Neutered Dog

The cone of shame is no fun at all!

I had little Maru Neutered more than a week ago. I've been thinking it's about time and due to a couple of reasons too. He's already over six months already, he's humping Chloe more than usual, he have been over active, a lot of pent up energy and being overly anxious around other dogs especially female ones. I'm hoping for a behavior improvement after the whole process.

Then again with the drastic question, Why do this to the poor little dog? I have my reasons which I had explained thoroughly already when Chloe was spayed back then, see Spayed Dog. Maru have two incisions, where he got neutered and one in his abdomen. He had an umbilical hernia since back when I got him so we got it fixed too.

Scratch more plz???

Due to the cone of shame, he won't be able to pick on his surgery sites but then he wont be able to scratch his head too, poor little one.

Plzz let us play now??

I also have to separate the two furballs within two weeks until the stiches are removed, because Chloe will definitely pick on the surgical sites instead of Maru if they were to be left alone together. So Maru has to be crated to keep them separated. No play time together for them in the meantime.

As of this time, I haven't seen any improvements yet, he is still the active dog that he is. Compared to Chloe back then when she was spayed who acted sickly, Maru acts like nothing happened. I guess I should be happy for that. Though I haven't taken Maru outside yet to meet other dogs since the neuter, I hope to see some changes in due time.

Separation Anxiety

February 20, 2011 - Sunday

(entries were dated by the time it was composed)

Chloe has terrible separation anxiety. She hates the crate and exercise pen that I got her. Everything that separates her from me is considered an enemy. 

On our first night together, I left Chloe inside her pen and went to my bedroom to sleep. The first night was horrible, she cried and whined all night long. 

On our second night, I tried a different approach with her. I still placed Chloe on her pen, but I tried sleeping in the sofa so she knows I'm around. I ended up not getting enough sleep because of her whining. 

Third day, I went out for a bit to buy some stuff and i left her inside the pen as usual. On my way back, I"m still a couple of doors from my apartment and i could already hear Chloe's whining and screaming from afar, and in addition, I see a couple of children usually playing around the apartment complex gathering around my apartment door wondering what's happening inside.

Fourth night, I tried having Chloe sleep with me on my bed. Our night went really well and we slept peacefully for the first time. But I can't have her get used to that set up. The next day, I went to talk with some of my neighbors and asked if they are getting bothered by the noise, and they said it was fine and they're not bothered at all. Am I the only one thinking that her whining and screaming was really loud?

During her first week with me, I thought I'll  just let these things pass because she is still a puppy, and assumed that she only misses her mom and litter mates. I've tried some things I learned from research and advices from other people. Some thing I've tried was giving Chloe one of my shirt so that she could smell my scent on it, didn't work. I bought her a stuff toy of her size to substitute for her litter mates, didn't work either. I gave her a lot of toys and stuff to chew but she just ignores it. I also tried desensitizing her and making her get used to being by herself and not having me around, but I think that would take more time and patience than I expected.

Hey Dad, I want to play, so let me out of here.