Neuter recovery & exercise

[Josh Adams]

Our 6-month-year-old Sam was neutered on Tuesday.

He bounced back quickly and is so ready to return to normal life. The poor guy has another seven days of no running, playdates, dog park, etc. per vet's orders. How do people do this? He's going NUTS. Sam is used to three hours of hard exercise each day. We're taking him on three 20-30 minute leisurely walks each day (which some websites say is too much) but that is not enough for him. By 6 PM, he's barking at the back door (something he's never done) to go out and play. He's also starting to bark at the front door as people walk by (also never done before). We finally gave in tonight and had him run around the first floor to burn off some energy. We have chew toys, puzzle games, Kongs, training/trick exercises, etc. but that does not equate to the physical stimulation he's used to and needs. I suppose there is nothing we can do but just ride it out?

[Josh Adams]

Update: it's been over a week since Sam returned to his normal social schedule but the barking at the door and random sounds has gotten worse. He jumps up howling a deathly, schreaching howl out of no where. It's very random. One minute he's bouncing around joyfully then suddenly he turns into a big ball of anxiety. I've done some research and learned that dogs his age (6 to 7 months, especially after neutering ) go through a fear period as they enter adolenence. Some articles warn that aggression is something they grow “into” not “out of”. Has anyone experienced this sudden change in behavior? Is this normal, something he'll grow out of or should we seek help from a trainer? Don't get me wrong, he's still a loving, social and happy puppy but he's clearly going through something. 

[Wendy and Myla]

I have no experience whatsoever but just wanted to say that I'm glad you are so aware of Sam's behaviour and researching it so thoroughly.  Please keep us all updated as I'm sure that others will have questions also.

[Stella]

I would contact a veterinary behaviourist rather than a trainer (you might need a referral from your vet). This is a behavioural issue rather than a training / obedience issue. 

[Josh Adams]

Thank you. Yes, I plan on following up with our vet for guidance and behaviorist recommendations.

From what I read online, it can be a combination of low testosterone levels due to castration and a normal development phase at this age. Many blogs I've read said this passes. I'm hoping someone on this forum can share their experiences as it seems pretty common. I want to know what I can do in the short term. 

[Josh Adams]

Our vet got back to us. I had asked if she could recommend a vet behaviorist. Her response "you can schedule a consult with us before feeling like you need to jump into a behavior consult". She went on to recommend a vet behaviorist if we chose to pursue it. 

My question is - should we meet with our vet first? What are things they will consult or advise on? My concern is they're going to put him on anxiety medication and collect the exam fee. I don't think there's anything medically wrong with him since he just had blood work a month ago for his neuter. Looking for guidance here. My gut tells me to meet with the behaviorist.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Okay, so what we all have to realize as pet owners is that nobody can put your dog on medication without your consent. Yes, you will have to pay an exam fee, which for an established patient should not be more than $50 (not counting any tests they may run), but you absolutely do not need to agree to medications or any other treatment that doesn't feel right to you. Your vet may have some insights that may help, or it might be a waste of time and money. 
But I can tell you that the veterinary behaviorists in my area charge $300+ for an initial consultation, and insist on doing a full physical work-up to rule out any physical causes for the behavior before addressing it, so it might be less expensive to start with your vet.  
Your other option is to wait and see if this is indeed just a result of his body needing to adjust to changing hormone levels coupled with adolescence. I agree that it doesn't seem likely that there is a physical reason. But be aware that the bloodwork that is typically run pre-surgery doesn't cover everything. For example, it would not include a full thyroid panel, and some behavioral issues are caused by thyroid issues. I don't think that's the case with your guy, but it is something to know. 

[Josh Adams]

Thank you as always, Karen. I understand your points and know we have a choice. I guess I was vetting a bit on how often vets prescribe anxiety medication before trying to address the underlying issue (the same sentiment applies to human doctors too, I speak from experience). 

The other option we have is to meet with an ACAAB behaviorist who focuses on behavior modification instead of medicine. Luckily our pet insurance covers behavioral treatment, so it will help with the cost whether it's a vet behaviorist or ACAAB.

My partner wants to wait and see if Sam improves. I'm less patient because the behavior has increased over the past several days. 

Regarding hormones, my vet (and breeder) both strongly disagree that his behavior has anything to do with his hormones. They claim they've never seen a dog develop a negative behavior after a neuter (even if it's short term). That sort of blows my mind, especially after reading many blogs online. But Sam is our first dog, so what do I know. lol.

Going to think about this one a bit more. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Even the best breeders always seem to claim that they have never seen "fill-in-the-blank-behavior-or-condition-that-is-a-problem" in any of their dogs, lol, but your vet's opinion on that is worth something. 
I do think it's a good idea to think it over. Please keep us posted.

[Stacy]

Josh - I keep thinking about this. I think before I started looking for a vet behaviorist I would look for a trainer. Someone with really good references who you can trust to help you figure out if this is normal behavior or not. Six months can be a weird time in a dog's life. He's not really a baby anymore. He's kind of getting into that bratty toddler/teenager phase. Obviously I can't see what is happening, and maybe it's out of the norm. But maybe it's just more him getting older and thinking that he's a big man who needs to protect his castle. He may need you to take a stronger leadership role so that he knows you've got this. He doesn't need to worry about whatever he hears outside because dad's the boss. He's still really young. The fact that this all seemed to coincide with his neuter may just be coincidence. 

I say go with your gut, but I also think there might be a trainer out there who is just as effective as a behaviorist, and if it were me I would probably try that first. The key is finding a really good, knowledgeable trainer. They're out there, but sometimes they're hard to find. 

Also, kind of like the nutrition thing, I don't know that I would always trust a vet's assessment of training and behavior. Not all of them are experts in dog behavior. They went to school to do the medical stuff, there is a whole world of training stuff that they don't necessarily have.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's just odd that the behaviors started immediately after the neuter surgery; that's the reason I think it's worth a vet visit. Otherwise, I would totally agree that maybe a good trainer is the best option. And it still might be. 

[Stacy]

I agree, it's always good to rule out something physically wrong. I also remember six months. Hell on wheels. Who stole my sweet, sleepy, cuddly puppy and replaced her with this insane land shark??? 

[Josh Adams]

Stacy, thank you so much for this. You gave me more to think about. 

The main reason I'm thinking about a behaviorist vs. trainer is that, in my opinion, dog trainers teach dogs to perform tasks or actions and teach dogs not to do certain things whereas a behaviorist can teach me how to understand and work with him emotionally (which is something I've been struggling to do at times). True, there is some overlap between the two professions. But private trainers (at least here in DC) are just as expensive. They want $200-$220 for an initial behavior consult then $120 each session. Our insurance will cover behavioral treatments if he/she is a licensed vet or a registered and credentialed member of CAAB, or DAVCB. Most trainers do not have these certifications ... so it's also a cost issue/decision. 

In the end, maybe this is all normal and to your good point, he just needs to know there's nothing to worry about. I'm sure trying to let him know that lol.