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~~~ THE DIFFERENCE ~~~ ~~~ AND ~~~ ~~~ SHOULD YOU SPAY AND NEUTER? ~~~ We advocate Spay and Neuter for puppies purchased from us. We will be asking if any dogs you currently own are spayed/neutered, and if not, why. It is our position and opinion that as long as you are spaying and neutering your dogs, you are free to choose girls or boys to add to your family. Both Females and Males can have dominant personality traits, like people and other animal species. We will recommend choosing a personality, rather than a sex in matching a puppy with your home and family. If you have a well socialized doggie at home that you are looking for a friend for, he or she may have already indicated if they have any preferences for girl or boy playmates. ******************************************************** POTTY TRAINING DOGS - MARKING TERRITORY Especially for young male dogs, marking territory starts to occur at between four and nine months of age for most breeds. Some female dogs will also engage in marking behavior as well, especially if there is more than one dog in the house. Generally, marking territory is a hormonally driven behavior that male dogs engage in to establish their dominance. If a new dog, baby, pet or other change occurs in the house you may find that a previously house trained dog will begin marking territory. Marking territory is dog’s way to indicate that the house is his or her territory. Outside dogs will mark the areas of their domain such as fence posts, lamps, or even bushes, shrubs and trees in the yard or neighborhood. Unfortunately some dogs also want to mark their territory on the inside of your house and this is certainly not a desirable behavior. Marking territory as a hormonally driven behavior will indicate that the dog is ready for neutering. In about 50-70% of male dogs neutering will prevent the likelihood of future marking behaviors. Cleaning and using an enzyme based product that will completely eliminate the odor of the urine will assist in preventing future issues. If the dog has been neutered but still continues to mark territory there are a few simple potty training tips that you can use to deter the behavior. While some behavors are directly related to the marking, others are more specific to establishing that you are the dominant member of the family, not the dog. Try the following to help with preventing further marking behaviors. POTTY TRAINING TIPS TO OVERCOME MARKING •Ensure that the dog has lots of exercise prior to being left alone. •Encourage him to mark outside by providing interesting places to sniff and mark. •Remove or completely clean any furniture or items that the dog previously marked. •If you cannot remove the furniture place a piece of aluminum foil over the area in a flat sheet. Simply attach the top to the furniture with tape or small pins. When the dog attempts to urinate on the area the spray hitting the aluminum will make a noise that will startle the dog and may assist with preventing the behavior. The resulting spray will also be unpleasant to the dog and will often stop the behavior. •Take the dog to dog training classes or work with him on a constant basis to help the dog understand that he is not the “top dog” on the pecking order in the family. Once the dog understands that he is not dominant the behavior will often stop. •If there is a female dog in heat in the house or area the intact male dog will mark to establish a territory. Remove any female dogs in heat from the area to prevent this hormonally driven marking. Neutering will help with this behavior as well. If there appears to be no change in the male dog’s marking behavior after using these techniques try working with a professional trainer or consulting with your veterinarian. Occasionally some hormonal imbalances may cause the behavior and can be controlled by drug therapies. Also remember to be calm and patient in dealing with a dog exhibiting this behavior. Just continue to be firm and I believe that you will overcome this behavior in no time. Male Dogs Tend to be territorial and dominant. Even before puberty, these behaviors are attributed to male hormones. After puberty, these classical masculine traits get even more exaggerated. This makes training male dogs more difficult. More active and more destructive. Blame it again on the male hormones. More prone to aggression with other dogs. Dogs that are the same sex, size and age are more likely to see each other as rivals and show signs of aggression. Has the instinctual urge to roam. An unneutered male will actively seek out females to mate with. This often results in escaping his environment, which can increase the risk of being hit by a car, injured, or lost. A neutered male will make an excellent pet. He will become similar in temperament and affection as a female. Neutering makes him significantly calmer and far less aggressive. It will also diminish his tendency to roam. Female Dogs Generally easier to train and housebreak. May be more demanding of affection. Females tend to focus their attention strongly on their human companion. At puberty, female hormones can cause changes in behavior. It can increase possessiveness, alter mood, and increase the need to den. During a female's heat cycle, they will actively seek out males. This motivates the female to escape from the house or yard, putting them in danger of being hit by a car, injured, or lost. Spaying your female dog is beneficial because it will prevent your dog from being impregnated, eliminate the biannual heat cycle, and keep your dog from wanting to escape. Similar Behaviors There are no differences between the two sexes regarding watchdog barking, playfulness, and excitability In some ways, choosing between male and female dogs is a matter of personal preference. ************************************************************************ Spay or neuter surgery: A prescription for better canine health -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spay and neuter surgery to sterilize dogs and cats has been hailed as an expedient method Some advocacy groups have gone so far as to demand laws that require spay and neuter of Many pet owners consider a spay and neuter requirement to be an infringement of their rights. Many think that sterilization is cruel; they project their own feelings about loss And many pet owners and welfare advocates say that the cost of surgery keeps many There are many myths about canine reproductive needs. Chiefly among these are the The truth is that male dogs are usually better pets if they are neutered. They have Females also tend to be better pets if they do not experience oestrus every six-to-nine months. Dogs and bitches do not get fat simply as a result of sterilization surgery. Like other mammals, As far as we know, dogs do not lament their lost capability to reproduce. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Responsibility Pet owners who decide not to spay their bitches and neuter their dogs certainly have 1. Provide the best nutrition and vet care for the bitch, 2. Remain with the bitch during the births to clean and dry the puppies, 3. Deal with a problem pregnancy or delivery, ( Most c-sections start around $2000.00) 4. Keep the puppies warm and the whelping area clean, 5. Keep the puppies for at least eight weeks, 6. Provide basic health care and socialization before the pups go to their new homes, 7. Provide training and behavior information to puppy buyers, and 8. Take back or help place any puppy that doesn't work in its original home. Obviously, unless a pet owner is also a dedicated hobby breeder, it's cheaper, |
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