[Cardi2008]

Hi all,

Okay, I am having a conflict. My boy Cardi is coming up to 6 months old now and will soon start to exhibit the traits of being a male dog. And the conflict I am having is whether or not to neuter him. He comes from champions and is a show quality dog. The breeder really really wants me to show him.....but I just don't know what I want to do. Honestly, I don't think I want to live with an intact male dog, they have several traits that I dislike. But.... I have always wanted to get into showing. If he were a she....I would have no problem not spaying her and showing her. But because he is a male.....I just don't know. What does everyone else think about this? I need to make a decision soon.

:banghead:

 

[mercymoon]

If your worried about the whole male dog "humping" deal,
neutering usually does NOT fix this problem, it is just an
instict they will do sometimes even after being neutered,
trust me. Or is it something else in particular you don't like
about male dog behavior?

I say just go with your gut feeling on what you think
you should do in this case, give it some thought before
acting.

Good Luck in whatever you may decide!

 

[Gigit]

Do what you want to do, not what somebody tells you to do.

Finnigan's Dad wasn't fixed, and he was an AMAZING dog. So well behaved, so dignified. Yes, many male dogs not fixed are... *groan* but poodles change things a bit. If he has a good aptitude for training, then I bet you could work around things. Sure, he will lift his leg to pee, but, you can train him not to hump.

Then again, I've known PLENTY of non-poodle male dogs that were total disasters, and fixed later and it helped, but they still carried some of those traits.

I heard about dog contraceptives, it's not available here but I read it was available in Aussieland. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19526124.200-dog-contraceptive-signals-end-to-castration.html See if your vet offers this as an option in your area?

In the end, you have to do what is best for YOU. If you aren't dedicated to showing and all the work that goes into showing now, then odds are high you won't be later on down the road. Don't let his breeder impact your personal choice.

 

[T o d d]

We didn't take care of moose until he was over 1yrs old, we were hoping to wait until 2 but he started lifting his leg and getting p`p all over himself.

 

[SECRETO]

I had the same worries when I got my Eli. He is now 1 year and hasn't done one thing to annoy me. I actually used to dislike male dogs because of the male traits I had seen with other dogs and both my Poodles are perfect. I have a friend that owns a male Poodle that is a year and he acts great too.

Don't worry...Poodles are so much smarter then the typical dog. If you keep on them about what behavior you approve of and don't they will get it. Sure Eli gave my Pitbull a few little humps but they were the "I think Im turning into a big boy" kind, not actually I want to mate with you humps. I just told him "no Eli" and that was it. I love my intact male...he's the best!

Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[Pamela]

do they have to be intact to show? just curious.

 

[Cardi2008]

do they have to be intact to show? just curious.

Yes they do....and I think that is the most contradicting and stupid policy. They post it everywhere: "Spay or Neuter your dog." But then when you do that, you can't show them in confirmation.

 

[mercymoon]

Yes they do....and I think that is the most contradicting and stupid policy. They post it everywhere: "Spay or Neuter your dog." But then when you do that, you can't show them in confirmation.

Yeah, I agree...I think it's a stupid rule as well, but that's
my opinion.

 

[SECRETO]

Yeah, I agree...I think it's a stupid rule as well, but that's
my opinion.

The reason behind your dog being intact for conformation showing is because you are presenting the best breeding stock. (or what you believe is) Thats why just in conformation your dog must be intact. Agility and other events they can be spayed/nuet.

 

[mercymoon]

The reason behind your dog being intact for conformation showing is because you are presenting the best breeding stock. (or what you believe is) Thats why just in conformation your dog must be intact. Agility and other events they can be spayed/nuet.

Oh okay, makes it a little more clearer to me now, I admit
I know nothing about the show world, lol.

 

[Sivaro]

At the end of the day its your dog to do as you please with. If you feel you must de*** him then do it. If you want to show, you have to put in the work of making sure he doesnt cock his leg. Sorry its annoying when I have 6 males in my house and none of them cock their legs, and hearing that so many ppl think this is a trait of a male. Its not. You bring them up as you would a female and they are good.

I personally find some bitchs dirtier than males. Its just a case of keeping at them. Even if they are de***ed, if you arent keeping ontop of them, they can pee to their hearts content.

 

[rmillstein]

At the end of the day its your dog to do as you please with. If you feel you must de*** him then do it. If you want to show, you have to put in the work of making sure he doesnt cock his leg. Sorry its annoying when I have 6 males in my house and none of them cock their legs, and hearing that so many ppl think this is a trait of a male. Its not. You bring them up as you would a female and they are good.

I personally find some bitchs dirtier than males. Its just a case of keeping at them. Even if they are de***ed, if you arent keeping ontop of them, they can pee to their hearts content.

Do you mean your male dogs don't lift their legs when they pee? Or do you just mean they don't go around marking everything in sight?

 

[Sivaro]

lol, I mean they dont mark in the house at all. They cock their legs on trees and anything else they find to lift their legs on outside but not in the house.
The dirtiest was my lowchen when I got him, understandably due to living in kennels from where I bought him from and being 2 yr old. Took me a couple of months, but perserverance is the key.

 

[rmillstein]

lol, I mean they dont mark in the house at all. They cock their legs on trees and anything else they find to lift their legs on outside but not in the house.
The dirtiest was my lowchen when I got him, understandably due to living in kennels from where I bought him from and being 2 yr old. Took me a couple of months, but perserverance is the key.

Hahahaha!!! Ok, I was wondering! I was thinking, wow, that's got to be some training method if you can teach them never to lift their legs when they pee!!

 

[Sivaro]

Oh trust me, I have had some girly girl dogs that wee like a female lol.

 

[rmillstein]

Oh yeah, sometimes Marley lifts his leg and sometimes he doesn't. But I can't imagine training him not to. I mean, I guess I could reward him for peeing like a girl and tell him "no" when he lifts a leg??? Ha! That would be perverse.

 

[SECRETO]

Hahahaha!!! Ok, I was wondering! I was thinking, wow, that's got to be some training method if you can teach them never to lift their legs when they pee!!

I have to admit Im a proud momma now that Eli is a big boy and lifting his leg. Its great...no more peeing on his front legs now. He has never pee'd in the house to establish territory either. Both boys are intact and perfect gentleman. Im proud!

 

[Sivaro]

One of my minis I bought a couple years back was cocking his leg at 3 mths. I thought no way when the breeder told me, when he flew over at 3 1/2 mths he was cocking his leg lol. It looks so cute when a youngster does it.

 

[marepalmer]

How would lifting legs in a male work if you want them to be litter box trained?? My guess is it wouldn't, right?

Also, Sivaro, what do you mean by "some bitches are dirtier than males"? Thanks. I'm trying to learn all I can about the poodle (and dogs in general) before I get one.

 

[marepalmer]

I personally find some bitchs dirtier than males. Its just a case of keeping at them. Even if they are de***ed, if you arent keeping ontop of them, they can pee to their hearts content.

Here's the whole quote. I'm confused. Also, what does "de***ed" mean?