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| Posted by | Topic subject: Puppy questions |
ilovemypets Moderator Posts: 364 |
posted 06-06-2003 07:26 PM
  
Hey everyone I got my puppy on the 29th of may. He is so adorable. He is a maltese. (small white and fluffy) My first question is: what age should he be neutered? *I want to get him fixed before he starts lifting his leg so he probably wont ever. I've heard 3months by some people, 6 from others along with other suggestions. Will they start lifting their legs at 5 months? I really would prefer to wait till then. Next question what is a good puppy/dog food? I'm on science diet right now. I know science diet isn't what its cracked up to be though. My aunt was told by my breeder that "burns" is a good brand. She ordered some and it seems to be good so far. Anyone ever has experience with "Burns dog food"? Last question How often should I brush his teeth/bathe him? Thanks in advance! *Lyndsey* IP: Logged |
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nern Member  Posts: 473 |
posted 06-06-2003 09:44 PM
Neutering: This really would depend on your vet. Some vets will not neuter earlier than 6 months and some will do it much earlier. My dog was spayed at 4 months as recommended by my vet. Food: Im not familiar enough with Burns to comment on it but there are lots of great foods available these days. Innova and Timberwolf Organics are currently my favorites. Teeth/Bathes: If possible you should brush the dogs teeth daily or at least a few times per week IMO. I would not bathe him more than once a month (using a genlte conditioning shampoo)....bathing too frequently can cause a dry, itchy coat. IP: Logged |
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dbuzzw Member Posts: 48 |
posted 06-09-2003 11:40 AM
Hi Lyndsey. I have a 7-1/2 month old, Baxter, who is 75% maltese and 25% poodle. I thought I'd share my experience with you.... I had Baxter neutered at 4 months, before he started lifting his leg. However, he occasionally looks like he's lifting his leg when we go on walks - maybe it's just because he's peeing on the edge of the grass, I'm not sure -- but he doesn't lift and pee on trees or poles or things like that. He does "mark" a lot on the walks (squatting), but nowhere else. He almost always poops and always pees several times, kicking his legs back to "bury" it afterwards. I also have a 4-1/2 month old female maltese/shih tzu mix, Graysie. Sometimes, Baxter humps her and/or toys! I am sure this is just a dominance issue, but he still does it. I wouldn't have felt comfortable neutering Baxter any earlier than 4 months, yet he still has a few male characteristics that were already developed before then! As for food, I also feed my pups Science Diet. I did a lot of research and was ready to change their food, but my vet recommended against it. He said he would only feed one of three foods - Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan (?), or Iams. His determining factor is RESEARCH. I was surprised that he didn't mention Innova, Flint River Ranch, or any of the others -- but again, he prefers companies that do a lot of research. (And yes, I'm aware of the controversy with Iams and I would never use that). Hope this helps. Good luck with your new baby! IP: Logged |
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goob Member Posts: 186 |
posted 06-09-2003 03:20 PM
Leg lifting is more a "learned" behavior than a hormonally induced one... I've seen lots of dogs lift their legs when they've been fixed at 4 months or less. Neutering early will most likely head off (in house)marking behaviors though, as they're normally brought on by hormones as a male matures. Leg lifting can also have a lot to do with a dog's level of confidence... my mom's extremely submissive male chi doesn't lift his leg very often, however my female dog will lift her leg to mark where a male dog has been, and she's pretty dominant around other dogs. IP: Logged |
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ilovemypets Moderator Posts: 364 |
posted 06-09-2003 04:28 PM
Thanks y'all for sharing all this info. I now have a pretty good idea on when to fix him! =) thanks IP: Logged |
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dbuzzw Member Posts: 48 |
posted 06-09-2003 04:29 PM
Goob - What is the difference between marking in the house and outside? Are you saying that male dogs will always mark outside, even if neutered early? If so, that would explain Baxter's behavior.  I have also heard that the leg-lifting is more of a learned behavior. IP: Logged |
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dbuzzw Member Posts: 48 |
posted 06-09-2003 04:30 PM
Goob - What is the difference between marking in the house and outside? Are you saying that male dogs will always mark outside, even if neutered early? If so, that would explain Baxter's behavior. I have also heard that the leg-lifting is more of a learned behavior. IP: Logged |
