change of behaviour post neuturing?

[Leanne]

Well that was bloody embarrassing.

Took Mas out today (was neutered on Thursday so still very much on lead, little walks).

We went for a little walk around the pond and then for breakfast in a local restaurant that welcomes dogs.

He was an utter dick. He barked at every single dog we walked past and then in the restaurant he was exactly the same - despite having his own breakfast bought for him we rarely do the restaurant so it’s usually a really big reward for him, lots of people fussing him and all the food he can eat!

We ended up leaving halfway through our meal because he just would not give it the bloody hell up and was bark bark bark at every dog - even the dog (there was only 3 in the restaurant and none sitting next to us) that was utterly sound asleep on the floor.

I’ve absolutley convinced myself that I’ve totally cocked up getting him neutered. I only did it because every single time we walked him he was having dogs go for him and research and the vet both agreed that it was likely because he was entire and being perceived as a threat by other dogs.

Argh!

Would there even be a hormone difference 4 days on?

 

[Leanne]

At one point he spat out a bit of black pudding to bark at a dog walking PAST the restaurant.

He spat out food.

It’s unheard of!

 

[edzbird]

Maybe he's just really excited after 4 days of "rest".

 

[Emily]

Zero experience in this. Is there a chance it could be due to four days of inactivity?

 

[Emily]

Maybe he's just really excited after 4 days of "rest".

Oops - cross post. Looks like we were both on the same train of thought though.

 

[Boogie]

My supervisor tells me it takes about three months for their testosterone levels to drop post neutering.

Spencer has been harder work since his op - which, I’m sure, has nothing to do with the op - just his age.

I don’t think neutering does anything to change their behaviour but I do see it as a weight off their minds
.

 

[Leanne]

He’s had several walks a day but literally 10 minutes tops.

They broke my puppy

 

[Leanne]

He is utterly exhausted now. Like upside down unconscious on the floor like he’s had a 10k hike.

4 days of low activity (but lots of training and mental work) couldn’t have dowsed his coping mechanisms that much surely?

 

[Jen]

I agree with it maybe bring frustration due to less activity.

Stanley didn’t change at all after neutering in terms of temperament. Just became less of a randy devil.

 

[Kay]

I think I’d link it to the quiet days as well especially as it sounds like Mas normally does a lot during the day.

I think Booms is often more of a nightmare out and about when he’s had a couple of quiet days just at home.

Hopefully that’s all it is for Mas.

 

[Natalie]

I'd agree with it being due to less physical activity, Mas seems really high energy and loves bouncing about, I would think he's just a bit frustrated at the moment.

 

[Rosie]

Sounds just like Pongo when he gets over-excited. I'd strongly suspect it is just the weirdness of being at the vets, then the weirdness of four days inactivity, plus the weirdness of some discomfort / odd feelings down there, that is just making the whole world a bit weird and making it incredibly easy to push him over threshold. The restaurant might just have been too too too too too wonderful exciting wonderful too too too much for him and his brain exploded. And now he is knackered (again, sounds just like the Pongster).
It's only been a couple of days and his world is probably still a bit weird. Give him time, treat him as normally as possible and I sure he'll be fine. Your puppy isn't broken.
xxx

 

[snowbunny]

There is a surge in testosterone post neutering, just as there is when you use the implant. In general, he will be totally out of whack. He’s had surgery, his hormones are going “WTF?!”, his routine is totally shot to hell, he’s on reduced exercise and probably still quite sore.
It is such early days, but you have to give the dog a break, so much is going on that no wonder he’s acting out. I would treat this period of hormonal adjustment very carefully and don’t push him at all - he’s still an adolescent, too, and bad experiences now could do some hard programming which is tough to reverse.

So be really sympathetic with him, take everything slooooowly, and remove him from any situations where he looks uncomfortable.

 

[Leanne]

Omg @snowbunny thank you so much! I had no idea that the testosterone does that and that makes SO much sense re his behaviour today!
Think we will leave busy places till I get my chilled out boy back

 

[Jacqui-S]

The wise words of @snowbunny
Make a fortune if you could bottle them. Or write a book with them.....

 

[kateincornwall]

Yes, agree 100% with Fiona @Leanne , my Sam was just the same , hot wired ! It does take some time for hormones to settle , I`m sure he will be fine, just take it steady with him for a little while x

 

[snowbunny]

The wise words of @snowbunny
Make a fortune if you could bottle them. Or write a book with them.....

 

[Natalie]

Ooooh we should do a forum book!!! The first part would be written by sensible people who know about training, then we could have a chapter about GIN and gardening and scones, and then the final chapter would be written by the pups telling us where we've all gone wrong.

 

[Natalie]

BTW this is my last day of drinking any alcohol until mid June so I need a free pass for anything I may write tonight

 

[Leanne]

Ooooh we should do a forum book!!! The first part would be written by sensible people who know about training, then we could have a chapter about GIN and gardening and scones, and then the final chapter would be written by the pups telling us where we've all gone wrong.

‘How to survive a Labrador puppy - the truth’

A big picture of gin on the front cover and then we all do a chapter with out most memorable memories!!!