the breed. I am so worried as to what is to come that I feel that if I can help a few then I have made some form of difference.

Lovely to hear that the good advice is working and well done to you  !

Good luck, it is worrying isn't it.

Thanks for updating us. Great to know you are making progress.

I agree, the thought of an Akita Ovcharka cross does make the blood run cold.