Male Problems

[Inuneko]

My girl is in heat, which her attitude has changed to where she's just more affectionate and demands affection. But the vets around here are insanely expensive and absolutely refuse to spay while she's in heat, which I found out she was when I brought her in with high hopes only to have them dashed. Fine, I can deal with that, I just won't be as nice as I was when I first brought her in.

Sure I have a diaper on her while she's inside so she doesn't spot on the furniture or the floor, plus to guard against the male we have, but he gets to stay outside while she's in heat.

My problem is the neighbor's male dogs. It's been almost two weeks and now they're camping out on the front steps, following me around when I bring her outside to pee... armed with a spray bottle which they keep just out of range to keep from being sprayed then sneak up behind her to shove their snouts in her crotch when I have my back turned but not enough time to try to mate with her. Water hoses don't work, they just run off then regroup and come back. They have already run inside the house to try and get to her. I already tried penning her up in an old rabbit cage that's about 4ft off the ground so they couldn't get to her, but the big dog actually tried to knock the cage over in an attempt to get to her.

I've already called animal control but the retarded thing is, they claim they can't do anything but try to make the neighbors keep their dogs chained up. They can't remove the dogs unless they get hostile. Hell with that, I thought a huge red-orange retriever nearly spearing me to get inside would count as being hostile.

I'm at my wit's end here. Anyone have any suggestions? A watergun filled with water and ammonia so it has further range and better accuracy? I don't know anymore... I'm running out of ideas short of taking plyboards and forming them into posts to make a fence out of boards and sheetmetal.

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

First off welcome to Chaz!! You definately have a mess on your hands. Where do you live that nobody seems to care if their dogs are loose nor animal control ?? Is this your girls first heat? I'm not to sure what to suggest to you other than go and knock on the owner of the male dogs door and nicely ask them to be more responsible by tieing their dogs up until your girl is out of season. I am assuming your yard is not fenced in nor are the others right? Is your male at least neutered or is he driving you crazy to??

 

[Charliesmommy]

OK, I don't really have any advice to offer here - I just wanted to say that the title of this thread was a bit misleading and pretty darn funny to me! LOL!

 

[dogsarebetter]

yeah, i was going to reply

"you too huh?"

lol!!
i would go talk to the owners. it sucks when you are a responsible dog owner and your nieghbors are awful ones. trust me, i know how that is.
good luck

 

[sam]

A fence would be a great thing from the sounds of it. I know that's not exactly a cheap solution, but I wouldn't be happy letting my dogs out if any loose neighborhood dog could show up anytime.
Even if you can create a small chain linked area (like a dog run- kennel) then when you get a chance have both dogs fixed.
A bunch of intact, loose dogs running free is a prescription for disaster.

 

[Cheza]

Sounds like you're doing all the right things, it's too bad your neighbours aren't responsible enough to keep their dogs in their own yard... I second Red and Rabbitsarebetter, try going to talk to them and explain that their dogs have actually followed you into YOUR house in the process.
Best of luck!

 

[Inuneko]

Thanks guys ^^

I live in a small town so apparently no one cares what happens. I even asked animal control about those free spay/neuter vans... you know the ones I'm talking about? For the people who can't afford the vet. A.C. just laughed in my face and were like "Where do you think this is? Houston?"

This is her third heat actually, she's had two previous litters with the same male. I'll admit though, she had some pretty gorgeous pups with him despite them both being mixed breeds. The male we have now is her son from her first litter.

Her last heat, I did ask the neighbors to tie up their dogs, which they did for only a day.

As for the kennel thing, I'd have to make sure we have enough chicken wire to do it and that the wire is too small for any attempted mating through the fence to go on. Dogs get creative when they get desperate, my grandma's neighbor ended up with unwanted pups when her dog and a male mated right through the chain fence. I didn't ask for details, but just hearing it warrants a 'wtf how'.

 

[bubbatd]

Sorry you're having these problems It's hard enough to be vigil when your dog's in heat and you have a male , without the worry of other dogs ! Watch them like hawks .... I personally don't think chicken wire would help . Let us know how things go !!

