Hi guys, it's been a while. Amongst a busy time of year, my father in law just passed away. It's quite a job getting a deceased's affairs in order.

Everything is going to the three sons. The oldest gets his ruby ring, the youngest gets his truck and Bob and I get the dog. Yes, dog number 4, a 12 pound Min Pin/Chihuahua.

This thing is fat.... fat, fat. Pickle shaped doesn't begin to describe it. This boy's still in the cucumber stage. Oh heck, zucchini is more like it.

7 year old, unneutered male and not one stitch of training. Living solely with an old man in his 80's his entire life. And not that that was a bad thing, for the two of them and their more secluded, sedentary lifestyle, but he pisses and marks on everything, has no dog social skills and thinks nothing of biting an ankle or hand that's trying to feed it.

The old guy always said he couldn't do anything with him because he'd bite him. I see what he was talking about now. But he also wouldn't accept any help. Oh well, that's in the past, now he's our problem.

The only thing in his home was a harness. I don't think the dog had ever worn a collar.

The rest of family felt this dog's time was up a many years ago and constantly encouraged Pappy to put him down, but he loved the little guy.... way too much and that's all he did. Literally "Loving" him to death.

In any case, contrary to what the rest of the family suggested, we've taken him on and he's getting a major wake up call.

I got the tiniest little padded choke collar...hey I almost got miniature prong. He slips out of everything. Weird proportions. The smallest head but the neck is fairly wide. The fat oozing into any area it can. This dog looks like he's going to pop, I don't think further expansion is possible.

We'd love to find him a good home but in his current condition, not a chance. No kids, no pets and god forbid he got into the hands of another old person. Bob's dad was a tough old guy that could withstand the bites. A frailer, older person would be tormented.

So that's the temperament run down we're dealing with. Along with that, I don't think his nails have ever been trimmed and he loves the crawling up the leg while scratching madly routine, when he smells food. This thing's got claws that would put a badger to shame. The clipping, Bob and I can probably handle with pure constricting force but it's been seven years so not a priority yet.

He's eager to learn (read that as totally food motivated) and hasn't seen a bowl of food since he came into our care. If he's not learning, he's not eating.

But right now he is marking and mounting everything in sight. And for his size and those spindly little legs, he's fast and boy can he squirt.

He's totally off limits to my boys. They'd make a meal out of this thing in a heartbeat, simply to put him out of "their" misery.

Who'd of thunk 12 lbs could throw such a wrench into things.

We've pretty much got 'er under control but my question guys, is about this huge set of nuts he's got dangling there. Based on his age and upbringing (or lack of) what do think? Should we get him snipped? I've never done a dog this old. Positives? Negatives?

Sorry for your loss, CJ.

At this point I don't think it would change anything behavior-wise. It probably won't change anything health-wise either. I would get the training done first, as much as you can, before neutering, etc.

As far as the marking goes, do you have him on a line in the house always?

I would cut him. If he dies on the table, well, so be it. He most likely won't.

For many many dogs castration eliminates urine marking. Plus, he'll feel real bad post op and you can be the nice person who helps him back to health. Plus, he can have his nails trimmed down to the quick under anaesthesia and a little brief dental scaling would probably make him nicer to have around.

Your other dogs might like him better too if he was neutered.

You know, I was logging in to say "eh ... probably won't help" .... but Betty makes some cogent arguments.

I'm leaning that way now.

If you do this, post back for the lowdown on important steps in general anesthesia for seniors.

The only problem is, he's so fat. That kinda lowers his candidacy level for G/A.

I agree that many dogs' marking habits decline after neutering.

Now I'm ambivalent.


Just some thoughts .....

I do want to say that I've turned around seniors like him, and so can you.

"He's eager to learn (read that as totally food motivated) and hasn't seen a bowl of food since he came into our care. If he's not learning, he's not eating. "


Food drive is a wonderful thing.

I wouldn’t know where to start with the little darling, I can deal with a stroppy and mouthy big dog, small snappers make my toe itch!

The very best of British luck CJ, and wear some shin pads and steel toe caps while you get the little tub under control.

My worst nightmare

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

My grandpa will be leaving behind two dogs like your FIL...a yorkie and a pom. Luckily, my aunt gets that task. My beastly GSDs would eat his dogs (not really, but that's common belief in the family and I don't try to change that perception lest I get stuck with his dogs. Terrible but true!)

Would he wear a belly band? That could help with the marking - not to eliminate it, but to stop him from claiming everything as his own.

Just a thought...

Oh, and I would've gotten a prong collar LOL

Thanks Katie, he was a pretty special old man. I won’t get into any details but he left us very suddenly. One of our last conversations included this pup. He was worried that no one would take him if he was ever went into a nursing home or got too old to live on his own.

I promised him that we would make sure he was taken care of.

He was dead set against neutering, any dog. Just my questioning it probably has him rolling around in his urn.

And yes, inside we've got a room and are slowly getting him used to a crate. He's used to peeing and pooping on paper, in the house, which I absolutely refuse to accommodate and he's doing good with number 2 outside.

I don't think he's ever been outside this much in his life.

But it's not just inside. We'll head out the gate, and I've got him on a fairly loose lead, he'll quickly stretch out to mark the bikes, then the vehicle. A dog walking beside him gets it and he thinks nothing of pissing on me. Everything and anyone. And when I think he's drained out way more than my boys ever could, we'll head in, on leash and the dining room chair gets it instantly. Even if he's not close enough, he's aiming and shooting.

On leash is fun too. This dog loves to bite. My slippers are now cowboy boots. Tried a little two finger correction to distract him and got bit good. It's almost like legs are or have been a play toy for him. And there's no distracting him, that just riles him up.

So yeah, a fairly tight handle on the leash inside, in the crate for short periods and a back room cleared out for him during this transition/training period.

I'm minimizing and monitoring his water intake too but I swear there's more coming out than going in.

Betty, I LOVE your answer, if that was truly going to be the result, as ingrained as this particular issue is with this dog, the minute his weight is at a reasonable stage, I'll have him done.

And OMG, never thought about someone else doing his nails, and under anesthetic yet. Absolutely perfect answer. You can probably tell, we're not in any hurry nor looking forward to getting into bite gear to do the job ourselves.

And absolutely Connie. If we decide to do this, I'll definitely post. He seems healthy other than huge and out of shape. It's super easy to drain his energy and then do some training for his meals. He's coming along but this pissing/marking thing is beyond me. That leg is always up.

And Tracey, you just give me a buzz if you want to share in the rearing of this little wild thing. I'd have no problem putting him on plane.

I guess I should get some pictures.

You know I would love to help CJ, but I am fresh out of shin pads and gauntlets, if I could help, I would, you know that don’t you??!!

Neutering may also be helpful if you wish to rehome him some day. I'm generally not a big fan of neutering as the first course of action for behavioral issues, but in this case there are more than a couple things that it *might* help with so given the situation I'd go ahead and have it done.