Hi all,

Some advice please.  I have a 7mth old Japanese Shiba Inu dog (Lennon) and a 9 y/o spayed JSI bitch (Roxy).  My previous JSI dog (Ted) was vasectomised, so still had the desire, but no lead in his pencil LOL.  He (Ted) used to try and mount Roxy but she would have none of it and would tell him off in no uncertain terms.  The problem with Lennon is that he is way more pushy than Ted was and tends to bully Roxy a bit (although this has lessened recently).  I don't want Roxy harrassed by a randy pup that she may not be able to handle. 

Where all this is leading is whether to have Lennon neutered or not.  I have to say I'm not particularly keen on the idea, as I don't really want his temperament/coat/weight to change.  Perhaps a vascectomy would be better, but don't think that will stop him trying it on with Roxy.

Any constructive help you can give is, as always, very much appreciated.

IMO he is too young to be neutered as yet, I prefer them to be closer to a year. If it is the pestering you are worried about then you are right, removing the 'lead from his pencil' won't stop that; it will just stop him reproducing but then your bitch is spayed anyway so that doesn't matter. Personally I would leave it a bit and see if maturity stops this behaviour as his hormones will just be kicking in which is why he is so bad at the moment. Then later on you will be in a better postion to make an informed decision about whether or not yourself and Roxy can cope with it. If not you can have him neutered but at least you will have given him a chance to stop of his own accord before lopping them off!

In the short term, how about keeping a loaded water pistol or squirty bottle handy so you can deter him before it stresses Roxy or causes a fight. Combined with a sharp 'no' this might make him think!

Hope that makes sense. ;-)

Hi Vicki,

I'm with the other poster on this - he's too young to be castrated without a sound medical reason.  Hormones help in so many different ways to the overall maturing dog (mentally as well as physically) and at his age little Lennie ( :P ) has still got some way to go.  The fact Roxy is already "done" you don't have accidental matings to worry about nor the huge responsibility of ensuring the entire family remembers about separating them during seasons ;)  Castration can do more harm than good in some instances and there is the risk of GA too so it's not something anyone should go into lightly. 

Distract him if possible from the mounting behaviour - at the moment it is more likely to be driven by confused play roles for although he may well be fertile at his age he doesn't really know what it's all about (or he'd know there was no point in trying his luck with a spayed bitch :D )

HTH, good luck, Teri 

  

Hi Teri and ColliesRus - thanks for your replies as above.  I, too, agree he is too young at present.  It was not something I was thinking about for the immediate future, just a general opinion on the pro's and con's of it.  As I said in my original post, it's not something I want to do anyway, and would be, without doubt, a last resort type thing.

Lennon isn't sexually harrassing Roxy at the moment.  As you said Teri, he doesn't know what his equipment is for yet :)

Considering how his general behaviour has improved over the short time I've had him (only 4 weeks this Sunday !), I'm sure he'll escape with his tackle intact LOL :) :D

Thanks again for your feedback

Vicki,

Another point to consider is that castration doesn't always stop mounting behaviour :( some castrated dogs still mount in-season bitches :rolleyes: and mate them, they just don't father any pups ;)

Thanks Dill.  I reckon he'll stay intact - unless he turns psycho on me LOL :)

Aw bless!!  A psycho shiba

and all this because he's just making sure everythings in full working order ;) :D :D  - well you have to check regularly - just in case :D :D :D

...so that's what my husband's been doing.....hhhmmmmmmm :)