labgirl
Forums Sage
Merlin is entire and has always been clean in the house. Cadbury is neutered and is prone to accidents - usually wee-wees. So, it is behavioural more than to do with hormones.
Regarding neutering, I am in a debate about this myself. Cadbury I had no hesitation, but second dog along and I am not so sure.
My trainer said neuter if you have issues or Merlin shows frustration. My breeder did not want Merlin neutered because she said it would ruin his coat, another friend has said the same.
Aside from normal boy-marking outside the house, Merlin has not displayed any issues related to being entire. If he was a girl we would be having a different discussion, unless being bred I think life is a lot easier if a bitch is spayed as seasons are such a nuisance, but males are slightly different.
At the very back of my mind I have wondered about breeding Merlin one day, depending on his talents as an agility dog. It is very hard to get a sheltie from agility lines here, they are all show lines, so you have to take pot luck. Merlin is proving very intuitive, hard-working and consistent, and I have wondered that if I were to take agility more seriously whether to consult with his breeder and look about using him as the start of my own kennels
I would be breeding for myself, to produce good agility dogs, and my brother would have a sheltie out of Merlin for using as a sheepdog with his small flock.
But that's pie in the sky thinking... It just stops me from making that ultimate decision on neutering.
Regarding neutering, I am in a debate about this myself. Cadbury I had no hesitation, but second dog along and I am not so sure.
My trainer said neuter if you have issues or Merlin shows frustration. My breeder did not want Merlin neutered because she said it would ruin his coat, another friend has said the same.
Aside from normal boy-marking outside the house, Merlin has not displayed any issues related to being entire. If he was a girl we would be having a different discussion, unless being bred I think life is a lot easier if a bitch is spayed as seasons are such a nuisance, but males are slightly different.
At the very back of my mind I have wondered about breeding Merlin one day, depending on his talents as an agility dog. It is very hard to get a sheltie from agility lines here, they are all show lines, so you have to take pot luck. Merlin is proving very intuitive, hard-working and consistent, and I have wondered that if I were to take agility more seriously whether to consult with his breeder and look about using him as the start of my own kennels
I would be breeding for myself, to produce good agility dogs, and my brother would have a sheltie out of Merlin for using as a sheepdog with his small flock.But that's pie in the sky thinking... It just stops me from making that ultimate decision on neutering.