[HeidiMoose]

Sorry, this is going to be really long, but it's a huge concern of mine and I want to be as detailed as possible so I can get the most accurate answers possible.

My boyfriend has two dogs, and he hasn't neutered either of them. He's planning on getting this done in the next couple weeks, as I'm pregnant and due in November, and we want to believe that this will help resolve, or at least lessen, their main behavioral issues. They've each got their own set of quirks.. so I'm just wondering which issues will (hopefully) be resolved..

Dog#1: Capo - Lab/Pit Bull Mix.
Capo is about 5 years old, I believe. My boyfriend rescued him as a puppy as his original owners abused him. So I don't know if any issues are a result of his past abuse and are just mental problems, but he is very much in tact. He's not aggressive whatsoever , but he's extremely annoying and some of his "quirks" make for quite the unsanitary environment. And actually, he's my bigger concern out of the two dogs.. because he's so bull-headed and stubborn, you can't get him to stop misbehaving no matter how much he's trained and disciplined. He knows when he does something wrong, yet he always continues to misbehave over and over. He's a very friendly and loving dog, and I'm not worried about him being around my baby in general.. but I'm not sure I'd want my baby to even touch him, because some of his antics are so disgusting.
1. One of his less evil quirks is his excessive need to whine every time he sees another dog, regardless of their gender. He whines so intensely that it sounds like someone is torturing him, or like a puppy that's been recently taken away from its mother. I'm not sure if this is hormone driven, and it's really the least concerning issue, but it would be nice if he just.. didn't do it anymore. This is very embarrassing to deal with when we take the dogs on walks or even when we have people over at our place.
2. Humping. Obviously.. this is hormone driven, and I know he won't stop altogether, but he does it very excessively. But I'm wondering if his age will make a difference in how much less he does this. Again, not a super concerning issue, just an annoying one to deal with.
3. This one is just plain DISGUSTING. Every time Capo has the opportunity, he will, like, savagely (for lack of better descriptive term) lick another dog's butthole. And he obviously enjoys this because he will start salivating to the extreme. I'm not sure what drives this, but it's just plain gross to deal with. And an top of this, he has an excessive need to lick people when he's happy to see them or wants attention. Whenever I come home or my boyfriend comes home, he immediately goes for an arm or a hand.. and it grosses me out, because I know what that tongue's been touching. I don't know if this is hormone driven, or a flat out nasty antic... Also, he has an insane need to lick things out of the grass when we take him on walks. It's hard to pull him away from certain spots sometimes because he's so determined to lick whatever's there. And he'll start salivating for HOURS after doing this kind of thing. So it gets all over the carpet, and the furnature. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure he licks things off the ground that give him illnesses from time to time.
4. Trash digging. I don't know if this is related to being in tact or not. I grew up with a fixed male dog, and I have a neutered male dog of my own (although he lives with my parents), and I've never had an issue with them getting into the trash, and it's always been out in the open for them to get into if they wanted. Anyway.. this dog is always so intent on getting into the trash that it doesn't matter where we put it, he finds a way to get to it. Be it magically getting into a room that we closed it into, getting it off of a counter or a table, etc.. he always manages to get into it. Needless to say.. I would like for this to stop. But the trash issue also leads to my next issue...
6. Marking/Urination. Obviously I don't care about this if he's outside (although it's a pain in the butt when he's bound and determined to mark something.. the dog is super strong). However, when he does do things like get in the trash, for example, he feels he needs to pee on it after (or maybe before.. I don't know, I'm not present when this actually happens) he eats whatever gross things he gets out of it. I can't say that he's ever urinated on furnature (that I know of), but he will urinate on random objects every now and then (my PS2 once.. for example. That made me happy.... ). I ASSUME that neutering him will resolve this, because I know it's a territorial thing. But again, him being about 5 years old, I wonder if it's something that will always be a part of him now because that's always how he's lived. Anyway.. this is a HUGE concern of mine, because I can't have dog urine all over my house where my baby will be crawling around. I want this dog to be an outdoor dog.. but that leads to my next issue with him...
7. This dog is the perfect escape artist. Seriously. You can't cage him, my boyfriend's tried every type of kennel imaginable and he always gets out of them. You can't keep him outside in a fenced yard. He'll find a way over or under the fence regardless of its size. Usually over. You can't keep him in those outdoor fenced in kennels (I'm really not sure what to call this.. ). He tore out of my dog's once, and the fenced part is very much connected to the ground. You can't keep him tied up, he'll find a way to get off the chain or get the chain off of whatever it's binded to. At our old apartment, we lived on the second floor. He once knocked the door out and jumped off the second floor balcony while we were gone. He's also broken through a 12X12 window frame (and actually.. I don't think it's even THAT big, more like 8X8) and jumped off the second floor of a house doing that. Needless to say.. it is IMPOSSIBLE to contain this dog. I don't know if he's determined to mate, or if he's just stupid and likes to jump from high places... But life would be MUCH easier if he were containable. I'd like to think fixing him will solve this.

