jezza Posted September 11, 2007 Report Share Posted September 11, 2007 I'm not really sure if this is the right section but I think it is. I've got 2 whippets Molly (3years) and Lenny (2 and a half). We got Molly at 8 weeks, Lenny at 5-6 months. Lenny didn't have a great start in life. He was kept by, shall I say an 'unscrupulous breeder' with a number of other dogs, in a big barn. I don't know much more about the living arrangements other than we suspect that Lenny was picked on and bullied by the other dogs. He was never socialised until we got him so is fear aggressive towards almost everything, we are working on that and making progress, it is a different issue I would like advice on if anyone can help? Basically, we are not sure if he is being a bully or if he is 'trying it on' with Molly but he is constantly licking and nibbling at her and she is getting increasingly annoyed with him. This behaviour seems to be getting worse as his aggressive behaviour is getting better sometimes she doesn't mind him doing this, like when he's cleaning her ears or teeth, but he keeps going to her 'lady bits' and she is not a happy bunny! She has been spayed, also there don't appear to be any symptoms of an infection. Lenny has not been castrated, the reason being because (and I don't know how true this is) my vet and some other people have said that a dog as nervous as Lenny could in fact get even more nervous and aggressive due to lack of testosterone. As I said, I don't know how true this is but its something I haven't wanted to risk yet. Adding to the problem, he has both testicles undescended (poor little boy) so I don't know how this may affect behaviour (as well as the obvious cancer risk). Has anyone ever experienced anything like this before? Sorry its a bit long winded, there is obviously a lot more back ground but I don't want to bore you could he be bullying Molly (she is quite a submissive dog) or is it more than likely his hormones raging? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezza Posted September 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 No one got any ideas at all? Oh pants, I'm really stumped. I've tried everything I can think of. I really want to relieve him of his 2 veg, where ever they are, but I am worried it will make him more nervous (oh and I'm not relishing the £250+ price tag either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abby Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 Might be worth posting this in doggie chat as much fewer people look at this part of the forum. I don't have any advice really, except to highlight what you already know about the increased tumour risk to undescended testicles. I know there are many differences of opinion on the effect on nervous dogs of castration - are you working with a behaviourist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzeanna Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 If he was interested in a sexual way, he'd be trying to bonk her..anywhere he could get to be basic! it sounds to me more like an overuse of grooming, and when one dog is grooming another, its usually the less dominant one which does the grooming. I dont know about the neutering/fear bit, our rescue lurcher was neutured in Ireland before he came over here, and he was very fear aggressive when we first got him, he also tried to bonk all the girls, despite supposedly no longer having the hormones that should have driven him to do so! he had improved a lot over the last two years, but it was a struggle to start with. Does she tell him off when she gets fed up? and if so, does he take any notice? Dylan is strange, he acts very forceful and dominant, but when a bitch we had here actually went for him and bit him, he fled outside, rather than retaliating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezza Posted September 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 Might be worth posting this in doggie chat as much fewer people look at this part of the forum. I don't have any advice really, except to highlight what you already know about the increased tumour risk to undescended testicles. I know there are many differences of opinion on the effect on nervous dogs of castration - are you working with a behaviourist? Yes we were working with a behaviourist up until recently but I didn't feel we were getting anywhere with this particular one. I have had a recommendation of another behaviourist from someone on here so when I have a bit of money saved up I will contact him (a bit skint at the moment because virtually every household appliance has broken and all the warraties are up ). If he was interested in a sexual way, he'd be trying to bonk her..anywhere he could get to be basic! it sounds to me more like an overuse of grooming, and when one dog is grooming another, its usually the less dominant one which does the grooming. I dont know about the neutering/fear bit, our rescue lurcher was neutured in Ireland before he came over here, and he was very fear aggressive when we first got him, he also tried to bonk all the girls, despite supposedly no longer having the hormones that should have driven him to do so! he had improved a lot over the last two years, but it was a struggle to start with. Does she tell him off when she gets fed up? and if so, does he take any notice? Dylan is strange, he acts very forceful and dominant, but when a bitch we had here actually went for him and bit him, he fled outside, rather than retaliating. He doesn't really try to bonk her or anything else for that matter so perhaps its not in a sexual way. Do you think dogs can get jealous? He does it most when she is sat next to me or OH. Yes she does try to tell him off (growling, biting his muzzle), but he pays no attention to her, in the end she gets up and walks off, then he steals her seat and looks really pleased with himself its as if he can't bear not being centre of attention. All I can think of is that by concentrating a lot of our efforts on his fear aggression he has got used to the attention, and now that he is improving and not getting as much attention, he can't handle it. Does that sound stupid? I think I'm going to print off that NILIF article and have a good read through that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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