Yes, canines can get depressed and there are many reasons why it transpires. To find out why it is that your dog is melancholy, the best thing you may do is to examine the circumstances in the animal's life. This can aid in getting better control of the situation that you are in.

Depression is really common in weimaraners due to the fact that they are very owner-oriented. The condition can be very familiar in other dogs too and it can affect them, no matter the age. One common event is the passing of an owner or of a companion animal. If your dog is kept from its primary carer, there is a really good chance that it will go into a sadness when it begins to overlook the person. Dogs also can get listless when they are away from a partner animal or if that animal dies.

Bitches with puppy dogs also may show signs of sadness when their offspring are given away. This is a very familiar thing among female dogs who have had puppies. In some cases, when there is more than one whelping dog in an area, females who have had puppy dogs die may steal the live puppy dogs of another.

There are lots of signs that tell if a pet dog is melancholy. Most owners will complain that their dog is no longer acting like its old self. Many will turn into less active. Some dogs will also whine a lot or spend lots of time in areas that remind them of things they lost. Some can also show signs of refusing to eat or eating a good deal.

In one pet community that usually dealt with Weimaraners got to talking about weimaraner issues . One of the most typical issues brought on by dog ​​pet owners is the weimaraners predilection for separation anxiety. There were also reports of certain dogs who were sad when they were abandoned by owners.

The way to deal with sadness and other similar weimaraner issues is to try and spend as much time with the animal as possible. If the dog is a sole pet in the home, try socializing it with neighborhood animals. Play with the dog more and you ought to also endeavor to change their diet. Doing so can aid pique their interest in the food. If eating too much is the issue in dogs, the pet owners should try reduce the food you are giving them. If the animal is only starting to lay around doing nothing, you should take the animal for more frequent walks. Always keep in mind that dogs are bred as companion animals and they could get sad when they are new to being alone.

Women are known to be terrible, evil, creatures- and we are, although not completely intentionally. The intentionally evil women out there are known as bitches- fair enough. But the most evil thing we women do without meaning to, is to take a man who’s falling for us and place him in that permanent “friend” category. Once you become a “friend” you stay a “friend”, forever. Now there are a FEW exceptions out there, I’m sure, but for about 99% of the “man-friends” out there, don’t get your hopes up. This being said- women LOVE man-friends. We adore them, we need them.

A man-friend is almost better than any lady friend and will be used a whole lot more in the advice and venting department. A man-friend is someone we complain to about the jerks in the world, who we expect to be honest and to flatter us unconditionally, to give us advice whenever we call (we call them often) and to never try to woo us because they are our man-friend and must stay that way.

Right from the moment you meet a woman, she will have classified you in her mind as “date” or “future man-friend”. If she is interested in you from the start and something goes awry in the process, you can become a man-friend. The tricky thing about man-friends and dates is that a woman will string a guy along just enough to make him a man-friend while it appears she is actually interested in him. All women will deny this “I’m just being nice!He knows we’re just friends” but the truth is, the only real difference in her actions most of the time is in her mind. And since you’re not her man-friend yet, you have no idea what she’s thinking.

This is what makes man-friends like gold to us, they understand us, and since we don’t want to lose someone who understands us so well, we really make sure not to get involved romantically with them.

Allright, here are some signs that will tell you if she’s just itching to make you her man-friend.

5. She Insists On Paying Her Half

She won’t pay for the entire bill, but she’ll always pay her half. She doesn’t want to owe you anything, and friends don’t pay each other’s parts of the bill unless it’s a special occasion. So if right for the get-go she makes sure she covers herself financially then she probably is telling you she wants you to be her friend.

4. She Doesn’t Flinch if You Check Out Another Girl

In fact, she might even compliment your eye-catching female. Compliment you in the way your mom might “Oh, she looks nice” or “she seems like your type”. If your woman doesn’t care about you checking other girls out, or is very comfortable with her female friends flirting with you, chances are she’s just not interested. It’s important to note that she might not be interested in you, but it will seem like it. She’ll be smiling and laughing and *totally* into you, but if you return any of the same signs of affection she’ll back off leading us to. . .