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goob Member Posts: 186 |
posted 06-09-2003 05:36 PM
Well, basically in the house, there are no other dogs marking it up, so there's no need to make sure everyone knows it's theirs. Sometimes during the hormonal surges of adolescence, or when they sniff out a bit*h in heat, though, intact males will get started on the marking. After that, it's more of a learned behavior, and some will continue marking even after fixed, unless trained not to. It's normal for dogs to mark when out on walks, they want to expand their territory, and reclaim anything that may have been "stolen". In the house, there's not as much competition, so they don't usually seem to do it unless something else triggers a start to the behavior. Goo (my dog that marks) will try and mark (usually squatting, but if she wants a pole or tree, she'll lift her leg to get to it, lol) every 10 ft when we go on walks, so we have a "no pee!" rule that I use if she gets too annoying (yet she'd never dream of marking in the house). On the feeding note, keep in mind that vets are not usually well versed in animal nutrition. Most only have what they've learned from various feeding clinics (some taught by the same food companies they endorse most often), plus the minimal stuff they learn in vet school. All the research in the world won't do any good if they still don't use quality ingredients in the food. I've been around vet climics for over 10 yrs, and though most are great at helping out with the "medical" aspect of pets, they don't tend to be (and really, why should they be?) too well versed in the other aspects, like behavioral issues, feeding, breeding, etc. Not saying that your vet isn't a good vet, but just something to think about. IP: Logged |
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puttin510 Member Posts: 616 |
posted 06-10-2003 03:08 PM
I got my male already neutered dog about the age of one. He never lifted his leg at home inside until my sisters male poodle came over and marked our couch. All of a sudden it was a mark-a-thon. had to be on them like white on rice. He doesn't do it unless another dog does it first. Thus reclaiming his turf. IP: Logged |
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honeybear Member Posts: 152 |
posted 06-10-2003 03:40 PM
for food, I am sorry but I have hearde repeatedly that Science diet is the worse food for your dog and Science diet and Iams are the same company. My lab is on Innova, just put him on it and he is doing much better, as for the leg lifting, mylab did not lift his lef the first 5 years of his life until we had company for the week-end and brought their male dog, ever since then he has lifted his leg Honeybear IP: Logged |
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nern Member Posts: 473 |
posted 06-10-2003 05:59 PM
Science Diet and Iams are not the same company its Iams and Eukanuba that are the same company. Glad to hear your lab is doing well on Innova...its an excellent food. IP: Logged |
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honeybear Member Posts: 152 |
posted 06-10-2003 07:06 PM
Nern - thank you for the clarification, I just hope putting him on the innova will help with hot spots and ear enfections this summer honeybear IP: Logged |
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puttin510 Member Posts: 616 |
posted 06-11-2003 02:42 PM
luvmypets: I know someone with two maltese and she bathes them once a week, with pantene, They always look amazing. Honeybear: I have just recently heard of a product sold in the U.K. called thornit. It is supposed to help keep your dogs ears healthy and mite free. I am going to get some. I heard about it from a gal that lives in Italy that uses it all the time. Go to www.championpets.co.uk IP: Logged |
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honeybear Member Posts: 152 |
posted 06-11-2003 07:28 PM
puttin510, thanks for the thornit info. I will keep in mind if He gets mites, his problem is in the summer we cant keep him out of our pool and the floating stuff gets in his ears and then gets impacted. I am diligently putting cleaners in his ears now. Now if you have remedy for hot spots I need it! Honeybear IP: Logged |
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honeybear Member Posts: 152 |
posted 06-11-2003 07:28 PM
puttin510, thanks for the thornit info. I will keep in mind if He gets mites, his problem is in the summer we cant keep him out of our pool and the floating stuff gets in his ears and then gets impacted. I am diligently putting cleaners in his ears now. Now if you have remedy for hot spots I need it! Honeybear IP: Logged |
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