My 14 month old chocolate labrador is constantly sniffing and scent marking while we are out walking. The problem is he spends ages at each spot, sometimes drouling and licking other dogs wee! I find I'm dragging him along on most walks which is not fun with a larger dog. He also displays sexual frustration most days but doesn't do any humping in front of us so far, just his bedding at night. Should I get him castrated? I'm not for or against it so I'll get him done if I need to. Or any other suggestions? Oh and this dog doesn't care about being told off, shouted at or smacked, he's determined to stay at the spot he's sniffing no matter what!

The joy of having a young male i'm afraid. I have a 13 month old border collie. Every lampost, every hedge and everywhere my bitch wees. He's there having a good drool/chatter/lick and a cock a leekie. At the age he is now his hormones are going mad. He's in the mood so to speak.
Castrating will certainly help if not eliminate these problems. I have seen different results in different dogs. It can only help.
Remember that in his head he's not doing anything wrong and to be fair he's not. He's only acting on his instinct.
However he should still be respondant to you and when you tell him to 'leave it' he should. Use one command and stick with it.
Find a toy he adores and only use this toy when he's out on a walk. When he does as he's told he is rewarded with having the toy thrown for him. The important thing is keep to a routine when walking him with the same command, the same reward. He will come round.

Thanks for your ideas. I will definately work on using the same command and maybe try with food treats again now he's a bit older (i did this in early training but he still chose sniffing over treats!). He's not interested in toys or anything else when we're out (except swimming but I can't carry a lake around!). He's such a good dog in other ways so hopefully I can sort this probelm out. It could be worse! Thanks again.

please be careful with your dog as regards licking where other dogs have pee'd. My next door neighbours boxer contracted hepatitis ( i think it was) last xmas, she was very poorly. thankfully she has made a full recovery. I asked how the poor thing had contracted it, he told me the vet said the most likeliest cause was from an infected dogs urine, seeing as the boxer doesnt mix with other dogs.

Thanks for the advice Jane. I'd better keep a close eye on what he's doing. Thanks.

Hi Jo,

Something that most pet owners don't think to do is continue the house training "command word" on a walk - I have males, always have, and don't allow them to scent here there and everywhere on lead ;)  If you have trained your dog to walk correctly to heel on a loose lead, he should not be deciding where and when it is appropriate to stop and sniff/mark , drag you over to a lamp-post etc.

At 14 months he is an adolescent and, as with humans at the pubescent stage, he may develop some bad habits (or try to;) ) and some of your earlier training may seem to fall on deaf ears.  Castration is no replacement for instilling good manners in your dog - this will probably only amount to you reinforcing his original training until such times as his hormones settle again.

>Oh and this dog doesn't care about being told off, shouted at or smacked, he's determined to stay at the spot he's sniffing no matter what

In fairness to the dog, the above doesn't suggest that you've actually trained him in what you want him to do but more reprimanded him for what not to do :(  Negative methods are not successful in "training" - by definition training involves educating, guiding and moulding a behaviour that is desirable.

You would do better to enrol in a good local class where positive reward based training of dogs and motivational training of the handler is the order of the day.  What appears to be wrong here is that the bond between yourself and the dog has not been fully established or nurtured to the degree that he is not only able to understand what you require of him but that you are able to communicate clearly with him also.

Regards, Teri  

Hi Teri, I'm going to work harder on using consistent commands again. I always reward train which works great most situations except out walking. Spent months at a training class and got nowhere. Maybe I'll find a different class if it comes to it. I'm having my first baby in a few months and want this sorted by then! So the plan is to get some really delicious treats and train him that when I tell him 'leave it' and he does, he gets rewarded. I'm hoping now he's a bit more mature and loves his food, this method may now work. My husband and I spend so much time training/playing/walking this dog it's just so annoying when you don't get to enjoy walks with him but he's great with most other things. Thanks for your help.

Hi again Jo,

Good luck with him and your new baby on arrival ;) 

Males are sometimes viewed as being a handful (it's across the species I think LOL) but in all honesty most dogs regardless of breed or gender can be at this age - sometimes the changes are more subtle than others.  It's that awful gawky stage that we go through ourselves as teenagers - not quite a kid but not quite an adult and trying to stretch the boundaries and our parents' patience :rolleyes: :D

Consistency is definitely the key and if he's food motivated it will be much easier ;)

Best wishes, Teri 

Thanks. I'm making plans and about to go cut up some mini sausages in a minute to try it. I'll post a message in a few days to let you all know how we're getting on.