3. She Has Mini-Freak Outs When You Get Too Close

Sure, she might hug you or touch your hands and arms when you’re talking and together, but try anything like that with her and she gets cold. See a man-friend is someone we can flirt shamelessly with without having to worry if he likes us or not- he’s not supposed to. The man-friend is supposed to be a good sport and just take the flirting and know that it won’t lead anywhere. When women flirt and get cold they are trying to train their new acquaintance to be a man-friend “take all the flirting I do with a grain of salt- if you react I will stop, if you don’t I can continue”. She will also have big freak-out sessions if you declare any sort of romantic interest in her. First she might just give you the “I like you. . . as a friend” speech.

2. She Tell You How Much She Appreciates You

Now when on earth has a woman said that you are very important to her in the beginning dates or stages of a relationship?If she’s head over heels for you, she WILL NOT allude to any sort of future or dependence on you. She knows guys tend to get wierded out by immediate displays of attachment, and she wouldn’t risk chasing you away by admitting to something like that if she liked you. The Man-Friender, however will tell you many things like that. If you’ve heard one of these statements before, chances are, you’re becoming a man-friend.

• “I feel so comfortable around you. You’re like a brother”
• “Before you, I didn’t have anyone to confide in”
• “I’m so glad we’re friends” (BIGGEST SIGNAL OF ALL)
• “You remind me of my old friend, Kevin; we used to get along so well”
• “You’re such a good friend to me, what would I do without you?”

Obviously anything that emphasises FRIEND or BROTHER indicates MAN-FRIEND.

1. She Calls You

If she is interested in you, she’s inevitably going to be playing all sorts mind games and other silly dating games (letting the phone ring twice before she picks up, letting it go to voice mail, not accepting dates unless they’re planned for three days in advance- article on her games later). One clear sign that you’re becoming a man-friend is that she starts to call you early in the dating game. Be EXTRA weary if she starts calling you just to chat, and not to set up any sort of date. If she sets up a night date then maybe you just have a very forward girl. Lunch dates are not “I want you, you sexalicious man”. Lunch dates are “I want to complain and have some company”, be weary of lunch dates.

So those are some of the easy signs, my male readers. Also be aware that some of the more evil women out there will seduce men in order to build herself an army of man-friends. My suggestion for you men who are becoming man-friends and don’t want that is to stop letting her. If she flirts, you should turn cold and have her then start to want you. If she calls, tell her you’ll call her back. Try to regain the date position in the relationship, other than that, you might as well move on to another girl who won’t take up your time and toy with your emotions for nothing.

Akita bitches will feed and indeed demand to feed their puppies until they are about eight weeks of age. They continue to produce large quantities of milk and the fullness of their teats stimulates them to feed their babies. The more they feed, the more milk is produced, and so eventually you have to give a helping hand.

Obviously, the pups will not be so keen to feed from their mother once you start feeding them. It is difficult to judge the right time to wean puppies. It should be when they look fine but you have the feeling that a solid meal would give them that extra strength to stand and move around. It does not depend on the precise age of the litter: the puppies could be three and a half weeks old or four and a half weeks old. But when you see the puppies feeding fiercely, emptying the teat and quickly moving to the next, you will see that mealtimes are developing into a frenzied search for food, and it is time to start weaning.

I always wean on to solid food. We have found that Akita puppies do not take kindly to any milk except their mother’s. We recommend that you use very finely minced beef and place a small amount on your fingertips and allow the puppy to sniff it. Within seconds it takes the morsel into his mouth. The pup will soon realise it not only tastes good but it makes him feel good to have a nice, full tummy. A teaspoonful is ample for the first two or three times, usually at breakfast and tea. Again, keep a close eye on the toilet and use the sweeteners to regulate. Remember what they always tell us humans: “Healthy on the inside means healthy on the outside!”

