I have made a few mistakes I think. Which hopefully I can correct. I recieved a dog that had been abandoned at my parents house about 8-9 months ago. Vets say he will probably be a year old around Jan sometime. For pictures of Buddy and help with breed identification check this thread, http://leerburg.server294.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=159;t=000005

That's how I aquired Buddy. Here are my mistakes. He will be a year in Jan, and I have not had him neutered yet. He is scheduled right now, but going to bump it into the new year so that I can take a vacation day when I pick him up after being neutered so I can hang out with him, make sure everything is ok. How bad is it that I didn't have him neutered around 6 months? Which is what everyone tells me I should have done.

I also have messed up on socialazation. Human and dog both. We have Kasey(Pembroke corgi) that he interacts with well, but other dogs and he goes nuts. Tugging at the leash jumping around, barking aggressively. Also walking him with Kasey is a terror as well, constant pulling, jumping around, no barking though, just being unruly. Also a new developement, he is showing aggression towards people he doesn't know(that come in the house welcomed in by my wife or I) as well as kids. He hasn't snapped at anyone but has growled. We had people over last weekend and the ones he has met before he was ok with, but newer people he would growl at. No barking or anything else really, but if they got around he would give a low growl. He has barked and growled at neighborhood kids before as well. We had a few over when we were putting up x-mas lights and he seemed to do fine for a bit, even letting them pet him(under very close supervision) and seemed to be fine, then a bit later he growled and barked and Chris.

More stuff. In the house, he will fetch toys and bring them back to you, outside, he runs to the toy, then sniffs it, then walks away. Should I cancel any and all play in the house and make all playtime outside? Is it ok to play with them in the house. Mostly just toss it down the hall he runs and gets it. Also he is relentless with tugging on my Corgis collar/playing roughly with her. Which she doesn't enjoy. Is there anyway to discourage this or should I just let her correct him(which she sometimes does by getting viscious with him)? It gets really annoying in the house. What form of correction should I use to deter this playing with Kasey in the house?

I am getting Buddy Neutered at the start of the new year. Also starting to work with him now(I know, I should have started sooner, again my fault). He does well by himself and undistracted, not so good on "heel" but keeping him beside me is not that much of a problem and he is learning. Also when I stop he now sits, as well as in the house or outside will sit on command. He is kennel trained, and goes to his kennel at night just fine. He's a very smart dog.

Lastly, we don't allow him to get on furniture, but sometimes on Saturday mornings or whatnot after he has been let out and comes back in we do let him get on the bed. Kasey sleeps on the bed all the time so I figure this is no big deal, and he doesn't get to get on the bed all the time, just occasionally. Is this a really bad thing? Kasey is 7 years old and has slept in the bed with us for the whole time we have had her(about 3 years) she also is allowed on furniture. So back to original question, is it ok for Buddy to be on the bed only at certain times? Or should this be discouraged at all costs?

Going to get into a professional trainer in January as well for some one on one training as well as dog socialization.

I think that's it, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Jason
We have had similar temperment difficulties with our adolescent Rottie. We neutered him at 10 mo. Ed Frawley's DVD on Basic Obedience has been invaluable for getting our dog back on track. Ed's prong collar corrections REALLY work if imposed properly. Meanwhile, get them off the bed.......make them do what you want, when you want and where you want. Get the DVD....Good Luck
Jerry <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Jason, unless you have a good reason to neuter him leave him the way God designed him. If you are going to neuter him do your best to wait until he is atleast 1.5 years old, neutering before that age increases the risks of a multitude of various health problems. On the other personality issues, YOU are in charge, start acting that way. Start by reading this
http://www.leerburg.com/dominac2.htm
then read this
http://www.leerburg.com/groundwork.htm
Now put your dog on a "nothing in life is free program"

http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

Then take your dog to obedience training.

I think that is your best bet of making things work and if you do it well I think you will be surprised at the results.

Thomas, would you mind posting the "multitude of various health problems" that occur when one neuters a dog before one and a half years old, as opposed to neutering before that particular age? I have known no dog that has had any type of health problems related to neutering (or spaying) before the dog was one and a half years old. My own dog was spayed at 3 months of age. She is 3 years old now, and the only health problem she's ever had was demodex as a puppy.

Jason, I agree that you should neuter your dog at the New Year. Should definitely help with some of the dog agression, will take a few months to get rid of all the hormones though! Sooner better than later because dog agression can become a habit that a late neutering will not fix.

Dog classes should help. You may want to start with a private meeting with the trainer and you/your pup.

There is also a video/DVD that would help you called 'Calming Signals' by Turid Rugaas. Gives lots of helpful suggestions and ideas for situations like yours other than just really coming down hard with corrections. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...ance&s=video&n= has information

Kristen,
The two major issue with neutering before the hormones have had a chance to completely cycle once are.

1. The data indicates that the immune system will not come into full strength until the hormones have "cycled" at least once.

2. Dogs that have been neutered before adulthood continue to grow for a longer period of time. This extended growth period is a risk factor for a good number of skeletal related diseases/issues
among them Bone cancer and Hip Dysplasia.

It is these two factors or combination of factors that probably are at the heart a good number of issues with neutering. Its for that reason, when a "study" recommends it, it usually is soley based on societal issues (ie overpopulation) and not the health of the dog getting neutered.
The reason to wait until the dog is 1.5 years old is to make sure that dog has reached adulthood.

Gerard: Thank you will definitely look into that.

Thomas: Thanks for the links and info, I am going to put him on the NILIF program, not sure yet on the groundwork one. Might work with keeping him on a leash a whole lot more, couldn't see doing that all the time. Will try to integrate parts of that into nilif.

Jenn: In the new year going to go to a local obedience school that starts out in private lessons then integrates into group lessons. Hopefully this will help with some animal socialization with Buddy and calm him down around strange dogs. Still going to get him neutered at the first of the year as well.

Thomas: My concerns with waiting that long are with him becoming more aggressive as the hormones cycle. Not worried about him knocking up another dog so much as I am him becoming more aggressive as he enters adulthood.

Thanks for all the advice thus far everyone! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Jason, on the neutering it is important to know that there are good reasons not to neuter an animal. Now that you know, do what you think is best for your situation. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thomas. Can you provide valid and reputable references to back your statements up? I'm not trying to be a pest, or trying to start an arguement; I'm genuinely interested. All the research that I have read is contradictory to what you have said regarding the spay/neuter issue. I have taken a few veterinary courses and spoken with local area vets as well, and they haven't mentioned any of the things that you (and a couple others on this board) have brought up. As a (hopefully) future vet, I would like to have all the information I can so that I might be able to better educate my clients.

So if you, and anyone else, can give me some good, solid references, I'd much appreciate it. Without references, all that you've said pretty much means nothing.

Probably still going to get him neutered in Jan. Not really sure how old he is currently. Neutered and priv/group training in Jan. is the call for right now.