I put in a search on the word "neuter" and came up with lots, but still need to ask my question. My dog is about 8-9 months old. About a week ago, he started humping his football. Today, he tried to hump my six yo daughter. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Needless to say I was upset at him, but I understand that he doesn't know any better. Only try explaining to a 6 yo what he is actually trying to do . First I told her that he was trying to make dog babies and she wasn't a dog. Than I told her that he was trying to show he was better than she was and that helped a little :rolleyes: . Sydney is not a purebred that I can see, but he is mostly lab and my dau adores him. But now I am telling her that they can not play on the floor together. Sydney is normally a very mellow dog, but when he play, he tends to get serious and will even go after your hand to get the toy he wants. He just gets carried away and I am trying to curb. My dilemma: Will it help if I neuter him. but will I still be able to train in to be protective. I don't want an attack dog and I don't plan on leaving him to babysit my child. But I also don't want a dog standing and watching someone hurt my dau. Also, is there away to stop this humping? Until I could find a cure, I have told my daughter to hold his snout whenever he does this. Is this wise? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Hi again Rho. Our boy's neutered. They wouldn't let him out of the pound until he was. He had the humping thing going on initially. I told my daughter "he's trying to be the boss of you", and she understood that. I had her pushing him off of her or shifting her body so he'd miss or fall off, and telling him sternly "OFF". We've had him about two months and he no longer does this. He's not usually humping anything else either, except for the occassional doggy playmate. We discourage that too. Once they know "OFF" it's pretty handy.

I don't think it's going to affect his "protectiveness", besides-he's a lab! How protective is he going to be? Anyway, our boy showed today that being neutered doesn't affect his ability to be a "presence". Some guy disregarded the "beware of dog" sign and came in the yard. Baby boy ran at the guy barking (that's it, he's just a baby and unsure of himself. I'm happy with the barking. More than happy if it stays barking.). Scared the daylights out of the guy.

This serves his purpose for us. From what I'm gathering from your posts it seems like that's what you want too-a dog for its presence. Most people don't know if a dog is serious. I figure if they're willing to go thru a large barking dog they can have whatever is in my house.

I think the majority opinion of this board is - if you're not going to protection train him, don't rely on him "protecting" you or anyone else. Trust me, I've had an overprotective dog-It's a real pain in the **s. And if someone is hurting your daughter - where the heck are you or another responsible adult???!!! That's not the dog's job.

Neutering him will make him ultimately easier to handle. I think that's the way to go since you have a young daughter. Especially if he sees her more as a sibling than his boss.

Roz - Most people don't know if a dog is serious. I figure if they're willing to go thru a large barking dog they can have whatever is in my house.

My reply a barking dog can scare away most intruders but he can also give you time to prepare for an attack. Anybody that will try to get by a barking dog deserves what he gets. I disagree with letting him have whatever is in your house. What if its you or your daughter? Its some sick people out here and they want you to be passive.

In a protect scheme we are a team if a guy tries to get past my barking and growling dogs in an attempt to enter my domains, he will be met by my shotgun or 45, I am responcibile for safety of my dogs and my family. He will be arrested or worst.

He will be awaiting transportation to a nice warm or cold cell. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the replies. I think I have just about convinced myself that neutering is the way to go. Looks like everything has dropped into place now and he is trying to get a little more amorous than I'd like. I wanted to wait until he was a year, but we'll see. Roz, how old is yours? I don't as a general rule leave my dau alone. I'm really a very over protective mom. But I do worry if something should happen to me and she should have to fend for herself. I realize that Sydney is still very young, but I would like to have him at least maintain a presence once he is older. And, yes, also give us a warning if something is amiss. He learned to bark a few days ago, but I think he must have scared himself, because he hasn't done it since. I hope that is just a phase. It was a very strong bark.

Don - Hey!I'd shoot myself in the foot if I had a gun <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> . I've always had large dogs. Again-if someone's determined to go through a 75-100 dog, what chance do I have? If I were in the house when it was happening, my kid and I would be flying out the back door! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> My and my daughter's personal safety first. They can have whatever is in the house. I need new stuff anyway <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> .

Rho-my boy's coming on six months, so he's not very old. Heaven forbid if something should happen to you and your daughter would have to fend for herself! I couldn't imagine it! If that were to happen I don't know what good a dog would do. No offense, but it sounds like a Lassie fantasy.

I like the way Don thinks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That being said , if you have a real need for a dog that will protect you if needed ( a rare situation ) and just not bark to scare away intruders, you'll need to seek out the correct dog ( rare ) and seek out the correct training for situations that you might encounter ( with trainers that are able to train for that being even more rare than those great dogs that can handle the work) Unless someone is recieving a steady diet of death threats, a barking dog is *plenty* of deterrent.

After I Finish Fetz's SchH titles, I'm going to be training intensely in ASR - I'm still of the opinion that if you're looking for a dog to protect you in real life, ASR will give you the most "bang" for your buck.

Wow, did we wander off topic.....

And yes, neutering is the way to go <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I'd shoot myself in the foot if I had a gun

Nonsense. That's what "they" want you to think.

Thread closed!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I'd neuter him.


You can teach just about any dog to bark at strangers, nutz or no nutz.

Hi! I agree with Mr. VanCamp. NEUTER THE DOG. We have had 4 males and I can tell you that the one we did not neuter was a sweetheart. He was never agressive. The one's we did neuter we noticed, even as pups, that they had a tendency to be protective.

Our 9 mos. old shepherd is neutered (at 6 mos.) and he is more than enough deterent. He will be fine as long as people pass by the car or us on a walk. If they stop within 10 feet he will sit and growl a verrrrry deep and loud growl with a piercing stare. If the person is uninvited and continues to come he will continue to sit but growl and show his front teeth. No one has even tried to come any further. We did not teach him this, he just has his own levels of what is acceptable. He has never jumped at anyone or attempted to bite. If we invite the person closer and say, "Its o.k. Tyr," he's fine.

If we hadn't neutered him I can't imagine how protective he might be. He has a very hard bite and is most protective when my husband is absent. We love him. But, we love him most because he is neutered. Unless you plan to compete with a dog or breed it, I would always neuter. Most folks will never need an "attack dog." A good barker is great (hopefully the dog has a deep bark).

Just so that you know, you will have to teach your pup not to hump things. Tyr is neutered and still humps objects. But, with a little training the behavior can be stopped.

Good luck.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Mainly I think he would serve as a deterrent. Even at 8-9 months and 50 pounds, some people look at him as a potential threat. If he barks appropriately, I'll be happy. Our main purpose for getting him, though was for companionship and not for protection. Happily, Sydney has not tried the humping thing since that one night. I have been having my daughter do lots of training and feeding for him, with me present, of course. But I think I still will have him neutered. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for all your comments.