As for my boyfriend's other dog..
Dog #2: Nitti - Boxer.
I think Nitti is around 3? He is probably the dog that I should TRULY be concerned about. When I first met Nitti, he seemed like a really good dog. But as I've grown to know him, I see more and more signs of aggression. This is really the only major issue I have with him. He stays in a yard if put outside, so he's a great outdoor dog. He can run around off the leash and he'll come back when called (MOST of the time). He actually prefers to be outside, which works out.. because I'm pretty sure he has a bladder control problem.. that or he also just likes to unrinate in the house (and he walks and trails it when he pees, ALWAYS). So if we find a house with a fenced in yard, he can just stay outside during the day.. no problem at all.
ANYWAY.. back to the point. He seemed like a very well mannered dog at first (besides begging and other meaningless things like getting on the furnature.. whatever). But the more I'm around him, the more aggression I've seen. In fact he's tried to bite ME on more than one occassion. I don't think he's ever actually bitten someone, but when we take him on walks, for example, he always tries to jump up at people, and he growls very aggressively, and he always barks, his hair stands up. And he's a VERY STRONG dog, so it's REALLY hard to control him when he starts doing this stuff. He also doesn't get along with other dogs unless he knows them. We took him to a dog park one day and we had to leave because he started at least 3 dog fights from what I remember. And what's worse is that he shows a lot more aggression to children than adults. I would like to think that he'd know who our baby is and won't do anything to harm him, but I don't trust him. I can't control him. My boyfriend can hardly control him. I want to think that neutering him will fix this. What's amazing about it is that this dog only has one testicle to begin with. He's always trying to dominate others, although he can't hump.. literally, he does not know how to mount, but he does stand over my boyfriend's other dog all the time, and tries to stand over us if we're laying down or sitting on the floor or something.. He really thinks that he's Alpha of the pack and won't listen a majority of the time no matter what.
He also has a bad habit of jumping. He might be playing, but he jumps up at people and pushes himself off with full force. This has been an issue during my entire pregnancy.. because there's a BABY in me that he could potentially hurt doing this. I've gotten bruises on my stomach from him doing this kind of thing. Once he jammed my finger when I was trying to block his jump, and my finger's been screwed ever since. I CAN'T have him doing this to a small child.

PLEASE tell me fixing these dogs will help resolve most of these issues...

My boyfriend absolutely REFUSES to get rid of these dogs no matter what, so if neutering won't fix most of the problems, I need to know what kind of training to get for them, because I will not tolerate their bad behavior and disgusting antics around my baby.

[harley_quinn]

I recommend getting them fixed. I'm not an expert, but despite what it will do for their behavior, it is still a good idea. You're right to worry about your baby,I don't know much about obedience training, but I'm taking my dog to some classes when I get back home from school for summer vacation. Maybe it will help you if you try it. Your dogs should not feel like the alpha or show signs of aggression towards you or children, that's a problem waiting to happen. Your boyfriend should take the initiative to get them under control because even though some people consider their dogs family, real family, especially a baby, should come first.
Even though I think you should get them fixed, there is a dog in particular I feel like I should bring up. My boyfriend's aunt has a chihuahua who is fixed. He is old and very aggressive. He bit my boyfriend and he's bitten me once when I was doing nothing but petting him, and no he wasn't injured. It drew blood and was painful for a bite from such a small dog. He barks at everyone, acts like a spaz, and once again is very aggressive. And he pees on the couch. Even though he's fixed, he still has behavioral issues. So if you get the dogs fixed, I don't think you should expect a 180.
I know you already know this, but your baby comes first. I'm not a mother, but don't let these dogs pose a risk to your child. I love dogs, but the life and well being of a baby is very important. Also, if something isn't done, the dogs can eventually hurt you or your child or somebody else, and that could lead to them getting euthanized. That wouldn't be fair to them or whoever they hurt. Good luck with everything!

