Neutered "boyfriend" to help with in-season female's dog reactivity?

[Susnelda]

Hello,
Our Suzie, 16 mths. old, just came into her second heat 2 weeks ago. I wasn't very thrilled about it, but then got the idea that this might help her overcome her dog reactivity issues.
I always wanted her to become friends with our neighbour's neutered pitbull type dog. He is young and seems sweet, but is large and muscular, with powerful jaws, and I am afraid that he could make mincemeat of Suzie if he reacted badly to her initial aggression. I know that females in heat are irresistible to intact males. Would a neutered male react similarly? How would the female perceive him?
Suzie played enthusiastically with an elderly, laid-back male GSD a few months ago, after some initial aggression on her part. I am hoping for the same with our neighbour dog, Boris, and that they could remain friends after Suzie is out of heat/ spayed.
What is your take on this? I thought we could introduce them on leash off property, through parallel walking, rear sniffing, etc., and if all goes OK, let them off leash in our enclosed yard.

[Konotashi]

First off, females don't always accept intact males. They will only accept a male when they are ready to be mated, otherwise, boys better BACK OFF.

I've only ever been around one intact female with a neutered male. It was when our lab that we found off the streets came into heat for the first time she was with us. My mom's friend has a neutered white GSD. It's a good thing he was neutered, because he tied with her. They figured hey, he's neutered, just let 'em go at it.

However, we have a female pit bull (spayed). She's fine and hunky-dory with everyone until they show aggression toward her. That's a BIG until, because as soon as they show aggression, she gives it right back 100x worse.
If it wasn't for our lab displaying aggression toward her first, they probably never would have had any issues. However, since our lab insists on trying to 'take-on' Gracie, they have to be kept separate at all times.

[jocoyn]

My own experience with having a "friend" cure dog reactivity is the dog can develop a "friendship" with another dog who is in their inner circle but still the dog is reactive to strange dogs. I do not believe it will fix anything.

Introducing during heat is a great way to get someone all tore up.

[PaddyD]

If she is dog aggressive/reactive she is likely to strongly dislike unwanted advances. And if he is a pit bull there is no way of knowing how he will react to her aggression. If you ask me it is looking for trouble. Why were you not thrilled about her going into heat?

[jetscarbie]

When my female would come into heat.....my neutered male would act like an idiot.

He would not leave her alone for one minute. He would try to mount her over and over again......and she would absolutely attack him. They can be a little biiitchy

I had to keep them apart as best as I could. Then one day.....he was so excited trying to mount her....his penis came out and wouldn't go back in. It was terrible. I had to take him to vet to get it back in. That was an unexpected surgery.

IMO...do not let any dog...even a neutered dog hump. Some neutered dog's will hump a female that's in heat. Just b/c they are fixed doesn't mean anything.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

[Jax08]

It is extremely unfair to your dog to try to work on dog reactivity issues when she is in heat.

Are you a female? If not, go ask any woman if they like to be messes with when their hormones are raging. If their hormones are currently raging....duck...quickly...

First, her reactivity could be worse because of the hormones. Second, you don't force a dog reactive dog to interact with another dog.

Look up LAT (Look At That). Read up on clicker training for dog reactivity. I hear "Click to Calm" is a good book. I own it....and lent it out so never got to read it!

[Susnelda]

Thank you so much for your input. I don't have a lot of experience with females in heat; we have owned pet GSDs for years, all spayed.

I consulted an experienced GSD breeder/ trainer about the question I posed to you. She said that Suzie was at her most receptive stage now, and that it would be worth a try. She also thought Boris would become enamoured of her (thus taking care of the fighting instinct), and that she might welcome his advances. She cautioned us not to let Boris mate with her to prevent uterine infection. I didn't know that this might be a health hazard to the male, as well. Our friend thought it would be best to test the waters first by having Suzie on a long rope, then letting her off if things were going well.

I realize that if the two dogs were to become friendly, that this wouldn't probably not be a cure for Suzie's issues. I was hoping it might be a start, though, and also give her a buddy to romp and play with. Besides Suzie, we also have an elderly GSD female, close to 14 yrs. old, who is much too frail for the pup's rambunciousness, and we have to keep the two apart most of the time.

I've heard of Pitbulls' fighting potential; that's why I was very hesitant about introducing Boris to Suzie under normal conditions.

I've tried various methods to get Suzie's reactivity under control while on walks, beginning with treats and distractions when nearing another dog on walks, as well as corrections, at the advice of an old-school type trainer, supposedly quite famous in our area, supposedly also very experienced with dog aggression.

Our elderly female, Greta, was very afraid of strange dogs when she was young, hiding behind me and cowering when meeting even little dogs. I was able to overcome that gradually by acting happy and excited whenever we approached a friendly looking strange dog. In the end, she loved meeting and playing with friendly, new dogs. It would be ideal if I could use a similar approach with Suzie. Of course, dog reactivity is a whole other issue. I get pretty nervous and apprehensive myself now, whenever I walk Suzie, and realize that I really have to keep that in check.

Re. her coming into heat--we got her at 8 mths of age. I wanted to have her spayed when she was more mature, ideally after her first season. I didn't realize she would come into season just four months after her first heat! We have no desire to breed her, and set a date with our vet in mid February for her spay.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted by Susnelda

We have no desire to breed her, and set a date with our vet in mid February for her spay.

I would wait a little longer - if she came into heat 2 weeks ago she'll have just finished by then and it's better to wait a couple months after her heat is over to spay.

We had Dena spayed a month after her first heat and the vet said he could still see signs of it, her body had not completely returned to normal yet. With Halo we waited 2 months after her heat to spay.

[Susnelda]

Thanks, Debbie, you may be right; I was wondering about that, too. I've also read that it's optimal to do a spay/ neuter when a dog is fully mature, so waiting another 2 months would help.