In a message dated 4/9/2007 10:07:45 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
In my experience, it doesn't matter when the male dog is neutered. My male Aussie Shepherd was neutered at 8 months old. At 8 months, he had not started "marking" yet. He didn't even lift his leg to pee, he squatted like a female. It wasn't until he was over a year old that he started "marking" and lifting his leg to pee. This was months and months after he was neutered. I guess it really has to do with the individual dog. Stef Here's an article on the benefits of neutering from Purdue University. Many studies suggest that neutering your pet before they develop the habit of marking will reduce the incidence of marking substantially. Once the habit is developed, neutering will still help in most cases. Marking is a form of aggression which is increased by the levels of testosterone. That's why it is more common in male dogs. Once the gonads are removed, the levels of testosterone are reduced substantially thus having some benefit towards the marking problem. The main thing needed is diligence from the owner to catch him "in the act" and stop him with a sharp "NO!." Then promptly take him out on a leash and praise him when he goes outside. _http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/AS/AS-562-W.pdf_ (http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/AS/AS-562-W.pdf) ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