It is a good idea to keep the mother away for longer periods when you are weaning. Although you are providing food, the Akita puppies will still need their mother’s milk, which contains the natural antibodies against disease. If she is kept away, the puppies will be more ready to accept your food and the mother will have the chance to replenish her milk store. She may object initially, but her absences should be increased gradually. If you feed the puppies before she does, they will not draw on her so hard when she returns.

Dogs are one of our most favorite companion animals and we love them lots. So most of their owners see poop eating by their dogs as a rather disgusting problem they want to get rid of sooner than later.

Why would dogs actually ingest faeces?

Coprophagia, the medical term for eating faeces is a quite common canine behavior. It is also a known behavior in other animal species and dogs usually ingest faeces from other carnivores or herbivores.

Ingestion of faeces is seen as totally normal for bitches with a litter of newborn puppies, when keeping them and the whelping box clean and hygienic by licking her puppies excrements away and to help them to develop regular motions and urinating. Young puppies may start to investigate and eat poop when they get more active outside the whelping box area.

Ingestion of poop is unnormal in that moment where a dog suffers form a medical problem that keeps your companion hungry and searching for food all the time. Conditions that can cause this problems are usually metabolic disorders or malabsorption. The theory about deficits of vitamins or macro nutrients is not well supported by studies yet.

Behavioral problems are here a more common reason: Most dogs that try to eat their own poop or that of other canines and other animal species cause their owners to be rather disgusted by it. Usually what happens is that you’d try to stop this behavior, which turns for your dog easily into a "game" with rules we don’t really know.

What should you as a pet owner do, what should you avoid?

Catch your dog in that moment and don’t start to make a big event out of it. Better is to try to get your dog to play with some of her favorite toys, which will help to distract her from this kind of behavior.

You will agree that a dog showing the "eating poop behavior" will always appear to be fairly disgusting, but depending on how gross you find this personally, it is certainly not an abnormal behavior pattern as such. Certainly, it is not a healthy behavior either and will expose your dog to a greater risk of ingesting different forms of harmful parasites that contaminate faeces of domesticated and wild carnivore animals.

Where should you get help from to get this behavior better under control?

A good idea is to consult your veterinarian first to rule out any underlying disease that could be the cause for being hungry all the time. Behavior modification may work well, so if the problem is still persistent and everything else excluded you could ask for advice from an animal behaviorist.

Perhaps you have noticed your dog urinating frequently, as in every 10 minutes or so. Maybe you notice your puppy trying to urinate and only see a few drops come out each time. When you see your puppy frequently urinating small amounts, there is reason to be alarmed.

Frequent urination is a common problem in dogs, particularly in bitches. A female puppy frequently urinating small amount usually has an underlying bacterial infection. Other causes include bladder stones, hormonal imbalance, birth defects, tumors, and polydypsia.

If your puppy frequently urinating small amounts has bladder stones it probably means they are blocking her urinary flow. The bladder eventually gets so full that it presses against the blockage and urine leaks around it.

A puppy frequently urinating small amounts due to hormonal imbalance could have a problem with her kidneys being unable to concentrate urine. Dehydration could result and be fatal in this case so you have to make sure that your puppy has enough fresh, filtered water to drink.

If a birth defect is the reason for your puppy frequently urinating small amounts, only your vet will be able to figure that out. Female huskies are commonly born with defects that make them constantly drip urine. Corrective surgery may be necessary in this case.

A puppy frequently urinating small amount could also have a tumor or other serious disease. When you take your dog to the vet, the vet will do some tests and exams to determine what the underlying problem is.

Polydypsia is a condition that is characterized by obsessive water drinking. It will lead to your puppy frequently urinating small amounts.

So what can you do when you find your puppy frequently urinating small amounts? Don’t panic. Get started with aggressive home treatment first of all. Give your puppy a homeopathic remedy.

Homeopathy works the best with regular use but it is also effective as a treatment when you notice symptoms coming on. Look for a homeopathic remedy that contains ingredients like uva ursi and cantharis. These natural ingredients are known to strengthen and maintain a healthy bladder, urinary tract, urine flow, and immune system.

