Intact dogs elicit attacks.

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Intact dogs elicit attacks.

One my friend's dog got attacked about a week or so ago. Not just picked on, but beat up; injured.

He is an intact, young male German Pointer, who is dog savvy and relates very well with others. He was jumped by a pitbull in an off leash park and seemingly singled out - there were many other dogs at the park that day.

That incident confirms what I have observed for quite some time - since I own and began working with dogs, really. As a European, I opted to keep my boys unaltered and hormonally sound, and every so often a pooch we met had an issue with that. No just pitbulls and alike, but all kinds of dogs - and often Golden Retrievers.

Intact males are regularly attacked by neutered ones. Is it because the castrated boys are jealous? No. In my opinion, it is because in a dog's world where most pooches are fixed, one who smells like testosterone is unfamiliar. And insecure dogs attack things they don't know and can't predict. In addition, boy-dogs with testicles have a certain air about them that other dogs challenge.
Sadly, it is often the intact male that gets the blame from the other dog's owner, as if hormonal soundness is a crime against canine harmony. If they seek help from dog pros - trainers, consultants or veterinarians, the advice and recommendation often is to have him snipped.

One should not have to be concerned to take his/her dog to the park, or for a walk, just because he/she chose to keep the male hormonally balanced. It is the owner of every dog who visits off leash parks, neutered or not, that has to ensure that his/her dog is displaying acceptable behavior around all other dogs: small and large, males and females, on-leash and off, neutered or intact.

Posted by at March 18, 2008 11:46 a.m.

Comments

#111051

Posted by Regina Frau at 3/24/08 9:59 a.m.

yes, I have to agree. I just had my 3 yr old GSD neutered in Jan. Last summer, every dog park I took him too, an altered male went after him. Since he is non-confrontational, he averts and walks the other way. Not with his tail down, but does his best to avoid any confrontation and eventually comes straight to me for protection. It's happened at least 3 x and i do not take him to the dog park often. Although one was a larger male GSD who was intact that had a problem with my boy. My boy is only 75lbs, not a big GSD and larger mixed breeds made a beeline for him as soon as they enetered the dog park.

Now they are all neutered. Oddly, my lowest dog, Atasi, who is also the largest, never had another dog approach him. He is all bark and no bite, but other dogs don't know that.

I stay away from dogparks now. I do take Loki my GSD to the beach now and then so he can play in the water, but that's it.

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#126134

Posted by Rasputina101 at 5/7/08 12:07 p.m.

Although I think differently on the neutering issue, in that any dog owner should spary/neuter unless they are a serious breeder, I do agree that every responsible dog owner should have the right to walk around our streets without being confronted or harassed by other peoples dogs.

As an owner of two active pitbulls, I diligently exercise them for 2 hrs daily, but am sick and tired of meeting irresponsible dog owners who let their dogs off leash in leashed parks. I have lost count of the number of times aggressive dogs have confronted us while the owners are yelling "they are friendly'. These friendly(?) dogs may be friendly to their own circle of dog friends, but due in my opinion to a lack of socialization, they prove time and again to have issues with aggression around other dogs.

Unfortunately, I live inner city and do not have the freedom of allowing my dogs to roam on acres of land, and for this reason I often choose to walk my dogs close to local shops so that there is less chance of being attacked by off leash dogs and/or their irresponsible owners (that is another story altogether and one you may need to write involving nasty owners of little dogs who verbally attack pitbull owners, well, one inparticular).

Frustrated and Responsible Pitbull Owner

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#126583

Posted by Canine Voice at 5/8/08 10:36 a.m.

Thank you for your comment. The pitbull issue will be addressed sometime in the future. I agree with you whole heartedly that every dog owner, regardless how friendly their dog is, should have a command that keep their dog away from other dogs and people unless they are invited to approach.
I have met many pitbulls, Amstaffs and crosses thereof. Just last week we picked a collected a roaming pitbull and safe-kept him until his owners were located.
I absolutely like the breed, but would never choose one because I am not up to deal with the society at large.
I commend and admire you for owning pitties and being a good example.

caninevoice

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