Expert: Delores Beck - 3/28/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi Delores,

I'm considering rescuing this female from her owner, who bought her off someone else just two months back for almost peanuts and is now selling her for a profit, I dont mind paying him something reasonable to what he's asking.

I have never kept this breed but love it, I know there are some health issues, what I want to know is how to care for her, how often to feed her, how often to exercise her, how to deal with her heat phase, I dont plan on breeding nor spaying, also I live in an apartment with family and a Lhasa Apso who wants to hump every dog he sees even males, and he can get quite aggressive when in the mood to do that, will they get along? would you advise doggie panties for her during heat? shes about 2 and a half years old, will she be too energetic, I'm not active or playful, will me and my Lhasa make a good friends for her? or should I drop the idea?

ANSWER: Why wouldn't you get her spayed?  You need to understand it's very hard on a dog to go through endless heat cycles.  You will regret that decision.

Is your Lhasa neutered?  Will they get along?  Yes, if you introduce them the right way and that's not on his turf.  I can explain how to go about that.  Does he generally get along with other dogs when he's on walks?  And how often and how long do you walk your dog every day?

Cockers are high maintenance and require monthly professional grooming - regular ear cleaning, brushing, bathing, exercise, and need a premium food.  You may also have to housebreak her depending on how this "owner" has been caring for her.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again,

The Lhasa isn't neutered, he used to be friendly with two dogs he met in our area, but has developed an intense hatered for both, one is a Great Dane the other a Labrador, both males, I dont know for what reason as they used to be on friendly terms, and neither of the two were aggressive towards him at any stage, the Dane who is a year old infact was very playful but had this habit of smelling the Lhasa's genitals maybe even licking them, initially my dog would freeze seeing him but would loosen up after a while and start jumping on him playfully, the Labrador whos middle aged is more reserved and would just let out a soft growl if my one got overly playful, now when he sees them he literally wants to shred them to pieces if let off the leash thats what he'd do, I have to drag him away with him snarling and spewing spit all over, if I just mention the labs name he freaks out, he also has the same attitude towards Horses, Donkeys, Cows and some other dogs so may be its to do with size.

He is taken for a walk every day for about half an hour, other than that he gets a short outing to relieve himself in our compound every few hours, besides that he plays around in the house, but he also seems bored and wants to be outside all the time, loves to tag along where ever we go, but dose'nt like to stay in the car even if three people are with him, he'll want to go inside a store or whatever place the fourth person is going to even if he's not attached to that person, he gets excited seeing stray dogs and cats and wants to interact with them, only a few dogs he barks at ferociously, others he seems to be yearning and crying to be with, he used to play with one female in our area, but she was sadly poisoned by authorities who were trying to get rid of strays, he ran free off his leash once and was bitten by another stray who was guarding her pups, but despite that he still wants to be able to go to them it hasnt scarred him psychologically, initially he used to chase them in a playful non-threatening way, and they'd run from him but not anymmore as their behaviour has changed, whenever he hears them bark he responds and literally begs me to take him out with intensity at the oddest of hours if we are up.

Care wise he gets the same treatment you pointed out for Cockers, with his hair cut short now its much more easier to care for him. At the groomers too his object of desire is a neutered Pomeranian whom he likes to hump, even though there are other small breed males and females around he just targets that one, he's not aggressive towards any of the small dogs/toy breeds.

By the way a friend of mine got his Pekingese neutered and its as aggressive, possessive and menacing as it was before the procedure, for which the vet had recommended it, which has left us confused, and my one wants to hump him too but again is not aggressive towards him, its the other way around in this case.

Answer
You simply cannot have an unneutered male and an unspayed female in the same house without a lot of problems.  The heat cycles will drive your Lhaso crazy.  And you'll have males coming from miles around.  As I told you, it's very hard on her to go through endless heat cycles.

Your Lhaso is bored and I'd definitely increase his exercise.  The majority of behavioral problems are due to boredom and pent up energy.