[summermeadows]

This may sound silly, but we've a 10 year old dog who is getting out looking for bitches and my neighbour (a chancer) is trying to claim he's bothering his sheep as he's had compensation in the past from someone whose dog was actually chasing his sheep. Whether or not, obviously we have to stop him getting out anyway, especially as its lambing time. We have sheep ourselves and understand the issues. I don't want this special dog being shot. I feel its too late to neuter him. Would buying a bitch and breeding with him keep him in more, or would he still look out for other bitches when they were in heat? In the meantime I've got one of those long retractible leads.

[YorkshireLass]

Not too late to neuter - I know of 9 and 10 year olds being done. Yes it's an anaesthetic, but it's a fairly minor op (compared to spaying a bitch).
At this age it wouldn't affect behaviour like peeing everywhere/humping/"dominance" but it should take away the...erm...desires!

[happygolucky]

I suggest that you get him chopped, bless him, he may get into trouble otherwise

[Mammyshaz]

It's NEVER too late to neuter.
But you will need to take measures to break his escaping routine. A baby gate or such likes at the main escape door to give you time to catch him, and only going out on a lead for a while until the hormones settle down.

DONT get him a bitch, it's really not necessary. Try correcting his behaviour rather than taking on another which will only copy his escape behaviour, leaving you with two escapees 

[happygolucky]

I agree but must add, just like a man, just because he has a woman at home does not mean he will not wander off

[colliewoman]

Another vote for the castrate option here.
Giving him a full on indulgence for his instincts and deliberately giving him the experience of mating will NOT stop this. IMO it will make it worse, at the moment he thinks it would be nice to find a bitch or 3. Once he has actual experience he will KNOW how much fun it is and will go looking for more


Fix your fences and get him neutered

[happygolucky]

basically until he's neutered, it's like trying to tell a teenage boy not to get an errection

[doganjo]

At 10 years of age neutering him will NOT stop him wandering - a shut door or kennel will.  

Neutering will only stop him successfully mating an in season bitch, but it won't stop him mating her anyway.
All castration does is stop the semen being produced not remove the instrument!  It reduces the hormone but in that age of dog the habit is predominant!

If you value your dog keep him under control at all times.

[summermeadows]

Really grateful for everyone's advice. I've found it very helpful. I will keep him on the retractable leash and we are going to get a good kennel with a run at the very least and consider the other advice. 

[Shropshirelass]

Dogano I have to disagree with your advice there from my experiences as a veterinary nurse it may or may not help - Generally neutering works better on younger dogs / bitches & cats, because most are done before they have the chance to  fully experience those sexual behaviors due to their age & have less hormones going around their bodies.

I have seen a lot of owners bringing in pets for neutering at an older age & then asking why has their behavior not altered much - neutering is not always a quick fix & older animals are more set in their ways & often that animal will still have the hormones that were produced by the reproductive organs still in its system - but it just won't be able to breed anymore.

I'd suggest bigger fences & checking all gaps, possible escape routes, talking to your vets about castration, or a drug called Tardac which suppresses testosterone & male urges - I think it is pricey though.

Hope this helps x

[happygolucky]

The only thing I would add is any operation can be risky and with an older dog, like an old man, more risky, anyway, there are arguments both ways re castration, some say it helps prevent prostrate cancer etc and some say not. You do need him secure bless him, his roaming days need ending

[Rosemary]

Dogano I have to disagree with your advice there from my experiences as a veterinary nurse it may or may not help - Generally neutering works better on younger dogs / bitches & cats, because most are done before they have the chance to  fully experience those sexual behaviors due to their age & have less hormones going around their bodies.

I have seen a lot of owners bringing in pets for neutering at an older age & then asking why has their behavior not altered much - neutering is not always a quick fix & older animals are more set in their ways & often that animal will still have the hormones that were produced by the reproductive organs still in its system - but it just won't be able to breed anymore.

I'd suggest bigger fences & checking all gaps, possible escape routes, talking to your vets about castration, or a drug called Tardac which suppresses testosterone & male urges - I think it is pricey though.

Hope this helps x

I thought this was pretty much what dojanjo said 

[funkyfish]

There is an implant called Suprelorin (injected under the skin -same size as a microchip) which chemically castrates, there is a 6 month or 12 month option. Its not cheap, but will let you know whether castrating will help or not.

[SallyintNorth]

Do they still offer anti-testosterone injections?  Used to do them, lasted about a month, so would cover the lambing season (or maybe he'd need two.)

IME, they're not at all useful in seeing what the effect of castration would be on your dog, because they are two different treatments and every dog reacts differently to castration, but they would be useful in curbing his urges for a short period of time.

[SallyintNorth]

Should this thread be in "Dogs" rather than "Livestock -> Other"?