We have a dog, now 16 months, that I show.  I've never lived with a un neutered dog past 12 months or so as most have either been older rescues or bitches.  I get a lot of good advice from our breeder but I'd like to do some more background reading about the type of behaviours I can expect.  He has recently started grumbling at other boys for instance (only when on a lead) and I'm not 100% sure whether this is testosterone or anxiety.  He's also showing an interest in girls!

We are due to start our KC Good Citizens Gold training in a couple of weeks and I thought it might be useful to anticipate any issues so that I can be prepared.  We will be doing some off lead work in a field and, after this weekend when he became very curious about one of the bitches we met, I wonder if I am expected to announce that he is entire and to ask about seasons?

I think I'd find it useful to know what behaviours to support and which to suppress or discourage and how living with an entire dog differs from a neutered one.  Can anyone recommend a book/s for background reading or any online articles I can look at?  Although any tips and suggestions are welcome as forewarned is forearmed!!   Thanks

I don't know if my dogs are unusual, but I find NO difference a all in the behaviour between my neutered dogs and  my entire dogs. All do the same. Mark, go after bitches in season -the neutered dogs all mate and tie, even my 13 year old doddery old cavalier is currently trying to mate my in season Papillon, and he's been neutered for well over ten years now. I'd say it's all training issues more than whether they have testicles or not. My entire male dog gets on better with other male dogs than one of my neutered dogs does. As for bitches you meet outside -it's the bitch owner's responsibility to not let her anywhere near other dogs if she's in season (indeed not letting her off the lead at all), rather than your responsibility to ask if she's in season. 

Hi we've just started our gold and my takes particular interest in a bitch in the class before we start and when we finish. Though during the class and training his eyes are completely on me. He doesn't bother any other dog.
We are working hard at the training in between lessons and its making a huge difference in the way he behaves.

Some dogs get grumbly when they are on a lead, bet he's fine off a lead though??
If i get any of this behaviour i usually check the chain and say 'no'. It does normally work, if not we move off into a different direction.
Not sure what breed you have but if its a larger breed he's probably going through that 'kevin' stage.

I have never met anyone walking a bitch in season, we usually go out into places of all sorts and never come across them. Which is good.. I would of hoped that OP would have more sense than to walk a bitch in season where other dogs are walked during the day..

My own breed can be a pain when they are going through what amounts to the teenage period but they soon settle down once fully mature and I find the intact dogs are usually far more sensible than the neutered ones who seem to remain permanent teenagers. Continue with your training; let him know when he is doing something you don't want and wait for him to grow up. One thing though, do not go over the top with correction of his interest in the ladies as if you wish to use him at stud he may be reluctant to oblige.

Think the growling on the lead is a bit of both and not at all unusual. The lead makes him feel trapped and at the same time he feel obliged to tell any approaching dog that he is male and not to be messed with, something he would achieve with body langue if he were off lead.

Ditto Marianne I have a male border snipped and a cocker whole - cant see any difference apart from the cocker cocks his leg and the border dosen't.

Thank you - it's particularly reassuring to know that girls aren't really my responsibility.

It's quite a different audience though isn't it between the 'show' crowd that know, understand, and expect the dog to be entire; and the GP that look at us as if we have a loaded gun in a playground!!

What breed is he?

>>>>I wonder if I am expected to announce that he is entire and to ask about seasons?<<<<

The responsibility for this should lie with the bitch owner in ensuring the bitch isnt taking to areas where she may have contact with males during a season

I live with 2 entire dogs and I wouldn't change it for the world.  They have their terrible teens and then that's it really, perfect gents.

The responsibility for this should lie with the bitch owner in ensuring the bitch isnt taking to areas where she may have contact with males during a season


Funnily enough, I was told on another forum that I should be held responsible if my dogs ever got to a bitch.  I totally agree that it is the owner of the bitch's responsibility.  I am responsible for my own dogs, nobody elses, and keep them on the lead whenever I see other dogs coming, mostly because mine are very bouncy and like to say hello, which upsets many dogs that are not used to it.  We are living in a blame culture unfortunately, people like blaming other people for their own inadequacies, problems and faults.

