Hi Im going tomorrow to look at a cross breed puppy to rehome.  The puppy is female and the centre informed me today that if I wanted the puppy I would have to have my male dog (nearly 12 months) castrated.  As we would only allow the little girl to have one season then get her neutered, is this a bit of a harsh request?  I know they dont want to have accidental litters which I obviously would not allow.  They said a dog can be very determined when a bitch is in season and it is too much of a risk to allow her in a house with an uncastrated male. 

I suppose if we feel she is the right dog for us then we will have to castrate.  :-(

Hi, well I'm not sure of the legalities of 'making' you castrate your dog...but I wonder why they wait for a first season??? Surely she can be done anytime? But they ARE right about a dog being VERY determined to get to a bitch in season...dogs will follow a scent for miles to get to a bitch!!! Also, why don't you want to castrate him??? seems like a sensible thing to do anyway surely? Best of luck with your growing family. All the best, Dawn

I was going to castrate a while ago, but speaking to people on here I was turned around.  Talk of other males treating my male like a female dog and other negative consequences of castration.  Suppose now were considering getting a bitch it would be the right thing to do.  They said vets prefered to let a bitch have a first season before neutering. 

Neutering of both sexes, pros and cons, has been discussed many times on this forum so I won't comment on that BUT I don't see how they can stipulate you having your exisiting dog castrated before you are allowed to adopt the puppy, surely thats a decision to be made by yourself.
Good luck whatever happens :)

Thanks.

Hi, I can't imagine why people on here would reccomend keeping a dog in tact if he is a X breed?? Surely it's safer for the dog in health terms and really male dominance shouldn't be a problem on walks? People SHOULD have control of their dogs anyway!! If anything, it should prevent problems as there is less testosterone zooming around! All the best, Dawn

My male is a Yorkshire Terrier not a cross breed.  The rescue were getting is a cross breed.  I think the reason not to neuter was that he would never be allowed to wander so couldnt cause an unwanted pregnancy so why put him through an operation that was unneeded.  Suppose now our situation may change it would be worth reconsidering.

Ahh I see! I have a ickle Yorkie boy too! I've also got 2 Newfies!! Peeps said he wouldn't reach!! But I have known bitches to lie down to errmmm....get some! He's not going to be 'done' as he's a show doggie and hopefully a successful one and super stud!! LOL :D some dogs have all the luck huh?? All the best, Dawn X

The cross were looking at is a VERY watered down boxer, looks more like a staffy x.  My yorkie tries to hump the lab and boxer he goes on his walks with so I think maybe it best we have him done.  Hes defo not a show dog ha ha bless his cotton socks.  I hope you have loads of success with your yorkie boy. :-)

They're not 'making' her castrate her dog - if she doesn't want to she needn't - but they won't let her have the puppy. Fair enough - breeders try to protect their pups by doing their best to pick the most suitable home, and I'd expect rescue centres to do the same. After all, there might be someone without another dog who'd also like the pup - it's generally the older dogs who are harder to place.

In the UK it's standard for most vets to recommend at least 1 season before neutering. 

I don't believe anyone's got a right to tell you what you should or should not do with your dog....... I still don't understand what's the deal with all those demands when people are just being nice and brave enough to even consider rehoming a dog. I understand they have to check out potential new owners, but come on there must be a limit to what they expect from you. If they continue being so strict, they'll be stuck with houndreds of dogs that could have perfectly good new families.....

Could you ask your vet about chemical castration just whilst the bitch is in season, and tell the rescue home that it's something that you would consider until you have her speyed.

Jwilson,

I didnt even think of that.... excellent Idea I will look into chemical castration and see if its viable.  Also this little rescue pup has had a broken leg and shes only 12 weeks old its so sad.  I would love to give her a good home (aslong as she gets on with my dog).  Just dont want to cause my dog to have an operation just so we can have her.  We may have to consider rehoming a male.

They also said they wouldnt rehome to a family that had children under 7.  Suppose they dont want to cause any unwanted pregnancies and they dont want the dog returned because of problems with young children in the home.  I dont know Im just guessing.

They sound as though they want to keep all the dogs by putting so many restrictions on.

I know what you mean, I have enquired at another rescue centre that was like passing a degree to get a dog they also give the dogs sooooo many negative traits i.e. very toy obsessed or can be aggressive over food, it really puts you off.  Where as if you actually met the dog you would be able to work it out between you and it would be such a prob, as when its spelt out under warning signs.

You are completely right, nowadays you do have to pass a degree to have a rescue dog.  But all of us here being dog lovers/owners/breeders, should be able to understand why!  They want to get it right the first time, and not have a dog returned, re-homed, returned, re-homed.  It may all seem unfair, but once you have the dog, you can forget about what you went through to get it, as it is now obviously in the right home, and enviroment for that particular dog.

