3 dog questions

[Robert L E]

First, My brother in law got a golden retriever pup. It was almost ten weeks old and our three year old lab acted like he was afraid of it. Whenever it came near our lab would rapidly move away and perhaps growl a bit. The pup really, really, wanted to play. The lab is normally very playful with other dogs and all over them in play.
I was told that an even larger dog, our lab is eighty pounds, had acted the same way around the pup the day before.

My first question- Is this just because this is just a puppy and there is some instinct for our lab to stay away because the puppies parents could come around and be a danger to him??


Second- Even though my son (the owner of the lab) never plans on breeding him, he was never fixed. My wife and daughter are always saying that he should have been. Both my son and I see an active friendly dog that does not seem to have even a hint of aggression in him and we ask them, why? Male dogs do not get pregnant, and, he has a personality we love.

Second question- It is not going to ever happen now but are my son and I right? I feel that had he been fixed as a pup he might be just a fat slug now. He is a very sweet and affectionate dog the way it is.


Third and last- Earlier today (yesterday now) we noticed that his collar and tags are missing. We didn't work with the bumpers and he didn't run today so he was always on a leash being walked or was indoors.

Last question- Where the heck is the collar and tags?? We think it must have gotten caught on something in the house and he pulled out of it. What? Where?

Bob

 

[Joe O]

Geez Robert,the collar deal is a mystery.Someone removed it or the dog got it off somehow.I have always been told by reputable Vets that if you are not going to breed a male dog,it would be better for his health to have him neutered.I was told,a Dog can smell a bitch in heat from two miles.Reminds me of..oh,that's another story:0)
Maybe your lab is an elitest,and doesn't care for Goldens.Seriously,That behavior is not uncommon.I had a dog that acted the same way around pups.They gradually warm up to them,but may show who is the leader of the pack,which should be you first,then the Lab.I have two dogs in the house ,a Momma and her big son.She is the alpha female and challenges me every day as the pack leader.I call it Bitch supremacy.They are great company for each other.

 

[Dave Shady Larsen]

On the FIXED part, we had our last lab Murphy fixed early on he was always active and a great dog. Weight was more of an issue than with Gordy an UN-FIXED male but he is still only 2 but totaly different dogs 4-shuar. So you never know. We want to definetly breed Gordy at somepoint to get a puppy from him and continue on with his line. And how would you feel if they said they were going to get you fixed in the same fashion??? eeeekkkkk

The affraid thing... What do you expect when you bring a swamp collie around a working dog Id run away too

The collar do you have a CAT? if so I betcha its the Cats Fault they are sneaky.........

Happy New Year to you.
Dave

 

[Dave B]

 

[Robert L E]

The collar was found in the center of the sidewalk in front of the house. The latch on it does not seem to be defective so the chain on the lead must have wrapped around it and released it because it was unlatched.

It must have fallen off during his night walk. Go figure.

I am still curious as to why this 80 pound dog would run from a puppy and act like he was really afraid of it. All other dogs, even ones much larger than him, just make him want to play.

Because we like Roy the way he is we will not do anything with him but I am still interested in thoughts of neutering. As I said, this dog is very friendly and has a personality that we like very much. How much change does being fixed cause?

Roy is our family's first dog. Roy NEVER goes alpha on us, or anyone else, yet is very social. If my wife and I ever become empty nesters (please let it happen) we may think differently about another dog.

Dave- The only cat ever in a house of ours, pulled the screen door open and came in on its own. It, quite literally, got the boot, bounced off the upper cabinets in our kitchen and left rather quickly under its own power. I didn't kick it hard enough to make a good cat out of it.


Bob

 

[Ed L.]

Robert,

Some dogs are just funny that way. My dog whats to be the alpha dog most of the time. For instance if I'm walking the dog and another comes up to him and they sniff and the other dog is not aggressive it's play time. But I can not get my dog out of the car when another dog is close or it's a fight.

Keep getting them together for social hour and before you know it they'll look like this and you'll have to find another place to sit!

Take care,

Ed L.

 

[AlexCole]

Neutering the dog will decrease the risk of prostate problems (non-cancerous enlargement, cancer and abscesses, among other things) that are seen in older intact male dogs.
As for him getting fat and lazy after neutering, it is a single factor among many- weight and body conditon are also associated with type and amount of food fed, and exercise level, as well as genetic disposition to weight gain (which is why some intact dogs are fat, too).
It may also save his life in other ways. He will be less likely to escape from the yard to chase down a bitch in heat, where he may get hit by a car, or shot by the landowner, or captured by the dog warden, or adopted, or "rescued".
I would aso recommend (to everyone) that he get it micro-chipped, and since he will be under anesthesia for the neuter (which I hope we have by now convinced you to do) he won't feel a thing. Good luck, Alex.