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

Thanks guys ^^

I live in a small town so apparently no one cares what happens. I even asked animal control about those free spay/neuter vans... you know the ones I'm talking about? For the people who can't afford the vet. A.C. just laughed in my face and were like "Where do you think this is? Houston?"

This is her third heat actually, she's had two previous litters with the same male. I'll admit though, she had some pretty gorgeous pups with him despite them both being mixed breeds. The male we have now is her son from her first litter.

Her last heat, I did ask the neighbors to tie up their dogs, which they did for only a day.

As for the kennel thing, I'd have to make sure we have enough chicken wire to do it and that the wire is too small for any attempted mating through the fence to go on. Dogs get creative when they get desperate, my grandma's neighbor ended up with unwanted pups when her dog and a male mated right through the chain fence. I didn't ask for details, but just hearing it warrants a 'wtf how'.

Why don't you have your male neutered and at least get that over with while your female is in heat? You definately don't need to bring anymore mixed breed pups into the world anymore whether they are good looking or not. Was your female bred intentionally or were they accidents?

 

[happyhound]

I live in a small town so apparently no one cares what happens. I even asked animal control about those free spay/neuter vans... you know the ones I'm talking about? For the people who can't afford the vet. A.C. just laughed in my face and were like "Where do you think this is? Houston?"

Are you located near Houston, TX? If so, SNAP has a mobile clinic which travels around the Houston area that does free (if not free, very low cost) spay/neuters on a first come first serve basis. They also have a mobile clinic located near San Antonio. They also have a clinic (although it is in Houston). They do low cost spays and neuters there by appointment (have to email to set up an appt.)

 

[squirtsmom]

Excellent question Red ACD.

 

[Inuneko]

Wow... lots of questions.

I'm about a 4hr drive away from Houston, all the way in Louisiana.

The first litter was a complete surprise because we didn't know she was in heat until it was too late. The second was when she darted out the house and disappeared for a whole week with her mate, as we call him. Since there are other males around, he's the one she always runs to.

Yes, I need to get my male neutered anyway regardless of whether or not his mom is in heat. I don't want him to start roaming if a girl a few blocks away goes into heat.

As for the kennel thing, I have to make sure it's sturdy and that she nor any dog on the outside can dig out or in if I have it ground-level. My girl's awfully smart and crafty, so I have to factor in 'what ifs' when designing a kennel to put her in. She does like to be high up to see everything, so I'm considering making another rabbit cage but with a sturdier bottom. That way I don't have to worry about an unwanted litter this time around... unless the males learn to fly and open the cage.

 

[MaryAndDobes]

First of all, the vets don't want to spay her while she's in heat because it's not the optimal time for her health-wise. Her blood vessels are engorged, and there is increased bleeding if they spay during a heat season so they are looking out for her health by not wanting to spay at this time. Besides, it's not like you were caught by surprise - you've had, presumably, 6ish months to get this done! It's not their fault that you put it off until this time.

Secondly, there is no way in the world that you should even be thinking of leaving your intact, in-season bitch in any kind of run or enclosure when you know full well that there are males just wandering around. If you want to put up a secure enclosure and then BE RIGHT THERE WITH HER AT ALL TIMES when she is in it, that's satisfactory. But no way should be unattended!!!

Additionally, do not think that the "diaper" she is wearing protects her from her son. They MUST be physically separated for at least 4 weeks from the first sign of bleeding.

 

[Inuneko]

Yeah, 6 months-ish to get the money to afford the damned surgery. It seems that when I explained to them why I was trying to get her fixed, they could have offered to board her for me or at least pointed me to a place that wouldn't charge me a small fortune to board her during her season.

It seems I'll just have to keep her inside and when she has to go out, arm myself with the broom and the spraybottle. I do plan on keeping an eye on her when I have her closed up. Not when there's a chance that the big guy can knock over the cage to try and get to her. And her son is seperated from her, he's long been evicted outside. The diaper is there just in case he runs inside when someone opens the door, and to keep her from spotting on the furniture.

