Still marking!!!

[ArcticDog]

I posted about Adak marking sometime before Christmas and got lots of GREAT help. However, the marking continues. Adak is going to mark where ever he wants...and I am going to correct and now we have an always nervous dog on our hands. The breeder want's me to keep trying but the husband and I have decided to neuter. It's not worth his sanity and ours. My question is what are the chances of neutering correcting this problem in a 1 year old and also will neutering help make the dominance thing more manageable. If neutering doesn't fix the marking will it at leaste make it easier to train through.

Thanks
Carrie

[Sue]

I'm currently fostering a Rottie boy that was still intact when we pulled him from AC. He's 5 yrs old. When we assessed him, he marked everything, and I do mean everything. We had him neutered within a couple of days of pulling him for that reason, and the fact that he exhibited a lot of dominance behavior. While I can't say that it was a cure all.....some of the change in his behavior has been due to people working with him....there is a marked (no pun intended!) difference. He's only marked once since I brought him into our home, (he was in a different foster home for about 4 wks prior to coming to mine, so it doesn't change immediately after the neuter) and now shows very little dominance behavior. If you're not showing/planning to show him, by all means, neuter him! It certainly won't hurt!

[ArcticDog]

Well, he was showing. He's fixed now. I feel really good about doing this...I think it was the right thing for him and us. We always have and will continue to train really hard with him. He is a great dog. The breeder was pretty adament that this would not change his behaviour though so I was a little nervous about doing it but after posting here and on other boards and talking to 3 vets about it...we did the right thing. Will continue to train as if the problem still exists though. Nothing wrong with it but the breeder has other interest and forgets that first and formost he is my companion living in my house...and our contract agrees!

Thanks for the input

Carrie

[brunie's mom]

Carrie;
Good for you for getting him neutered !

Your breeder is wrong about the marking and behaviour. I have fostered many male, mature intact dogs.....usually within a week after neutering a BIG change comes over them. The marking definitly stops or is very infrequent....and they do seem to become less interested in sniffing , licking pee...and way more focused to people. I do think they become more loving and alot easier to train with obedience.

Their brain is not in their "balls" anymore...:D :D :D :D

Gina
p.s. I do have an intact male, he is a rescue but could not be neutered because of his severe heart murmer....there is a big difference.