We had their dad neutered at 7 years old, it aged him so badly.  So I won't be getting my 2 neutered now.  I think there is an ideal age for it, which my two are long past.  They are happy in themselves, have no problems with each other or anything else, so there is no reason to neuter them.  I think that "convenience" is not a good enough excuse to neuter.  I made a commitment to them, even the spongey little bits of them

i have 4 entire males here......and have owned 4 entire males before...and one who was a rescue and neutered.....not noticed any difference atall!

I own 2 entire males, and had a neutered male also, never noticed any difference, except for 2 small things!! lol

me two Kenya!!!!LOL

Thank you all

He's not going to be neutered, and I wondered if there were things I should be aware of in light of that, but it's nice to know it's just the teenage/kevin stage.  Oh joy - with a 13 yr old son and a 12 year old daughter it's hormones a-go-go in this house!!

I hadn't really given the neuter/entire question much thought until I went to a training session on Saturday with pet owners.  Having spent the summer in the company of dog people at shows I was really struck by the difference in attitude.  It was a get together before our Gold KC training course starts and I had been explaining that my boy grumbles at entire boys when on the lead but not off etc, that at a show I can walk him through a room full of dogs at close quarters but when standing talking he might suddenly get agitated by a dog walking by.  I gradually became aware that I was describing a world they were unfamiliar with and that they were looking askance at the idea of an unneutered dog.  It made me wonder if there was anything I should prepare for...

Thanks for the 'he's normal' reassurance

My five year old Lab is entire, and no "pet owner" or member of the "GP" has ever questioned whether he is neutered or even noticed for that matter!
We had intended to have him neutered, but after discussing it with the vet, we didn't, and I'm glad because I've been able to show him now as well.
I haven't encountered pressure to neuter him from other pet owners, and I think there is much less of a spay/neuter ethos in the UK than in the US where they have a worse stray problem.
The only time we had a problem with a bitch in season distracting him was at ringcraft, would you beleive it? Hey-ho! 

Interesting topic for me, as we are hoping to show are new boy so won't be getting him neutered, our two Labs are both done, and not lived with a entire male before .
So quite reassuring for us 

Hi,
Perfectly normal and especially on lead. He's also at a tricky age.

Try to use distraction and reward around other entire males. You need, if you can, to avoid his posturing becoming a habit, especially if he gets a reaction from another male dog because that makes it even more likely that he'll double his posturing next time.

When he's on the lead and in class, just try to avoid him getting into head on situations with other entire males; side by side is better. It's a good thing to remember when you are out with him on lead too. If I see a large entire male coming straight at us, and I sense an extra alertness from my lad, I will either cross the road or turn around to reduce my dog's arousal.

In class, or out, work as hard as possible to keep your dog's attention on you. And, build up his proximity to other entire males slowly when he is on the lead. Any stiffening, staring, strutting or vocalisations, turn smartly away from the source of arousal, distract, get him to sit or use the "watch me" command and reward if he obeys. All the while be sure to Keep your body language very upright, relaxed and confident as though to say "I'm not bovvered, I haven't even noticed that large, imposing male dog".

It's not easy though because, of course, you are trying to block and channel his entirely normal, doggie instincts. However, with perseverance, it is possible. I would add that some, not all, show people do not really bother to train their dogs around an issue like this. Indeed some prefer to have the males hyped up by another male because they may "show" better. I would advise you to be aware of this at shows because all your good KC gold work could be easily undone by the laissez faire attitude of some other show dog owners.

An aside on walking in season bitches: round my way, I have encountered many in season bitches off lead in the park. Having retrieved and leashed my own mutt I have then politely endeavoured to explain to said owners the shortcomings and risks of their behaviour. Three have thanked me for putting my dog on the lead and then carried on in blissful ignorance; one said she was reluctant to limit her bitches freedom and that entire male dogs should be kept on lead if they pay attention to bitches in season. She made it sound a bit like a canine feminist manifesto. I'm afraid I was speechless.