Also make sure that your puppy’s diet is optimal. Avoid commercial dog food and feed him raw unprocessed meats. Give him plenty of fresh, clean, filtered water to drink as well. Get him on a regular potty schedule so he’s not holding urine for hours and hours.

Do your pup a favor and start home treatment as soon as you notice your puppy frequently urinating small amounts. If you wait too long to do something about it, the problem could even become fatal. Get a homeopathic remedy and read up on natural, preventive treatments so you can help your dog maintain a healthy bladder and urinary tract for years to come!

Do you want to know how to get a guy's attention? Would you like to attract men and make them go crazy for you? If so, read on. You are about to learn some psychological tactics which will give you an advantage over all other women on this planet. Plenty of women have no clue as to what works with a man. They try a thing or two and accept their fate.

If you don't want that to happen to you, pay close attention here. You can gain control of your relationships with men and take it where you want it to. But you must be willing to learn. Men are different from women. You must have patience and perseverance to learn what works with a man and use them before you can expect any results.

Here are psychological tactics to get a guy's attention and make him crazy for you …

Tickle his sense of importance

Almost every single human being on this planet feels the need to be important. They want to know that they are valued by another person other than themselves or their own kin. It's truly one of the most amazing feelings in life and we all call it by various names. Reveal your love to him by making him feel important in an indirect way. Confessing your love won't get him attracted to you.

But you have to let him know that he's important for you and you honestly care for him in an indirect manner. Cook him one of his favorite meals. Gift him something that he ardently desires. Some guys may not react when you show that you truly care. They might say thanks. You may feel frustrated when they just do that. But accept it. That's how guys are. They cannot express themselves emotionally.

Never put him down

Have you ever seen a woman who's really appreciative of him when he's around him and bitches about him behind his back when she's with her friends? I've seen plenty of women who do it. Have you done it yourself? It doesn't matter why you bitched about him. It could be a really silly conversation that won't really affect your relationship. But still … the fact is – you put him down before others.

A woman who puts her man down in front of other people will never have a fruitful relationship with her man. It doesn't matter whether a man knows about it or not. The very fact that you put him down once will make you do it once again. When you continuously do it, you will become more and more direct.

You shouldn't put your man down when you're with your friends or when it's just the two of you. If he failed at something you asked him to do, just say "Forget about it". Stop nagging him and getting emotional about the fact. If you do so, you'll start to lose him from that very moment.

No doubt about it… people LOVE their dogs. They’re not just an animal or a pet, they’re a well loved member of our family. When a dog has anxiety it is rough on their humans. Veterinarians have a variety of prescription remedies for dog anxiety, but many people are looking for more natural ways to help their pets deal with this relatively prevalent issue. This is where essential oils can be of great benefit to dogs with anxiety issues.

The type of anxiety your dog experiences is going to dictate how you will be treating it. Whether the stress is related to loud noises, separation, or you’ve got a rescue with an unpleasant past that causes fear, there are essential oils that can help. As with humans, no essential oil is going to have exactly the same effect on every dog. Dogs, like humans, have personal preferences to different aromas. Fortunately, there are a variety of methods for delivery, and a variety of essential oils that can be tried in order to find what works for your pooch.

Before delving into the benefits of the particular oils I’d like to offer a word of caution/advice. Essential oils should never be applied directly to your dog’s skin. A carrier substance should always be employed. Be wary of applying oils too close to the nose. Dogs’ sense of smell is about 40 times better than a humans, so they are MUCH more sensitive to the effects of essential oils than we are. Keeping this in mind will make being treated with essential oils a much more tolerable and pleasant experience for your Fido. We all know how trainable dogs are, and if they have an initial negative experience with an oil, you may just be unable to utilize that one ever again. A good rule of thumb is to just stay entirely away from anything in front of the ears.

Another precaution to take is to not use essential oils on pregnant or nursing dogs. Bitches aren’t in either condition for very long, so it’s best to forego the oils during these delicate times.

HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS WITH DOGS

Essential oils can be used with your dog the same way you would use them on yourself. Blending an EO with a carrier agent, such as fractionated coconut oil or distilled water, is a safe topical application method. If mixing with distilled water in a spray bottle, be certain to shake the bottle vigorously prior to each application, as oil and water don’t mix! Once the carrier agent and the oil are mixed it can they can either be sprayed on a cloth (I use a cotton sock over my hand) and rubbed onto the pet’s fur, or sprayed directly onto the pet. I prefer to the spray and rub method, as the pet gets the additional tactile attention, and there is little chance of the oil going into the nose or eyes.

My favorite way to use EO’s for anxiety reduction is to diffuse them into the air. Using this method with your dog will be less stressful to your dog as nothing is being DONE to them, they are simply breathing. If the pet has an aversion to the scent it can distance itself from the source. If the oil is applied directly to the pet, they’re stuck with it! Keeping the pet confined to a smaller room with the diffuser running in it will ensure that the oil is reaching its target, without being overpowering.

GOOD OILS FOR REDUCING ANXIETY IN DOGS

Roman Chamomile-One of the best calming essential oils for humans and canines. It is good for general soothing and central nervous system calming.

Clary Sage- calms the central nervous system, sedating. Should be used in small amounts. This is one that is best used in a diffuser, rather than applied directly to the animal.

Lavender-everyone should be using lavender! It’s great for soothing both humans and pets. Plus is can be used for a variety of other pet ailments. There is no concern with applying this directly to the dog’s fur (diluted with a carrier agent).

Sweet Orange-another nerve calming oil. Plus when used in a diffuser makes your house smell great!

Valerian- nerve calming as well. Very soothing to dogs with noise or separation anxiety.

Sweet Marjoram (to a lesser degree)-this one may not be as effective as some others but some dogs may enjoy the scent so it doesn’t hurt to try it.

HOW TO DECIDE WHICH ONES TO USE

Just like when I make a mix for my kids I like to have the dog “smell test” the essential oils before I mix them. I just uncap the bottle and hold it near their face (a few inches from their nose) and observe their reaction. If they show an immediate aversion by turning away or scrunching their muzzle, I won’t use that one. If they get closer or try to lick to the bottle I’ll add that to the mix. You don’t want to torture your pet with an aroma that’s unpleasant to them!

As with humans, I try to judge which essential oil seemed to be the favorite, second favorite, third, etc. on down the line to the least favorite. I begin the mix with 8-10 drops of the most favored oil, then 5-7 of the second, and then 3-4 of the third. For a diffuser, I use an empty half gallon milk jug and fill it with distilled water prior to adding the oils. Once the oils are added I shake the jug vigorously and then add the mixture to the diffuser. For direct application I would do the same thing, only reducing the number of drops proportionally to the size of my spray bottle.

TESTING YOUR ESSENTIAL OIL MIX

This may be the toughest part. How can you tell if your mix is going to help your dog? Unfortunately the only way is to wait until an anxiety inducing experience is happening or is about to happen and either apply the mixture or start the diffuser. From there you just have to wait and see what happens. If the issue is separation anxiety I would apply or diffuse the mix, leave for just a short while, and come back and see how your dog is doing.

Brucellosis is a bacteria, disease. Brucellosis is also called Mediterranean fever. It caused by a Brucella canis bacteria. These bacteria are passed among animals and vertebrates. The bacteria enters the body through mucous membranes and spreads from there to lymph nodes and the spleen. It also spreads to the uterus, placenta and prostate gland as well as other internal organs at times. In humans brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms that are similar to the flu and may include fever, sweats, headaches, back pains, and physical weakness. Severe infections of the central nervous systems or lining of the heart may occur. Brucellosis can also cause long-lasting or chronic symptoms that include recurrent fevers, joint pain, and fatigue. Brucellosis can be very common in countries where animal disease control programs have not reduced the amount of disease among animals. High risk of Brucellosis in South and Central America, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

