So we took our two basenjis to the lake this weekend with some friends of ours. Our dogs do really well with other dogs- especially big ones. Another couple had brought their dog, a non-neutered golden retriever who is 6 years old (only dog, good with kids and other dogs). I didn't realize he was still intact until someone mentioned it on the ride down- to which I said, "Oh, well he'll probably be all over Lexi then! I've never come across a non-neutered dog who didn't follow her around!" 
Well, we get there and they told me their dog was gay. I thought they meant it in a slang way, not literally. But I was wrong. Their dog incessantly followed Miles around– literally the ENTIRE weekend. At first I thought it was just a dominance thing and they were rough-housing. But their dog would always start trying to hump and his "lipstick" would come out. And then it happened... their dog actually ejaculated all over Miles. :eek::eek::eek:I have NEVER seen anything like this. It happened a couple of times although Miles started to become more defensive after the first episode and gave him the warning gruff of "get off me". But their dog would follow him around licking his ears and also licking his butt hole as he went by. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but this is an honest story and something I've never, ever encountered. The other couple was so embarrased and so I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but I had to give Miles a bath several times and was kind of grossed out. PS- He couldn't care less about Lexi.
Does anyone else have any experience with this? Or any ideas I could lend to the other couple about how to get him to stop this behavior? Is he too old to be neutered? I just don't want this to continue all summer. Thoughts other than just keeping them separated?
Never to old to neuter… especially at 6yrs....
I haven't even seen any gay dogs here in SF. Is it a regular group of people that gather at a certain spot? Do you know or ever talk to the owner? I don't know other then avoiding that dog.
In the Netherlands there are a lot of intact males.. and it seems that they find neutered males very attractive.. (heared it from owners (of intact and neutered dogs) on our Dutch dog forum)
They don't know why.. Maybe they smell different?
We know the couple and have been to their house several times for dinner (without our dogs). Their Golden Retrevier seemed totally normal in his own house. But he doesn't live with any other dogs and I have not seen him around other dogs myself. But apparently he does go after other males to hump them which is why the couple informed me he was gay.
I am really laughing at your response NoBarkus– "not even in SanFrancisco".
hahahah
The couple has given us an open invitation to their lake house this summer and it was icing on the cake that they said we could bring the dogs. So I'd like to have a situation where "that" didn't happen again.
Do you think that getting him neutered would change his behavior in that regard?
IMO… If it did change the behavior, it would take a while as all the hormones need to resolve themselves... usually 3 to 4 months.
Do the owners not do anything to control him? If they don't then the dog obviously thinks it is OK to behave in that manner.
I don't understand why they don't neuter him. Did they say why?
They try to re-focus his attention- but to no avail. They try to get him to sit/stay by their side, but that doesn't last for very long. Of course they verbally discipline him, but with three dogs in the house at the same time with one incessantly trying to get after the other, it was a non-stop job. So they put him on the deck for most of the weekend. And he cried and pawed the doors to get to Miles.
The Dad felt that neutering him was taking his manhood. Apparently a friend of theirs has a dog from the same litter who turned out completely different (whatever that meant, they didn't like it and attributed it to him being neutered). He also said that "you're not supposed to get your dog neutered after 2 years old". ??? I had never heard that before– does anyone have any websites I could refer them to that says otherwise?
The dogs hormones have more power then "sit/stay" does. This fellow needs some education.
The Dad felt that neutering him was taking his manhood. Apparently a friend of theirs has a dog from the same litter who turned out completely different (whatever that meant, they didn't like it and attributed it to him being neutered). He also said that "you're not supposed to get your dog neutered after 2 years old". ??? I had never heard that before– does anyone have any websites I could refer them to that says otherwise?
Sigh… I just love those type of people... so look what they have in exchange? And I am sure if they would have addressed this behavior six years ago when it started ... might be a different outcome. Same with their friend.... how was the dog trained?.. usually the reason for how they grow up and what their disposition is .....
I have never ever heard that about the age... gezzz... where did he get that from? Have him ask any Vet... and again, you can't just count on neutering to solve the problem... usually it is not the surgery (and in this case this is not an "old" dog) but the anesthesia, so a full blood panel would be in order first. My guess would be that they still are going to have a problem since they have enabled this dog to continue to do this behavior....
I never understood folks who equate their sex interest with the dogs they own…
All it does is leave an intact dog unhappy and at the mercy of his hormones.
The age thing is ridiculous. A dog can be neutered at any age, and it won't change their personality at all. It will take away random humping incidents (usually) and often will take away excessive aggression (not always).
I too, would be irritated by a dog incessantly trying to hump another one of either sex…it is rude owner behavior to allow it to continue. If it continues to go on, Miles will most likely start to take serious exception to it. Although, the occasional humping is completely normal among dogs, ejaculation in absence of copulation is a little wierd..particularly with no females in heat around.
I don't know how I would address this with these people, without alienating them. Obviously they are fairly invested in and okay with their dog's behavior, or I would imagine they would be trying harder to change it.
I wouldn't put Miles through that anymore.
We had Moet neutered at six years to try to stop him and my older Basenji dog from fighting, the vet recommended neutering the older of the two so I don't see where age would come into it.
Don't quote me on this but someone once told me that when a male dog is neutered he begins to smell like a bitch!! Must be something to do with the hormones. I have an entire male who loves my neutered male, doesn't try to mount him or anything but is really fond of him and is always sniffing and licking him.
Incidentally, I also have a spayed bitch who now ****s her leg!!!
We had Moet neutered at six years to try to stop him and my older Basenji dog from fighting, the vet recommended neutering the older of the two so I don't see where age would come into it.
Just curious, but did it work…did it stop the fighting between the 2 boys?
Don't quote me on this but someone once told me that when a male dog is neutered he begins to smell like a bitch!!
Neutered males do not have the amount of testosterone an intact male would have so it would make sense that they would smell different. Without estrogen though I doubt they smell like an intact bitch. Some dogs do get confused about the gender of altered animals and do not always act appropriately.
It is possible that the offensive dog may have tried this act on an intact bitch at one point and she went after him. Then when he tried the same act on neutered males he was tolerated. This could explain his preference. In any case, this behavior is extremely rude and his owners need to do something about it.
