We've got a Lodger this weekend

[kate egg]

Tee hee I thought you might end up with a permanent lodger How's the house training going now? Good luck for his op day next week. I never had Dino done, love him the way he is, and not sure I could cope with him having an op love him so much and I'd be scared

[Lilo-Lil]

Thought so!

Guess when you said you had named him, we all knew

Good luck for the little op, one of mine came bouncy out as if he had had nothing done, one of mine was a wimp anyway, and my lovely lad Hovis had a huge scar as one of his was tucked behind his kidney! Ouch. He soon recovered though.

I`m sure he will be fine, we all worry so much when they are in the vets!

[wendy]

Strange that we all worry so much about the little boys and have great discussions about it and yet people are perfectly willing to ship the girls off. The males it is all outside the body, hardly anything invasive. The girls it is a major op, something us ladies have to have weeks to recover from.
It is something I never can never understand.
Wendy

[kate egg]

I think with male dogs (don't know much about humans in this instance) having the snip is done as a way of controlling behaviour etc, and in my opinion that is the wrong reason to do it. I think that it changes the dog from how it should be and stops its personality developing properly due to the hormones being 'cut off' so to speak.

Whereas although its a much more invasive op for a bitch the benefits outwiegh this - no unwanted puppies and a lower chance of certain cancers later on. They also don't have to suffer the season which can really upset them.

Just my thoughts, only had a boy dog.

[wendy]

All neutered dogs [male or female] live, on average, 2 to 2 and a half years longer than un neutered. The chances of the boys getting testicular cancer is very great.
If the dog has an equitable character having him castrated will not alter him at all. If he is aggressive it can make quite a difference.
The male of any species is always more aggressive than the female, why, because of testosterone. It can cause much frustration in the boys. The are not married, they have no hands and we won't let them bonk our legs. Where does all this Se**al frustration go... into aggression if you are not careful. Letting them have puppies is even worse. Far better to never taste forbidden fruit than to try it once.
Sorry I have high jacked you thread Bluebell. But I have seen far too many males die, or given up from their special family, simply because someone hasn't got to grips with this problem.
That doesn't mean I say lob them off all the time I don't, I have only had two castrated males out of the seven I have owned. The last being my Colin, who because I exhibited him kept them and he wasn't a problem. Until at 12 years of age he had to be castrated due to cancer there. Worry about the youngsters ?, try having a 12 year old under anaesthetic. Then you know what worry is. A lot of them it makes them a better family pet.
Sorry
Wendy

[wendy]

Yes Jen they can get pyometra [s] which is pus in the womb and can die within a few hours if not operated on. Very often they can die whilst undergoing the op. This very often happens when they are older and again a worry for an oldie to go under.
Also they can have mammary tumours. So better to get the girls done. Female dogs are not designed to have seasons. They are designeds to have a litter each year. Unfortunately due to selective breeding they have 2 seasons a year. Which is far too often to have puppies and also the unwanteds are a very great problems, best to get them done.
Wendy

[bluebell]

Monty and Jasper are in garden at the moment, as we are having the joists in kitchen sprayed (woodworm/dry rot - lovely!!).

I have a lovely photo of him, just been having problems putting it onto the computer, will get that done and let you all see what the little monster, oops, sorry darling looks like.

Seriously, he is really funny, Chris cannot believe his little gnashers, he occasionally stands and smiles at you.

Monty is a bit confused by him, he has been making unwanted advances towards Jasper's head - Monty has also tried this with a lady dog's head!!!!

Thanks for all your comments, folks.

[leckyman]

Hi bluebell

Hope all is going well with puppy house training etc.

Dave

[bluebell]

Thanks.

Jasper is going into hospital tomorrow morning for his little operation. I have spoken to Neil, the vet, who will be performing the procedure for him. When Neil arrived at surgery yesterday I told him he had a right stroppy client coming in Friday morning with a young dog to be castrated. Told him she (the owner) was barking mad. Seeing that it is me, I think he sussed out that I was trying to put the scarers on him.

He has assured me that everything will be fine.

[bluebell]

Jasper is getting better on the house-training side, only left a little message this morning for us, but it was right against the french doors leading into the garden so perhaps he is getting the message. Bless him!

Will post a photo as soon as I can - of him, not the message!

[wendy]

Good luck to him.
I have a house training leaflet I can send you, if want me too.
We can do without a picture of his little 'message' just one of him will be fine .
Wendy

[bluebell]

Jasper is no longer a lodger with us.

He's now a permanent resident

At the moment he is sleeping off his morning walk, snuggling up to Monty on their bed. Am determined to get a photo for you all, but cannot find the bit I need to download a photo. Will hopefully get some piccies of him before Christmas. He has grown a little bit since he came to live with us, hardly surprising as for a little dog he takes after me (likes his grub).

[kate egg]

Ah I am so pleased you kept him and it does sound like he fiys into your family so well Please find a way of putting on a photo I would love to see one!

[wendy]

Well there's a surprise.
What a lucky little boy he is. Hopefully Monty and him will have many years of companionship together.
Merry Christmas Jasper. The best one ever for you
Wendy

[bluebell]

This is a photo of them - if it works!



Not a very good photo of them, and excuse the dust on floor, but our house is like a building site at the moment.