Urge to lift legs to pee?

Max had been neutered when he was 5 months old.. It was difficult for me to decide when was the best time to do it. If it was done at too young an age, he might lose out on some of his physical developments; and also will not be able to grow intellectually into an adult dog. Hence, he is now at below-medium sized, and still behaves like a puppy. On the other hand, I don't want him to begin acquiring his leg-lifting instincts - especially when he sees Jon do it every day.

This morning while walking Max - only him - he was so indulged in sniffing a tree trunk. He later acted in a way what any other unneutered dog does before marking their territory. Max stood beside the tree (on his right) - almost touching it - and appeared to wanting to lift his right leg. He stood there for 3 seconds, and then left it and peed on the ground female-style.

Is it possible for neutered male dogs to still have the leg-lifting instinct in them?

Scratch and Mark

Max is now 18 months old. He was neutered at 5 months old. It was not an easy decision to make at that time, because I had to weigh the benefits of preventing him from engaging in "territory marking" behaviours, and the cons of him not fully maturing mentally. The outcome from that decision is that now he does not lift his leg at all when peeing; and that he still behaves like a puppy. Even physically, he is small by mongrel standards.

From the first day Max entered into our lives, Max had not learnt to lift his legs even though he sees Jon do it every day. Twice a day. Every time Jon tells his competitors of his existence in an area, I had hoped that Max has not begun to see the reasons behind this behaviour. Luckily he did not pick up this habit before he was neutered. However, this morning I was taken aback of what Max did after he pooed. He scratched the floor. It was as vigorous as any performed by a dog. I actually talked to him by asking " You have learnt this from Jon, didn't you?"

This is a interesting behavioural development I want to monitor. One year after having been neutered, he has learnt - albeit slow - the language of territory marking. But the one question I want to know is: "Is it possible to learn these behaviors after a male dog has been neutered?"

A Chance at Life

I have named the female stray dog which I found last week as Chance. It was named as such because - as is always described when people happen to meet - I had just finished having my breakfast at a restaurant I have not been before when she was spotted.

As of last evening, her given name will be very significant to her. She needs it survive for the next few days. Chance had developed parvovirus. When I saw her, she was listless, and had greenish color vomit in the cage. The vet was busy with a patient, so I had no opportunity yet to speak to him. I decided to take Chance for a walk. Just like the day before, she was reluctant to walk while I am holding the leash. But if I let it go, she willingly walks. Immediately, she went to an open space to eliminate. I observed her poo. Normal.

The next 20 minutes was all about urging her to get used to the leash. Before going back, she pooed one more time. It was watery. I told the vet about this, including that of the vomit. He said that she had vomited three times already, and then proceeded  to test her for viruses. The parvo test result was positive. Chance was promptly put on drips.

I hope Chance will not have a complicated route to recovery. The chances of her pulling through is 50-50. However, I was disturbed by the fact that the vet knew that she vomited 3 times for that day, and still not do anything about it. It was only when I told him of the condition of the poo, that he tested her.

House-training a puppy

Was at Chapter 9 of "Born To Bark", with Stanley Coren describing how he had house-trained his terrier when it was a puppy.

There were many pointers that I wish to take note and use it as a guide when another opportunity arises. Maybe I will come across another abandoned puppy and take it home. Stanley provided situations when "accidents"will  happen, and as I was reading this, I recall that these has happened before, and that I did not understand and hence manage it well for the benefit of Max. He mentioned that:

"The traditional method of house-training involves establishing a routine and paying attention to time. Puppies don't have control over sphincter muscles until they are 5 or 6 months of age., but certain things predict when they need to poop or pee. Eating or drinking starts a wave of rhythmic contractions along the length of the digestive tract that results in elimination. Waking up from a nap and becoming active also triggers this response,and a bout of vigorous play can do it as well. Within 5 to 15 minutes after each meal, nap, or round of playing, you can predict that the pup will need to empty its bowels or bladder."

Stanley also mentioned that he uses a kennel crate as part of the house-training process. The puppy will treat this crate as its den, and it will instinctively try to avoid relieving themselves until they can.

"Ultimately, the dog comes to view the whole house as part of his den that must be kept clean. Usually, dogs will generalize this to include all indoor areas, whether your home or someone else's".

Relating this to Max: I boarded Max at a vet on the day I found him. He was there for two weeks because I had to be away for a holiday in 2 days time. When I got back home and went to see him to claim him back, the vet complimented Max, saying he is intelligent, and will not pee in his cage. I didn't ask her in detail how he relieved himself. Roughly, I can imagine how he did it. At home, I had a 3 foot-cage for Max, which was to be situated in the living room. He can't be put outside because Jon is there. I placed layers of newspapers on the surface. That evening Max did not eliminate at all. The next morning, the papers were still clean. I brought him to the garden to relieve himself before going to work. He finally eliminated. When I got back home at night, there were traces of urine on the floor surrounding the cage. "Now I know what the vet meant."  He definitely must have stood on two legs and  did it like a human man.  As for the poo. there were only little traces of it in the cage. Later, I knew that he had consumed most of it. From that day onwards, for as long as 3 weeks, I had to place thick layers of newspapers within a 2 feet radius from the cage. And every night I will have to replace the newspapers. The ones onside the cage rare;y needed to be changed.

Stanley mentioned that puppies tend to want to relieve themselves after play and sleep. The play part applies to Max. After running up and down the length and breadth of the house during play time, he will pee. That is in spite that he just did it 10 minutes earlier. There was one  method I that used to correct this behaviour - and it was wrong.  I would hold his head and push his nose toward the pee and scold and tap his muzzle with my fingers.

He was still brought out to eliminate twice a day even though he had done so in ( around) the cage. Within two weeks, the habit of eliminating outside the cage was broken. He didn't even poo anymore. Even now, I am very proud of him that he can hold his bladder for 16 hours - even if there is a temptation of a garden around for him to use - for me to come back and bring him out.