to neuter or not to neuter

[meiram]

My shitzu-poodle mix is really getting on my nerves.  I am about 7 months pregnant with my second child.  He won't stop his male dominant behavior with me.  It is getting to be ridiculous.  Well, the real problem now is he is beginning the same type of behavior with my 16 month old daughter who has no idea what he is up to, she just like playing with him.    

He is 4 years old and we have never had this problem to this degree.  Once in a while he would try something, but always responded positively to me or my husband's scolding.  We have chosen not to have him neutered so far because there has not really been a need.  I asked my vet about it when he was a puppy and he basically said that if he was solely an indoor dog and had no bad behaviors, don't worry about it.  He is acting like a hormone crazed adolescent.  I really thought that we were past this type of stuff at 4 years old.  

Do you think this is a result of the changes going on in our house?  He doesn't get as much exercise as he used to, but I am making a genuine effort to change that.  Do you think that getting him neutered will change his behavior, or is it too late?  Any other tips to try in the meantime?  

[ginger899]

Yes, being put on the 'naughty step' (giving them 'time out') definitely does work. They do hate being alone, and it sends a very strong message to them. Because they are pack animals, being alone is the thing they really want to avoid.

[Ghilly]

If you do it correctly, the dog gets the message and it's probably one of the surest ways to get that message across.  However, depending upon how the dog accepts it, if he growls or in any way manages to intimidate the person attempting to hold him down, and their intimidation causes them to let him up, then he figures that he growled, he got let go, and he won, and at that point he could start using the growling behavior any time he wants to get his way.  So for this reason, I usually tell people to do the ignore/take dog off to solitary for a few minutes thing, because there's less of a chance of it backfiring.   Otherwise, for MYSELF, I much prefer putting them down and holding them there.  IMO they get the message more quickly.

Ghilly

[ginger899]

Holding the dog down is actually very similar to what happens in a natural dog/wolf-pack. It usually gives a very strong message of dominance to the dog, and is not a bit cruel. It is basic dog/wolf language. I am interested to hear that it can sometimes cause aggressive behavior? If so, I would think that was because the dog DIDN'T get the message properly, and is still struggling to be dominant...?

[dogmom192]

NEUTER YOUNG!!!    I neutered my first dog at 4 months- most wait till 6.  He was the happiest, most well-liked, most wonderful dog in the world...lived 14.5 years.  Never had health problems- just fed, watered and occasional vaccines.  He was healthier than a horse. He was a very outdoor guy-  brought down big bucks, fought the biggest raccoons in the creek, even won a challenge from a police-trained german shepard guard dog that challenged him for no reason ( by a lame new neighbor)-  but he still never hurt that pathetic thousand dollar do- just gave him what for.  NEUTER!!!  Does not compromise their ability.  Just makes them happier- and you happier.  Early neutering is key, despite what any book or vet tells you.  Find a vet who will neuter early, even. Write me personally if you wish.

[Ghilly]

I completely agree with Ginger, this is a show of dominance and nothing sexual.  Neutering may help, however if a dog is THAT dominant, he may still continue the behavior even after he's neutered.  The good thing is that the neutering SHOULD make it easier to break him of the behavior if he doesn't stop it on his own.

Ginger gave you great advice about not giving him any attention at all unless he is behaving properly.  Dogs understand body language a lot better than they do the spoken word, so you need to start "speaking" to him with your actions rather than your voice.  When he acts dominant with you, say "OFF!" very firmly, but then turn your back and do not look at him.  If he tries to move around to see your face, move your body so that you remain facing away from him.  Another thing that dogs just HATE is to be away from their family, so if he starts the humping behavior, it would be great if you could have another person to work with you, and when you say "OFF!" and turn your back, have the other person come and take him on a leash and put him in a room where he is alone for a few minutes.  Five or ten minutes is fine.  Let him out and see how he does, and then repeat the process over again the second he starts to hump someone or something.  It may take a while, but he will eventually get the message that if he humps anyone or anything, he will be ignored and put in solitary, and he should stop.

Shih Tzu / Poodle crosses are small enough that you can also do something called a "dominance down", but this is something that I normally don't like to do, because it CAN backfire and make the dog more obnoxious.  In the dominance down, if he starts to show dominance, you can put him into a laying down position and then hold him on his side and not let him up.  If he starts to struggle a bit, don't let him up until he stops struggling.  His cessation of struggling indicates that he has given in and allowed YOU to dominate HIM, but sometimes it can backfire and make them aggressive, so I would try the ignoring and removal technique for a while and hopefully he gets the message using that.  

DEFINITELY neuter him, though, as this MAY stop the behavior on its own, and if it doesn't, it will still at the very least make him easier to work with.  Good luck and keep us posted!

Ghilly

[ginger899]

Well it's interesting about the eye-contact thing. Not giving eye-contact is denying him what he really wants ie: attention from you. It's better to show you are aloof, and don't talk to him because that is giving him attention, and scolding is the same, even if it's negative attention.
He craves your attention. Based on that point, if you only give him attention when he is doing the right thing, it will reinforce the 'good' behavior.

[meiram]

Thank you for the advice, especially the part about holding his feet.  It helps to have some course of action to take when it happens.  It is better not to scold him when I am doing it?  I always thought making eye-contact was a way of asserting my dominance.  Guess I was doing it all wrong :(

[ginger899]

You are right. This is your dog trying to exert dominance over you. It may be because he senses changes imminent, and is fighting his corner to attempt to become pack leader.

I think it would be a good idea to have him neutered. I had a male dog who was entire for all of his life. He was a pretty good dog, all things considered, but he developed Prostate cancer. I think if I'd had him neutered earlier in his life that wouldn't have happened.

That's one reason. The other is you would not want him to father a litter of pups without your involvement I'm sure. And with an entire male, that is always a possibility. It does not take long to do, and once a male is 'locked onto' a female, you can bet your life she will become pregnant, and there is nothing you could do to separate them at that point.What would happen to those pups? They could end up in the Pound, or in a shelter. Not a good fate.

All that testosterone running in his system is ruling his life, and would have some bearing on his shows of dominance. It could also be putting stress on him, you wouldn't necessarily know about.

4 years old is a young dog in his prime. He is not past anything. He sounds fit and well, and the surgery for neutering is routine, and usually without any problems.

However if he is the type of dog who has high exercise needs (I know...I have one!) - he will be frustrated and possibly under-stimulated by being kept idle. Try to give him a couple of good runs a day. If you can't walk far, try a frisbee game, or throwing something for him to chase after. Tire him out more in a healthy way if you can.

'Mounting' and 'humping' are definitely attempts at dominance. They are not necessarily sexual. When he does that, take hold of his feet (dogs' feet are very sensitive, and they don't usually like their feet handled) then hold onto his feet a moment more than you sense he is comfortable with. Then put him down to the ground. Every time he attempts to 'hump' do the same thing. Don't speak to him when you do this, and ignore eye-contact. Only show him affection when he is calm and staying feet on the ground. He may soon get the message. Do not ever let him get away with mounting and humping behavior.