male dog depressed during mating season

Question
I live in India, and my young two-year old dog, a stray who came to us as a half-grown pup, is rather immature. We've noticed that even in mating season females won't take him seriously, and males half his size bite him. For the past week he hasn't been eating, won't wag his tail or interact with us as he used to. He keeps going desperately with 'the gang' of other grown male strays after the females, but no success. We're worried about him - especially since he won't eat! Any suggestions how to help him be less depressed?

Answer
Hi Kavita-

To be honest, I'm a little concerned at the situation you described, which sounds very dangerous. It sounds like your dog is just roaming the streets with a few other dogs, breeding and fighting at will. Please excuse me if I misunderstood that.

There is a quite short and simple way to fix the problem you are describing. Neuter him, and keep him at home with you, where he belongs. It takes a few weeks for the hormones to leave his system, but then he wont want to wonder, he wont be fighting with other males and possibly getting injured or killed, or hit by a car, or any other numerous things that could happen to him. He also wont be fathering any illegitimate children left to wander the streets and produce more strays. Neutering him will make him happier, calmer, healthier, and will erase the depression you are describing- which is typical behavior of a male in "heat craze" who can smell bitches in heat. Its a rut, they don't want to do anything but breed- including eat, sleep or play with their people.

Thank you for taking a stray in off the streets- I hope that you continue to do right by him, and get him neutered ASAP! :)