Toy Poodle Behavior After Neutering

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
My poodle is 17 months old, he was neutered very early- about 3 months?? I never had a dog before so I am not sure what is normal behavior. He is VERY into his genitals, constantly licking them, biting them and pushes his "penis" out. I thought neutering sort of cut that urge . He also "humps" his girlfriend all the time (a teddy bear). Is this normal or maybe the vet didn't get all of it?

Thanks you
ANSWER: The humping is more of a dominance thing, but I guess he can't find anything lower to hump that his teddy bear<G>

The rest is more male behavior, although I am concerned with what you call "constant" licking. I'm not sure if it is indeed constant or if it just seems that way to you because he is your first dog. Some dogs do like to keep themselves clean, but he could possibly have a bit of an infection. Does he seem to have excess discharge from his sheath? You might have the vet check that out the next time you have him in.

A dog doesn't usually bite at himself unless he has an itch... usually from fleas. You might want to check him for that. Look for little black specks on him which could be flea dirt.... or if they move rapidly, the fleas themselves.

Karen

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

QUESTION: Well, it's probably not constant but he's been doing it since he was just a few months old so I dont think it's fleas or an infection. What about the erections? I thought neutering cut all sexual urges. I guess I'm just surprised that he's still concerned with his genitals.

Answer
The fact that you occasionally see his penis "hanging out" is not an erection. This is just something that males do, particularly when they are sitting. An erection actually makes the penis change dramatically.... getting longer, harder, and wider, and particularly the bulb of the penis gets quite enlarged.

Neutering eventually eliminates a large portion of the dog's testosterone, so in that regard, it tends to cut down on the dog's sexual urges a great deal, but a neutered dog can still breed if it is exposed to an in-season bitch; it just shoots "blanks".

Karen