I have a Cavalier King charles called Charlie. He's nearly 8months old, and hasn't been neutered. My problem is, that he keeps grabbing on to me or my mum's legs, and getting VERY randy and 'intimate'! not only is it embarassing, but it hurts too, as he clings so hard :( Would it help if I had him neutered now, or is it too late if this behaviour has been going on a while? is it a good idea to have dogs neutered anyway, from a health point of view?? any help would be gratefully received! :)

Hi

Think yourself lucky - my Great Dane is going through the humping stage - only he chooses the whole sofa to have a go at!

Its perfectly natural, he will grow out of it, just discourage him with a no and pull him off. His hormones are going wild right now. Neutering probably won't help, and IMO its safer and better for the dog to let them go through "puberty" :)

HTH
Chloe

I would let him mature a bit more first. I had the same problem with my Staffordshire bull terrier he was terrible for it and it was really embarrassing because he didnt just do it when we were indoors, he did it when we were out walking!!

I waited until he was 18 months old and then had him neutered and the difference in him is unbelievable. He dosnt try to mount anything anymore, he is much more calmer and more focused on me. I think even if it wasnt for the mounting problem I would have still got him done because i think it is healthier for them.

I have a cavalier who is just over a year old and although he didnt 'mount' our legs he did hump his toy teddy relentlessly. We had him neutered at 7 months and almost immediately it stopped. Very occasionally does it now usually if hes bored. HTH. Debbie.

Hi Mariab, interested to know why you think removing part of the dogs hormonal system could be "healthier for them".

Just a personal opinion really after reasearching and asking people (ie vets and experienced dog owners).

The main reason was that my previous dog died of testicular cancer (aged 6) which maybe could have been prevented if he had been neutered as from what I have read and been told it prevents the risk of your dog developing certain kinds of cancer, such as testicular and womb cancers.

Another reason he was neutered was because he has a very dominant nature (which resulted in embarrassing behaviour somtimes ie mounting) and he was proving almost impossible to train properly and he could have been a danger to himself (ie if he ran off after another dog).

Now that he has been 'done' his attention span is much much greater and he is much more focused on me and easier to train.

Its much better to have them done early as males can get serious problems down there especially cavvys and vets recommend its done between 6 and 9 months

I have heard nothing but bad experiences with early castration - the main one being that the dogs simply stay in the puppy stage for a lot longer.... anyone else heard this theory? My personal opinion is that castration should not be done unless there is a very good reason...and normal DOG behaviour offending people is not one of them. If you don't like mounting, peeing up things and a bit of trainable dominance while hormones are running high - then get a bitch!

Chloe :)

What would you call a good reason Choe?

If there is a medical problem - like testicular cancer, or an abnormality. Personally, I think that *all* males go through the mounting stage, and it can be discouraged. I am controlling Willis by increasing his exercise, lowering the protein level in his food and keeping his mind occupied. I also started his training a lot earlier (learnt from my last dog) and we have no problems with other dogs, nor dominance despite his size and sheer presence, nor recall and he sits beautifully to let other dogs past. I have worked bloody hard though and not everyone has the time to devote to it I imagine.

All I am saying is that some people rely on castration to treat problems that are perfectly natural and to be expected.

I couldnt care if my dog peed up my leg its not to do with that if your not going to breed him its better to have him done it prevents testicular cancer ect and 6 to 9 months really nine months is the better age people only voice their opinion on here anyway

Hi Chloe,
I've heard about the lack of maturity in early castrated dogs, that they can stay in the "hooligan" phase for longer, and then go a bit 'wussy' - not all, by any means, but enough to cause concern.

I agree that there are people (not digging at anyone in particular, by the way) who think that normal canine behaviour should be "cured". Dogs should be (well-trained) dogs. If this isn't bearable - get a cat!! :)

I wasnt on about canine behaviour i agree dogs are dogs and castration doesnt cure mounting all the time anyway but as i said if your not thinking of breeding then its a good idea

also so they stay in the [puppy stage a bit longer so what at least your preventing your dog from 1 running off after a bitch and fear losing him 2 cancer of the testicles which is more common now ect if you cant handle the puppy stage a bit longer its the same as you saying the dominance part am i right GET A CAT

Hi Feddie,
Judging by all the puppy behaviour queries on this Forum, there are many people who don't understand the puppy/adolescent stages, and who certainly don't want them extended! :)

More dogs die with bone cancer that testicular cancer do you think we should remove their legs? Better I think if, when grooming your dogs you checked the testicals, in most cases it should not lead to death if it is checked for and delt with. If you find a small lump in your dogs scrotum then THAT is a good reason to have the dog castrated.

bone cancer is something we cant do anything about where as we can avoid cancer of the testicles also i didnt suggest 6 months around 9 sounds better im not getting into a debate over it just an opinion

Yes but at what cost to the dog concerened. When it is so easy to keep an eye on his bits and avoid in most cases any trouble. It is not after all a forgone conclusion that a male with testicles WILL get a tumour if it were most animials would have died out by now. I castrated a dog at 13 month and the poor sod has had to live with my doing that for the rest of his life, most of it on medication because of my decision to have him castrated before he was mature.

I advise my puppy owners to not castrate until the dog is mature. The males that have been castrated young have not grown to look like males of their breed, but like an immature pup on steroids, or an overgrown bitch.

The one that was castrated at 6 months because of mounting continued with this behaviour until about two years of age. He is now fat Eunuchy looking 4 year old, totally unlike his entire brother.

as stated in previous forums all dogs differ in what the food does to them what their healths like and how they react to different thing i had my dog castrated at 10 months and he is now 7 and just great sometimes it depends on the vet you have