Help with a staffy please

foreign_correspondent

I am sure the OP would be more responsible than to breed from him again, so I really can't see a good reason not to consider castration.

OP, for dogs in particular, neutering is a very quick and simple proceedure, and most of them seem to be back to normal very, very quickly after the op - as unlike b1tches, they do not have a big incision through muscle to heal.

You say you 'can't put him through it' - really, it would not be a big ordeal for him at all, and if it makes his life easier, less stressful and risky afterwards it would definitely be kindest to him.

Raksha

I hope the OP remembers that a pup bred from a dog which is known to have shown agression, who then goes on to show agression themselves, may result in the pups owner having a case against the breeder under the Trades Description Act as 'not fit for purpose'...........

hethmar

Frug, dont have any figures, only know my one dog who was entire got testicular cancer.

This article gives pros and cons for the OP
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:_QjtoTF0eyIJ:www.emmathevet.co.uk/pettalk.asp%3Fid%3D44+dogs+testicular+cancer&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a


"Of course, not all entire male dogs display these traits and some never cause any problems at all. They are the ‘ideal men’! However, regardless of these points, I feel the health implications are a much greater reason for castration. Entire male dogs are susceptible to prostatitis, prostatic cancer, perineal hernias, anal adenomas, testicular torsion and testicular cancer. These are all unpleasant conditions and some are most- definitely life- threatening. They are also almost 100% preventable by early castration. The operation is relatively quick and simple and, when performed in a young, healthy dog, very safe and non- traumatic. The other thing to remember, which may sound silly, but I see it all the time, is that your dog has no inkling of what has happened. He does not experience the same social stigma that a male human would. He will simply get on with his life.
So there you have it, all the facts. Now it is up to you to decide. Do not take what I say in blind faith, ask around, but let me tell you, I have seen all these conditions and there is no doubt in my mind what I would do for my dogs."

Frugalista

Thanks for the reply hethmar - but to be honest, once I saw who had written the article :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I didn't even bother to read it :rolleyes:. I was looking for properly researched, professional, scientific studies - not the idiotic rantings of some deluded, reality TV "vet" :eek:. Still, I'm sure there are some out there who actually believe her fairy stories - probably the same sort of people who believe Jordan is the epitome of a "classy lady" IYSWIM :rolleyes:.

Sorry to hear that your dog was one of the unfortunate ones.

Frugalista

Oops! Just popped back on here and re-read my post - it looks like I was being rude to you hethmar :o:o - I really wasn't and it was nothing personal - just can't stand Emma the (so-called) vet! No offence!

tandraig

I dont think we have any right to tell the OP not to breed from her dog - we dont know all the facts anyway! it could be he (the dog) is just protective of bailey and is fine otherwise. I say this as my staffy was a total sweetheart just wouldnt allow other dogs or men within a few yards of me or the kids! my husband said when he took her out she was friendly to everyone!! I knew her parents and most of her litter mates (live in a small village) and they ALL had good temperaments and thier offspring were in demand as pets!
I think the OPs nervousness is being picked up on even tho she tries to hide it - and the dog is quite rightly protecting her.
its the OP will benefit most from training classes - but - i bet the staffy will enjoy it too!!! and by the way - why dont we see more staffys on agility courses? they are amazing fast and little acrobats when they feel like it!!!

hethmar

Frug, my poor boy Dinsdale, who got testicular cancer was a dalmatian, (ex a puppy farm breeder) bless him. If you could have seen him waste away and doubly incontinent through the cancer ....... I was giving my own opinion on my own sad experience. I dont know who Emma the vet is, but I thought she seemed quite reasonable putting the case both sides.


Re breeding staffs, the rescues are over run with them, poor little devils - a lot of rescues refuse to take any more from the stray pounds and so a lot are being pts just because of their breed. Very sad situation and enough to ask anyone to please not breed any more.

mrcol1000

bailey59 wrote: »

Foreign correspondent he doesnt really bark more of a really nasty growl. His tail wags at first and you think oh great he wants to play then he growls with his tail still wagging!! If we walk past a dog sometimes he launches at them.

My dog use to do this and she still does it with other people walking her. As someone else says its your fear that is making the dog worried so you just need to confidently stride past dogs and keep the attention on you. You also can see when your dog is going to start being agressive towards a dog and you need to take its mind off it. Someone showed me a trick where you gently tap the dog on its back hind legs. There is a certain spot which causes them to look at you. Apparently its something to do with mothers biting puppies on the bum when they did something dangerous.

Anyway get him castrated as they are healthy friendly Staffs being put down because they are so many looking for homes. You may not intend to breed from him but if he accidently got out or ran off for any reason (and even the most responisble and careful owners can lose their dogs) then he could end up fathering.

bailey59

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I do hope you not wanting to get him castrated because you have bred from him a couple of times and 'don't really want to go down that route' isn't you saying 'I can make a fortune out of him because he looks good but don't want the potential customers to realise the dog is aggressive, if they ask to see him and recognise him from fighting in the park'.

If that gets out, you may as well give up with breeding any dog. Not only will nobody fit to have a dog want his pups (just people wanting fighters), you stand a fair chance of being smacked in the face and/or having him stolen for fighting/as a weapon - especially as he is entire.

No I absolutely did not mean that!

The 2x I bred with him were with KC registered females as mine is KC registered too. All health checks were done for all dogs concerned. The pups already had homes to go to as I knew the owners and people has asked if we could breed them. I didnt make any money out of one of the set of pups. I just dont feel right now he knows what his bits are for taking them off him. Thats all I meant. I dont have any plans to breed him again.

Raksha, as I mentioned in a previous post, he showed no sign of dog aggression or any other trait when I bred him. He certainly has no other problems and is great with people and a few smaller dogs.

I will certainly look into castration after some of the comments on here and I will talk to my vet about it. It is something I will think about, but only from a health point of view. If it is something that will prevent health problems later then I will probably go down this route.

Tandraig, he loves jumping and I put a mini assault course in the garden sometimes for him. I might see if I can find an agility class for us to go to. I am sure I mentioned this in a previous post but when my OH comes with us the dog doesnt even bat an eyelid when other dogs go past us which probably actually means that its me rather than the dog that is the problem and I need extra dominance training so he knows he doesnt need to protect me and that I can look after him when we are out.

mrcol1000, thanks, makes sense about the mum biting them on the bum. I dont think it will work but I will try anything.

I just wanted to clear up any confusion with regards to breeding him. This is not what the original post was about, it was about his aggression/fear towards some dogs and maybe that it was my fear being transferred down to him so thank you to everyone that has answered me about that.

bailey59

Also just wanted to clarify that my dog has never bitten another dog, he had one tussle with a bigger dog but neither bit each other. My dog has been bitten twice and he does not go 'fighting in the park'.