[lange]

Wow! I truly feel bad for you. You have a lot of things going on but I think the most pressing & majority seem to revolve around not training your dogs from day one on to the present day. The best behaved dogs are going to be the dogs who have had the most time & care put into them. There are some dogs who easily fall into a submissive role while some will continually test you & take over if your not equipped. Your previous dogs may have behaved better because your parents were likely good at commanding control in their house.

I would be extremely concerned about Nitti. That dog IS in charge & will take charge over your baby. I would NEVER have either dog around a baby or child. Both you & your boyfriend need to do what is best for your baby at this point. Either you both take the time & effort to lead the household or you need to find someone who can. You have less than 2 months to do this & unless you both do a complete turn around & learn how to raise dogs, you have a bad situation waiting to happen. Your boyfriend needs to step into his new role as father & think of his child first.

If Capo mounts you than he is showing dominance. You need to get him under control as well, whether you think he is aggressive or not.

**You wrote: "He seemed like a very well mannered dog at first (besides begging and other meaningless things like getting on the furnature.. whatever)."**.......
Letting go of things you consider to be 'little nuisances' are actually helping create the bigger problems.

I'd also suggest not adopting any more dogs because you will run into the similar problems until you grow more knowledgeable. At this point on, you will have children in your lives for 18 or more years as your family is only now starting. And rowdy dogs never respect children!

As for your question, neutering might help reduce some aggression & marking but it will not solve your specific problems. You can take them to obedience class & get help from a dog behavioralist for direction on how to handle your dog but it will involve consistency & determination on both your parts.

I strongly recommend you use the net & do a search on how to be alpha. You can find some posts on these boards & on other sites. Learn it until you get it backwards & forward.

I'm not one who agrees with giving dogs with problems away but I would always prioritize a child, and I'm very concerned for your baby to be.
Good luck!!! Let us know how it goes.

[HeidiMoose]

Thanks for the input thus far you guys.

I had no part in raising these dogs, I've only known them for about 1 3/4 years, so I do mostly point the finger at my boyfriend on that one.
My dog (who lives at my parents, as I have nowhere for him where I live now) is extremely well behaved, and I raised him virtually by myself (I claimed him the day he was born, received him from a friend) since I brought him home as a puppy, and did obedience training in his first year so he would be a well behaved dog. My parent's really didn't do much in raising him. I always had him with me. He has a couple quirks but nothing we can't handle, and I'm VERY comfortable about introducing the baby to him when he arrives. So it's not that I don't know how to train a dog or maintain dominence. I'm very proud of my relationship with my dog and how well I'm able to control him.

My boyfriend has tried training these dogs (I mean.. they know commands very well, [sit, lay down, off, etc.. ]) and he does everything he can to try and maintain dominance. Luckily in the case with Capo, he is submissive, and he will listen when you ask him to stop doing something. He doesn't actually mount people - just other dogs.. so that's why I'm more convinced it's hormonal, although I am fully aware it's a dominence thing as well. The only thing that truly concerns me about Capo is that he's filthy. I just want to be able to keep him outside, but he's such an escape artist this isn't possible.. That's where I'm hoping neutering him will help.

I've expressed my concern about Nitti with my boyfriend. And I told him that I firmly believe that he needs aggression training or something.. And I'm sure when it comes down to it, if he's truly endangering our child, my boyfriend will do what he has to do protect our son.

I've tried maintaining dominence with these dogs. I have no problem with Capo.. that dog adores me and will do anything to please me (besides control his raging hormones or whatever.. lol). Nitti's the one that I have problems with. I don't know if it's because I'm a female and he feels that I'm a pushover or what.. I've tried everything I can think of to get this dog to obey me. But he definetely tries pushing his limits with my boyfriend, and my boyfriend doesn't tolerate it. When Nitti is misbehaving, my boyfriend DOES discipline him. And he'll behave for a short time afterwards, and then goes right back to what he is doing wrong the next time he's in a similar situation. I'm concerned about his aggression towards strangers. It's embarrassing to take him on walks because once he gets fixated on driving a stranger away, there's no stopping him until that person is out of sight.

But we're going to see how much neutering them helps. I understand that he loves his dogs and I can't just ask him to give them away without trying to make things work.. I hate it when people tell me I have to get rid of my dog. So we'll see how things go after they get snipped. Hopefully much better. But if things don't improve before November.. my boyfriend's going to have to make a sacrifice whether he likes it or not.