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Puppy+old dog = trouble?
by Charo
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Hi - We have a 1-1/2 year old male Maltese and live in Tokyo Japan. Our boy is not spayed, and we very much like him as he is, but we are thinking of bringing a 10 week old girl Maltese into our home too. Will he hurt her? Must she be spayed .. how soon? Are their dominance problems ahead for us? Is this a bad idea? We think the older boy would like some doggie company.Charo
DISCUSSION:
Do not get a female if you have an intact male. Another male would be nice. Maltese males get along just great unless there is a female in heat they will vie for. If you have your boy neutered then a female would be ok. You just cannot imagine the bedlam of an intact male with a female, you cannot get them neutered fast enough and you might end up with a pregnant girl. Maltese have what is called ' silent heats' sometimes and no one can tell except the boys. Both sexes run around peeing on everything. When you start breeding dogs you have to decide on how you are going to handle this and it usually means kenneling the boys and then they are not running free in your house.
Mary Lou
Charo, a dog isnt totally mature until it reaches about 18 months of age, so your boy is certainly not an old dog :) I believe if your male gets along ok with other dogs in general, then I see no reason why he would not love to have a full time companion. He will probably wind up the dominate of the 2 but that is natural in a pack. Unless you want puppies, then, yes, you will have to spay either the male, the female, or both. As to when, it can be any time from the age of 6 months on up. I envy you being able to have 2 babies. I would love to have another as a companion for my Puff. Good luck!
Sandy and Puff
Mary Lou and Sandy, Thank you both for your replies. We probably won't get a female mate for our boy. Maybe another male is a better idea since we don't one to get into breeding. Are two males apt to sexually "misbehaving"? Many thanks,Charo (Tokyo 6:09 AM Monday)
Charo
Is there a reason you don't want to get your dog spayed? You say you like him as he is, but spaying will not really change him. It will just prevent "accidental" puppies. I think it is a good idea for any companion animal to be spayed. I hope you will consider getting your dog spayed even if you do not get a puppy.
Ann
Hi Charo. Glad we could help you decide. Not that breeding is bad in itself, I have done it, but when you aren't prepared it can be a nightmare. By 'sexually misbehaving' I take it that you mean 'mounting' in play. Most all puppies of either sex will do this while young. As they mature this type of play generally drops off. It is harmless in any case. Every litter normally does play fighting and play mounting behavior with each other.
Mary Lou
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