1 yr old OES is having a weird reaction to puberty
Merlin just had his first birthday. For several months now we have noticed that from time to time he would suddenly seem a little freaked out, do some funny things with his back legs and then plop down suddenly wherever he was (even on a walk) looking a bit scared. At first we would think maybe he stepped on something or got stung by a bee, then we were worried he might have something wrong with his hips or knees... But, on closer inspection, these episodes always correspond to his being... well, a bit aroused. Poor baby, he doesn't know what to do with himself! When this happens we just give him a few moments to chill out and then he's usually fine. I will ask the vet what she thinks on Monday. But in the meantime... Has anyone EVER seen a a similar behavior in their male dogs? I might add that (while it embarasses me to say so) it seems to have a correlation to my own cycles. Also, there is no excessive licking, and he eats, sleeps, pees, poops and plays normally. His urine also looks normal. And his behavior otherwise is quite normal - I mean he's an adolescent so he's begun testing limits, but he backs down pretty quickly and remains a friendly and social boy who likes all people and animals. So... anyone? Ever? |
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| This dog needs to be neutered. It will help with all kinds of behavior and health problems now and in the future. |
Sheepiemama wrote: This dog needs to be neutered. It will help with all kinds of behavior and health problems now and in the future. That is the second behaviour question where you have responded that the dog should be neutered as a way to solve the problem. I have some concerns with suggesting this approach. I have seen plenty of neutered dogs with behavioural issues. I have seen plenty of intact dogs who are well behaved. I have three OES, two neutered, one not. I saw no differences in behaviour due to being neutered. We went for a walk through a forest with seven OES last night, a mix of boys and girls, neutered and not neutered, different ages and personalities, and did not have any issues at all, they were all well behaved. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be great if neutering would somehow magically give you the perfect dog! I am relatively new to having dogs, only in the past 4.5 years have I had dogs, but the only thing that has worked for any behavioural issue in my experience has been consistent training (luckily I haven't had many issues, with walking on leash being my biggest challenge, off leash was fine). The word consistent is important. There were big differences in how the dogs responded to me versus my husband. At first I thought it was a man/woman thing, but after some training classes and some advice from people on this forum (Dawn in particular), I realized I was completely unclear and inconsistent in what I expected from my dogs. So I went back to basic obedience classes but this time really put into place what I was taught. You should both go back to obedience classes, you and your husband. And sooner rather than later. It takes time and commitment, but it is worth it. I went back just recently to do basic rally obedience with one of my dogs, just as a refresher. It is easy for me to forget, and, I confess, I get lazy when it comes to being consistent so sometimes a class helps me. Spend some time browsing this forum, too, as I am sure that others will have had some of the same issues and might have other suggestions, or more specific suggestions, but a foundation in basic obedience helps with everything, in my experience. Good luck! I am cheering you on!  |
| ^^^^^ Well said Kim. Brick was neutered at 6 mo. He humped before that and humped after that. Still to this day. My vet says it's a dominance thing. I've never noticed him to be aroused when he does it. Zeke was fixed at around a year. Every so often, he'll start humping the air. I don't know why he does it. He doesn't bother anyone or Brick while he does it. The point is, neutering will not necessarily fix this issue. |
| It does sound like an adolescent phase, and I suspect it will calm down somewhat when his hormones do. But it's good you're taking him to the vet. Best to make sure there are no physical causes for the behavior. Then a few sessions with a trainer may help you address that behavior. As for the suggestion to neuter, Kim put it very well. I'll only add this from the ASPCA website (emphasis added): "A Common Myth Neutering as a Quick Fix for All Behavior Problems Some people think that neutering a dog will immediately get rid of all his behavior problems. Although it often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a higher level of testosterone, there’s no a guarantee that your dog’s behavior will change after he’s neutered. Although the surgery will reduce the amount of testosterone in your dog’s system, it won’t eliminate the hormone completely. The effects of neutering are largely dependent on your dog’s individual personality, physiology and history." IMHO, the decision to spay or neuter needs to be made based on far more than a reaction to a single behavior. Full article here: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/how-will-neutering-change-my-dog |
| It sounds like a strange reaction, maybe it hurts when he gets aroused (pulls on a nerve?). Like Kim and Mark said, Neutering may not solve the problem. Like Marks Brick, our Buster also mounted before neutering and after neutering but he does experience less arousal after he was neutered (less erections) so perhaps it could help your dog if this is when he experiencing discomfort. Let us know what the vet says. |
| Hello all, just wanted to post an update about this behavior. We went to the vet and talked about it and did a urinalysis and physical exam and all seems to be well - he did have a large number of sperm present in his urine though, confirming the whole adolescence thing. He's now 17 months and I'm sure his hormones are still raging, but he is no longer getting freaked out about the strange sensations in his body, and seems to take it more in stride. I think he just had no idea what was going on with his body and it scared him a bit. He's a very sensitive boy! In partnership with our vet, we have decided to wait on his neuter until his bones and joints are finished developing in order to reduce the risk of structural problems and bone cancer later. It didn't make sense to neuter just based on this behavior. It was not problematic for anyone but him, and was not harmful or dangerous. I think it was just a bit disconcerting for him. Simply put: he felt weird. But human males make it through adolescence OK, and all the men I asked said that minus the embarrassment they may have felt it's really no big deal. And I don't think Merlin was feeling any embarrassment, so... Also, we have had ZERO behavior problems with him - honestly, we are unsure how we ended up with such a good pup! He is truly a model canine citizen - aside from being an extreme kissy-face :p He barely even humps (usually only in the excitement of play with some of his favorite playmates, and even that is rare), and even neutered dogs do that! And if he does hump, an "uh-uh" from me, or, worst case, a time-out, and he stops that behavior. Honestly, I might even forgo the neuter altogether except that other males sometimes take exception to his unaltered status, and it also limits his access to certain activities (indoor dog parks, participation in therapy dog programs, etc.) which we want him to be able to participate in. Thanks for the advice and well-wishes. He and I are both doing great! |
| Actually Kim, if you go back into Sheepiemama's history, you'll find this type of knee-jerk response has happened more than twice; however there were two occasions on this ONE day... It's clear to me that she has an some sort of agenda for this but I haven't figured out what the reasoning is. She also is all but demanding members to adopt versus buying from a breeder. Not only did Kim nail it, but since Diane has years of veterinary work behind her, one should, if they're smart would be keen to listen to her. Merrilee, it sounds as though you have a pretty good vet from what you're saying. If he's telling you to wait, (also read that as 'no, I don't need your money right now. It can wait) then he's a keeper. A questionable vet would insist on doing it straight away. Take a deep breath and be glad you have an awesome dog, maybe a little too rambunctious in an area or two, but still... He's doing fine and so are you!!! Vance |
Glad he is okay  |
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