Unpasteurized cheeses, sometimes called “village cheeses,” from these areas may represent a particular risk for tourists. The causative agent of brucellosis in dogs is Brucella canis. It is transmitted to other dogs through breeding and contact with aborted fetuses. Brucellosis can occur in humans that come in contact with infected aborted tissue or semen. The bacteria in dogs normally infect the genitals and lymphatic system, but can also spread to the eye, kidney, and intervertebral disc (causing discospondylitis). Symptoms of brucellosis in dogs include abortion in bitches and scrotal inflammation and orchitis Brucella organisms in samples of blood or bone marrow. If this method is used, two blood samples should be collected 2 weeks apart.Treatment of brucellosis mostly doxycycline and rifampin are used in combination for 6 weeks to prevent reoccuring infection.

Causes of Brucellosis

Direct person-to-person spread of brucellosis is extremely rare. It also spreads to the uterus, placenta and prostate gland as well as other internal organs at times. Humans are generally infected in three ways: eating , drinking and breathing. Unpasteurized goat milk and related dairy products is the main route of B melitensis transmission to humans. The most common way to be infected is by eating or drinking contaminated milk products. Transmission has also been reported. For both and breast-feeding transmission, if the infant or person at risk is treated for brucellosis, their risk of becoming infected will probably be eliminated within 3 days. Farmers and shepherds have similar exposure risks, and they also have exposure to aborted animals. Slaughterhouse workers, primarily those in the kill areas, become inoculated through aerosolization of fluids, contamination of skin abrasions, and splashing of mucous membranes. Laboratory workers (microbiologists) are exposed by processing specimens (aerosols) without special precautions. Veterinarians usually are infected by inadvertent inoculation of animal vaccines against B abortus and B melitensis.

Symptoms of Brucellosis

1.Fever.

2.Headache.

3.Weakness.

4.Profuse sweating

5.Chills.

6.Weight loss and generalized aching.

Treatment of Brucellosis

1.Doxycycline and rifampin are used in combination for 6 weeks to prevent reoccuring infection.

2.Aminoglycosides streptomycin and gentamicin are effective against Brucella bacteria.

3.Gentamicin 5 mg/kg by intramuscular injection once daily for 7 days is an acceptable substitute

4.Provide supportive care for any specific symptoms and obtain appropriate tests targeted to affected organ systems as determined by history and physical.

5.All infected animals should be neutered or spayed to prevent related transmission. All infected animals should be considered to be lifelong carriers of the disease.

Eating feces is a very common behavior among puppies and some of the adult dogs (especially bitches) and should naturally disappear in the first year of your dog’s life or after the pregnancy. However, in some cases dogs get involved in eating poop in a more serious way and cannot stop it even after reaching maturity. Because dog’s sensibilities are entirely different to ours your pet may not consider consuming his stools as something disgusting and will not cease doing it unless you tell him to. That is why it is your job to stop your dog from eating poop by implementing one of the techniques mentioned below.

1. Stop A Dog From Eating Poop By Hiding The Stools

This is the easiest way I know to stop a dog from eating poop. All you need to do is to collect the stools he makes and throw them away before he can find them. This method is particularly effective if your dog eats feces purely out of boredom. You can speed up the training process by providing him with an appropriate substitution to the poop (such as a chewing toy).

2. Stop A Dog From Eating Poop By Adding A Bit Of Spices To His Stools

In some cases hiding stools from your pet will not be enough to stop your dog from eating poop and you will have to reach for more advanced techniques. The one I want to share with you here is based on adding strong smelling substances to an already defecated feces. You can use tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper, just make sure it is something that repels your pet. Simply cover the stools with the chosen spice and wait to see your dog’s reaction.

3. Stop A Dog From Eating Poop With A Bit Of Pineapple, Pumpkin And Spinach

If your dog keeps eating feces after you have implemented the two tips mentioned above it is high time to reach for more advanced stuff. The following tip is particularly useful if you want to make the whole idea of eating feces as repelling as possible so that your pet does not look for other animal’s poop when he struggles to find his own. Start by adding a bit of pineapple, pumpkin or spinach to his meals. It is said that these substances smell horribly after being digested and eliminated and will stop your dog from eating feces in a matter of days.