Of course they could never MAKE LeanneK castrate her dog, but we do know that accidents happen! So they are taking every precaution. She may well loose this dog if her Yorkie remains in tact, but as we know there are many, many other dogs out there.  Good luck whatever you decide!

I agree  that nobody has a right to MAKE you castrate your dog but the rescue centre can choose homes they feel are suitable thereby not being willing to home a female crossbreed in a house with an intact male.  Now we all know that won't be a sure fire way of making sure the bitch doesn't have pups, but it helps.

Its just the same as those who breed deciding just where there pups go, e.g. to homes with children or not.

suppose they have had alot returned and know the warning signs of who not to rehome to.

I'm sure that's the case Leanne and they have a duty to minimise the risks.  I'm sure you'll be a great dog owner but in the limited time they have available to 'get to know you' it's a difficult decision to make. 

Your pup will be worth it!

:-) Hopefully.  She is the only one left from a litter of 8 all the rest have been rehomed.  Im going to go open minded and see what happens.

What's wrong with kids? Everyone's so afraid to give a dog to a home with young kids. Children can be dog's best friends. Me and my brother grew up with dogs and I have to say that it was a very, very positive experience and it has made me a person that I am today..... it has taught me so many things that I would never have learned without dogs in my life.

I know a couple who gave a home to a pup, they also had two small children.  The children and pup were not properly supervised and one day when dog was left alone in the same room as the children whilst mother was elsewhere, someone got bitten.

It was very traumatic and sad and although the blame was laid on the dog, really the lack of supervision was the cause.

We all raise our children differently, with different principles and morals, varying levels of supervision and expectations.  Personally, my children have never been without pets and I wouldn't have it any other way.  There are some families I wish didn't have animals and some families I wish didn't have children! 

I took a dog from a "friend" who had several children that took it in turns to tease the poor dog, on my second visit I just took the dog! Couldnt have lived with myself if I had of left him there.  He now lives on a farm very happily with a young girl of 8 who takes him to training classes and is very responsible.  So theres an example of 2 lots of children that are completely different, as you say its the values the children are taught.

I think personally think that the rehoming centre are making a very reasonable request. You have to remember that these centres deal with sadley thousands of puppies/dogs year after year. From those that are being rehomed through know fault of their own, neglected & ill treated puppies/dogs and of course strays. They do not want these puppies/dogs being sent back to them time and time again, as they are there to protect the dogs welfare and wellbeing. Rescue centres are there for the bennefit of the dog! Not the bennefit of people! If there were stricter guidelines on puppies/dogs to begin with then maybe there would not be the need for the rescue centres for the abandoned, neglected puppies/dogs in the first place. (this comment does not include animals that have to be given up due to genuine unavoidable curcumstances). I myself have got 2 rescue dogs and I took a long time comming to the decision of getting my dogs and waiting till the time was exactly right.  I was more than happy to make the adjustments to my home and garden in order to meet the rescue centres critiria. I think the more sensible rules the better.

I went to see her today, the one with the broken leg may have already been taken so we were shown her sister.  They think she is a boxer, border collie plus many other breeds iccle mongrel.  She was very polite for such a little thing.  We are waiting to be home checked hopefully pass with flying colours and she will be ours.  It will be fun to see how big she grows. Just got to get Arthur castrated now :-)

Are you sure you want to get him castrated?  It sounds like at first you were v resistant to it but you want this dog so much that they have almost blackmailed you into castrating.

What would happen if Arthur was a show dog and a stud, and you wanted to adopt this cross breed?  They wouldn't be able to force you to neuter then.  I can understand why they have this policy, as it prevents people from just coming and picking dogs up to breed from, but surely they should also look at you and who you are as a person, and are you likely to do this, and what precautions will you take (ie some people put their males in kennels while the bitch is in season, others give the dog tardak injection, others send him to family or friends).  They should decide if they trust you and then go with that feeling. 

Well I have just had a grilling from the owner of the rescue centre.  I phoned asking about being home checked saying I was interested in the pup with the broken leg but wasnt sure if she was available.  I was met with the reply, Im not really interested in what you want, alls Im interested in is what you could give a puppy! Then I was asked ALOT of questions which I didnt mind as they obviously need to know im suitable.  It seems the pup with the broken leg is still available so we have to call again tomorrow to see her in the mean time they will be setting up a house check.  Im a bit apprehensive about this house check as the grilling on the phone was a bit scary. 

As for having Arthur castrated I think to be truthful it may do him more good than harm as he does seem very MALE.  He does on the odd occassion scent in the house and is VERY sexually active although we do try to keep this to a minimum (with his sofa). Castration may not stop this behaviour I understand that also.  When he smelt me after I had been with the pup today he was slavering and frothing at the mouth.  I wouldnt like him to be over zealous with the new girl, and they will obviously meet first to see how they get on together. 
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