Max is being neutered next Thursday

[judyeve]

I retired 11/2/06 and was able to finally concentrate on training Max. He's 100% trained with the yellow, about 2% with the brown, but, hopefully, I'll live long enough to see that mission accomplished too. Well, I was proud! Next was going to be the rest of the training - sit, down, come, etc. He just turned 8 months old on the 16th.

All of a sudden, I noticed that there's no urine on the peepee pads. I got really nervous, decided that he had a blockage, envisioned emergency room visits, etc. But, when I felt him, there were times that he was wet. Now he and Teddy Bear have been lovers since Max is 3 months old, and his testicles have descended fully. About 2 weeks ago, I see my tiny little angel lift his sweet little leg in the bedroom and spray the dust ruffle on my bed. I didn't get mad because it was so cute. My little man! My mistake! A couple of days later, he decided to lift his precious, tiny little yorkie leg and spray my leg. Not so cute anymore.

Now, I have no issue with anyone who believes in neutering, it's just not my personal belief. I was a science teacher, was going for a doctorate in biology, and believe in leaving nature be whenever possible. I also live in an apartment in Brooklyn, so Max has no access to impregnate a female dog, otherwise I would have no question in my mind - neuter! I also believe in some of the health benefits of neutering, but like I said, it's just not my belief for myself. At any rate, after being the object of his spraying about 5 times now, I called the vet yesterday and made a neutering appointment for next Thursday. It's also not my belief to have him spraying me (or the rest of the house). I'm also yelling at him for something that comes naturally to dogs his age, which is wrong.

So, all things considered, he will be neutered - now I'm nervous about him
NOT stopping the spraying afterwards. I hope I caught it in time.

Wish us luck on Thursday.

Any advice? I have the coke bottles set up on his peepee pads - he hasn't got a clue why I put pad wrapped objects on his paper. He looks at them so perplexed. I took him over a few times and actually lifted his leg and explained to him that this is how good big boys make peepee. It's a good thing I live alone and nobody hears me!

Thanks,

Judy

[Yorkie Owned]

Since he just recently started marking- you stand a good chance of stopping that unwanted behavior after the neuter procedure.
Although it is natural, I think you can also influence Max as to where it is acceptable to mark and where it's not. I would think that allowing it in some areas of the home, but not others would be confusing for any dog. So I just go with the "Don't do it at all" approach. I discourage any marking inside my house at all ( should I say, I try my best anyway... ) but outside is a different story. I generally let my males mark where ever they want- OUTSIDE. However, I also don't use pee pads inside my home, I just have mine go outside to do all their business. You may not be able to do that in your setting, so that may make a difference.
Someone else may be able to give you some better advice, but I do think that since his marking behavior is new, you can still put a stop to it. You might purchase or make a belly band or two just to be on the safe side and help put your mind at ease as to whether or not he is still marking after the neuter. Sometimes I still put belly-bands on my un-neutered as a test just to make sure he isn't being naughty indoors.
Best wishes with his procedure on Thursday. Try not to worry too much- I am sure everything will be just fine. When I one of my males was neutered, when I picked him up he acted as if nothing at all had happened. I had been a nervous wreck. To him it was no big deal.

[Kodak]

Good luck to your little one, mines will be neutered soon!

[blondflava]

Everything will be fine, so don't worry. I had Pepper neutered 1.5 week ago and we're having his stiches removed a day after Christmas (taking my manhood for Christmas - Thanks Mom! LOL).His incision healed very quickly, after a week or so, it was less than an inch or so. He hasn't marked anything yet and I'm pretty curious if he'll start, he's 100 percent pad trained, doesn't potty outside at all. He's almost 7 mo old...