4. Stop A Dog From Eating Poop By Eliminating The Boredom Factor

Majority of dogs will eat feces because they are bored and look for some entertainment. So in order to stop your dog from eating poop you have to provide him with plenty of entertainment. This can be done in a few ways and one of them is physical effort. Start taking your pet on regular walks where you will get a chance to play games with him, get involved in a bit of obedience training and let him socialize with other animals. This should keep him distracted from eating feces and make him really exhausted. Remember, tired dogs will prefer sleeping over anything else and will not indulge in undesired behaviors.

What actually happens when you have your dog neutered is this:

Your dog gets unsexed.

His or her organs for producing male or female hormones are being removed.

A male dog loses his testicles and a female dog may either lose her ovaries and uterus or just her uterus.

If she is left with her ovaries she will still produce the hormones but can not have puppies.

Here is the catch:

The behavior of an animal is influenced by it’s hormones which means that the typical behavior of a male dog gets changed when he does not get his dose of testosterone anymore.

The behavioral changes in females are often less pronounced and go unnoticed.

So what do you need to expect to happen after neutering

1. Your male dog

During the op your veterinarian removes your dog’s testicles. The production of testosterone is stopped immediately but since there is still some testosterone circulating in your dog’s body you will not notice the change immediately.

This means also that he can still mate a bitch for a while.

Pro

• After some weeks you notice that he is now less interested in female dogs, does not make a point of sniffing around their back sides anymore. He also does not wander off to meet bitches who are in season.
• He may stop marking his territory, which means he is not as territorial as before.
• Usually his behavior towards other males changes, he does not feel the need to impress them as much as before neither does he feel the need to establish his dominance over them.
• It is for this reason that many vets advise owners of aggressive dogs to have them neutered as a first measure.

Con

• Other males do not seem to recognize him as a fellow male anymore, this may have to do with the simple fact that he is not smelling like a male dog because of his lack of testosterone.
• Due to this other males start sniffing him a lot and will hump him whenever possible. This may put your dog under great stress, specially since dominant males will really have a go at him. They will not bite but treat him like they would a female in heat.
• This can be very disturbing to both you and your dog.
• If you want your dog to show typical male dog behavior patterns neutering him would not be good idea.
• Depending on the way you feed him he may put on weight since his level of activity and his metabolism rate also co-depends on his hormone status.

2. Your female dog

Pro

• She will not come in season anymore which means you do not have to guard her twice a year.
• There will be no more males showing up at your front gate.
• There will be no more blood smears on your carpet.
• Your bitch will not have false pregnancies anymore and will not develop those dangerous uterus infections which can cause her serious harm.
• Many bitches seem a lot more lively and cheerful after having been spaid.

Con

• Recovering from surgery may take some time.
• Sometimes the bladder muscle gets injured during the operation which may cause her to lose small drops of urine.
• Her metabolism rate may drop and she may put on weight.
• Her coat may change in such a way that she has softer, more fluffy hair. This may not look as nice as her original fur.
• Some researchers point out the danger of her being less friendly towards puppies but I have never actually experienced this happening.

In female dogs the pros of neutering seem to outweigh the cons because neutering actually protects your bitch from a very serious health danger, i.e. pyometra.

In a male dog there is no such health danger and neutering him comes at the cost of him being bullied severely by other males.

If, on the other hand, your dog is a bully himself and you feel you can not handle his behavior, neutering him may make things easier for you and the owners of other dogs.

But you need to be aware that the brain gets sexed long before birth and if your dog has really gotten into the habit of being aggressive towards others neutering alone may not make him less likely to pick fights.

To me neutering your dog is still very much a question of personal taste. Many people are happy to put up with a bitch in heat twice a year whilst others are not, just as many people wish to own an entire male instead of an unsexed one.

If you ask your heart you will surely find out what is right for you and your pooch.