Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:42 pm Post subject: Toby's nuts dilema. Snip this Friday. upd8 p7
I have alway's been anti castration, in fact, with all of my previous Labradors it has never been an issue, as they have always been as good as gold (ish) so they all kept their plums.
I love Toby to bits, I can't thank him enough for drying the tears after losing Paddy 1 1/2 years ago.
In every way he is my perfect friend, great with people, other dogs, etc, he has no aggression whatsoever, I am always proud to have him by my side.
However, just lately he is not so "by my side", he is now 15 months old and i'm starting to get worried, as he is starting to chase the field, both boys and girls, (he bats for both sides) i have had 2 big chases this week, thankfully on a wide open country park, (think Fenton Fenton) but if there had been roads about, it could have been disastrous.
I don't really want to castrate him, my mum wanted to do me years ago, but i turned out ok, (eventually) but if anything happened to him, i would never forgive myself.
I'm truly torn, as a male, i know how marvellous nuts are, but what do i do.
HELP.
Gary and Toby.
Last edited by PaddyOsc on Fri Feb 10, 2012 9:30 pm; edited 2 times in total
To be honest Gary would it actually work because Sam was castrated at the end of last year aged nearly two and it has not changed him at all in any way not one iota, everyone told me he'd get fat and slow down and all sorts but seriously he hasn't changed at all! The op was fine, he was sore for few days and ended up having to wear a buster collar for a week because he wouldn't leave the stitches alone but other than that no worries at all.
It may be related to his age and he could get better as he matures a bit more. In the meantime try taking him back to basics and keep him on a long line when you are out and start doing lots of recalls with him. He may get better without the plum fairy paying him a visit
The only other thing to consider is if he is like this now, you'd better hope he doesn't come across a bitch in season. You may have a lot of little Toby's running around
____________ Owned by Bella, Shadow & Cats ....
Never forgetting Harry : 18/01/11 - 14/05/11 RIP
I think you need to have a long hard think about why you are anti castration. Is it because you are worried about putting the dog through an op? Is it because you don't think it'll help? Is it because you think it'll make your dog fat and lazy? Or is it simply that the thought of it, makes you as a man, wince?
I'm not totally in the "Use it or Lose it" camp myself. As long as the owner is a responsible sort, then I think each dog should be taken as an individual. You have in the past had dogs who were happy left entire and who's plums never got them into trouble and that's fine....but will Toby be the same?
I would hate to think of a dog living it's whole life sexually frustrated and constantly on the look out for LURVE, all for the sake of a swift snip. And as a bitch owner, there is nothing more annoying than having an out of control, frustrated, entire boy pestering the living daylights out of my girls...It makes me want to De-Plum the owner as well as the dog .
Toby won't miss his plums, any more than my girls miss their wombs, so it just comes down to whether you think he will be happier with them or without them...and whether or not you can control his manly urges if he keeps them.
I suppose i am looking at this from a mans point of view, but far more important is.
1. Toby is such a fantastic personality, apart from the recall/running off issue he is perfect and i'm worried about changing him.
2. I am worried about putting him through an operation, albeit a minor 1, it will upset me, even though i can sense a lot of people telling me to "snap out of it"
3. Don't rollock me you breeders out there, but as Toby comes from a great pedigree, deep down i would love to see just 1 set of little Toby's, admittedly the chances of this are small, as i have read loads from the breeding section and i would always be responsible and do the right thing, if it were to happen, but if i do have to castrate, this chance is gone.
4. The main reason the issue as come up is his running off, he gets his head down and he's on his way, deaf as a door post, so far, we have been well away from roads, so no danger, but "what if" i don't want Toby dead because i didn't make the right decision.
I have to say people around me are telling me, to get him done, and as i've said, i've always been Anti castration, but i am having to think long and hard after the week i've just had.
Gary and Toby.
I'm having of very similar dilemma at the moment Gary I don't want to hijack your post but it's very interesting seeing others trying to make the right decision too for their lovely woofits as me!
I have had no intensions At all of having Lux castrated up until now! he has just gone 2 and has started to mark everywhere I'm not too worried about that when its just outside, its just that he now has started to pee up Beas back while out side and that's not nice for Bea, the vet told me to leave his bit where they were as he needs the testosterone to keep his muscles strong With him having HD?? I my self can't see why he would loose muscle mass if I'm still exercising him at the same level??
But Lux like Toby has the sweetest personality never dominant or aggressive I don't want to make a mistake or do this for the wrong reasons?
as Toby comes from a great pedigree, deep down i would love to see just 1 set of little Toby's,
I can see where you're coming from. I often look at my girls before spaying them and think "Wouldn't it be LOVELY to have a litter from you and keep one". And unless there is a definitely health or behavioural problem which I would never wish to pass on, I have to have that old tussle with myself and weigh everything up. For me breeding is so full of What If's...What if the pregnancy doesn't go smoothly. What if I end up with a huge vets bill? What if all the pups die? What if the Mum dies? And so, so far I've always felt the possibility of the Cons have outweighed the Pros.
You must have lots of What If's too. What if Toby, on learning what it's for, becomes a complete Sex Pest? What if, after doing the deed, his lovely nature changes? What if there are problems with the mating or the pups?
Donkey's years ago, my parents were talked into allowing their Yorkshire Terrier to father a litter. He was never the same dog after that. He became obsessed by sex and humped anything and everything. He ran off, when he had never run off before. He became really bolshy with other male dogs, no matter how much bigger they were than him. My parents deeply regretted ever allowing him to Sow his Seed. Now I know not all dogs become like this after being used at stud, but it is always a possibility. Would you be prepared for those sort of negative changes in your lad, just so you can see a litter of Little Tobys? That would be the question with the highest priority for me.
If it were me which it will soon Gary I would really try going back to basics with Toby Max has started this running away to play which is what he wants to do he has no interest in girls over boys he is still young and wants to play. So we are going to a gun dog trainer for some 1 to 1 and I will follow what they say to the letter. If after going back to basics he still will not I would maybe look then but Toby doesn't run off to seek dogs for sexual reasons it is more to play is that right so I cant see how it will help I would give him a try at basics or more with a 1 to 1 trainer and go from there.
And if you do ever use Toby as stud I know you would do it the right way I personally would love a look at those Pups
Cheryl
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Luther 1994-2008 I will see you at the bridge sweetie
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and that's not nice for Bea, the vet told me to leave his bit where they were as he needs the testosterone to keep his muscles strong 
And so, so far I've always felt the possibility of the Cons have outweighed the Pros.