The neighbors are going to get a very not nice what-for in the morning though. Their big retriever (who on two legs is as tall as me and I'm 5'5) tackle/speared me this evening after I brought my girl out to pee in an effort to get to her, and that was after I had literally hit him away with a broom, ok I didn't exactly hit him and I used the bristles, I'm not going to hurt the dumb, testosterone-driven animal. Thankfully none of the males had the time to get to her nor was I hurt, just winded, but I almost wish I had been. Either way, injuries or not, the dog did technically attack me, but sadly I think it would take someone actually getting hurt before they do anything about the roaming males camping out on my front steps.

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

Yeah, 6 months-ish to get the money to afford the damned surgery. It seems that when I explained to them why I was trying to get her fixed, they could have offered to board her for me or at least pointed me to a place that wouldn't charge me a small fortune to board her during her season.

It seems I'll just have to keep her inside and when she has to go out, arm myself with the broom and the spraybottle. I do plan on keeping an eye on her when I have her closed up. Not when there's a chance that the big guy can knock over the cage to try and get to her. And her son is seperated from her, he's long been evicted outside. The diaper is there just in case he runs inside when someone opens the door, and to keep her from spotting on the furniture.

The neighbors are going to get a very not nice what-for in the morning though. Their big retriever (who on two legs is as tall as me and I'm 5'5) tackle/speared me this evening after I brought my girl out to pee in an effort to get to her, and that was after I had literally hit him away with a broom, ok I didn't exactly hit him and I used the bristles, I'm not going to hurt the dumb, testosterone-driven animal. Thankfully none of the males had the time to get to her nor was I hurt, just winded, but I almost wish I had been. Either way, injuries or not, the dog did technically attack me, but sadly I think it would take someone actually getting hurt before they do anything about the roaming males camping out on my front steps.

It wouldn't hurt to also tell your neighbors that neutering their dogs wouldn't be a bad idea either...............Jeez some people have no common sense! Your neighbors sound like morons!

 

[SummerRiot]

DO NOT SPAY YOUR BITCH WHILE SHES IN HEAT!!!

She can bleed out during surgery causing death! Its very dangerous to do a spay surgery during a heat cycle.

You have to wait a month after her being IN heat to preform a proper spay. Its a good thing your vets didn't do the surgery, you could have lost your girl.

Definately get her spayed when she is out of heat though, you wont have those pesky neighbours dogs after her.

If it were my bitch in heat, I'd be bringing mace along with me and spray the boys who came close to her like that, OR I would put in a good strong fence for her to be in.

Its sad how people expect their INTACT males to be able to wondering around..

Let usknow how things go about. If you have an intact male yourself, how are you keeping them seperated?

 

[noludoru]

Buy some MACE, PEPPER SPRAY, or HALT. Be very, very careful not to get yourself or your bitch with them, though, and DON'T use if it's windy. A squirt bottle with some tobasco sauce/water mix may work. Or even highly concentrated saltwater, salt can hurt.

Keep your bitch ON LEASH while out there, NEVER let go of her for any reason. Frankly, I'd keep her on leash inside as well. Don't trust window screens, they can get through them easily.

DON'T leave your bitch outside unattended, no matter what. That is how puppies happen.

Two litters is way too many to bring into this world. I know you're doing your best, please don't let a third happen...

 

[Cassiepeia]

I'd take the roaming dogs to the pound. The owners shouldn't be allowed to get away with letting their dogs roam. If they come on your property, stick 'em in the car and take them to the pound.

Cass.

 

[Inuneko]

The cayenne pepper/black pepper/water mix seems to keep them back, even though they keep just out of range of the spray bottle. But I don't think I have to worry now, I haven't seen the big dog around at all today so he may be tied up now, so here's hoping. But a friend of mine said that if it happens again, feign injury even though it's wrong. That dog is big and can really hurt me if he gets tired of me keeping him away from my bitch.

Sissy isn't being as stressful as she was last season, thankfully she doesn't seem interested in mating and isn't trying to sneak out. She just wants to cuddle all the time and sleep. She hasn't shown signs of becoming stir-crazy, which is good and she's a happy doggy because she gets her favorite treats of carrots, broccoli and banana chips all to herself, as well as her favorite spot on top of the headrest of the recliner.