older doodle

[Lynn Stoops]

 

Hello

 

Does anyone have experience with adopting/fostering an older (5 years old) male labradoodle that has not been neutered?  Our neighbors are thinking about helping with a doodle that needs a home ~ they have a male labradoodle and a female golden retriever (both neutered and spayed).  Would this male be OK around their dogs do you think he would be aggressive, mark...etc.

They would plan on having this boy neutered ASAP.  They have met him and he seemed sweet.  He has horrible hotspots or allergies they would need to change his food to a  better diet currently he is eating the Wal-mart brand of dog food and has been suffering with hotspots and ear infections for the past 2 years (poor boy)!

 

His current owners have lost their jobs and cannot afford his medications (ear infections), food or grooming.  He is UTD on vaccines.

 

[Amy Murphy]

I would bet he'll mark, that sometimes goes away after neutering but other times does not. How old are the other 2 Doodles? With all of them altered, hormones will not be a factor, but temperament will and position will. Expect a period of time where they will be reconfiguring the pack. There will have to be an alpha and an omega, and that will take some grumbling and some tussles. It could go just fine, or it could be chaotic for a while, three is a tricky number. Try to feed them and give them treats seperately, food can be a huge trigger for fights.

[Lynn Stoops]

I think the other doodle is about 18 months and the golden is younger (female) maybe 1 year old.  Three is always a challenge I like even numbers in kids and dogs!

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

I would expect him to mark and try to show his dominance until he is neutered.  All the doodles we have fostered have been younger than that but it has been nothing short of a miracle to see the difference after neutering! 

[Lynn Stoops]

I wonder if the current owners would have him neutered before placing him in the home?  I am sure my neighbors would pay and then the doodle could recover at his current home and then make the move.

[Lynda Kamrath]

That sounds like a great idea to me.  But you might talk to the owners currently and see if he has problems with dominance.  I had a 105-lb male doodle who was never in an altercation in his life.  If anyone threatened him, he just laid down.  He was the best dog I have ever had.  So it may not be chaotic at all.  Can he come and meet the other dogs or maybe meet on neutral turf?