Is the Daycare Attendant lying?

[StateOfMine]

I was informed just about an hour ago that Flint was, and I quote, "a major humper" by the daycare attendant I picked him up from. This is the first time I've heard this, and I know Flint is only barely over 6 months and his hormones should be kicking in... but does mounting start this early?

I only have doubt because she also asked me about his cropped ears (he's been going to this daycare once a week since he had all of his shots at 4 months and she just now says something to me) and mentioned that she could never do something like that.

Also apparently it was her chocolate lab that he kept trying to mount, and she is a year old spayed female. So I do wonder if she was just pissed off at me bringing an intact male in. Their policy says intact males are allowed until 9 months old. I won't be needing the daycare service beyond that anyway, I just wanted him to learn to deal with interacting with other dogs in case he may need to on occasion so I started early.

Anyway, I've seen him around the female Golden retriever at training (yep the one he peed on as a puppy) and he's never tried that with her. He has also never tried to mount the male golden there either. Does he just really like that one chocolate lab? Apparently he doesn't mount anyone else...

I just find that statement odd, and I have to wonder if she was just trying to push her own ideals onto me subtly. She wasn't happy when I told her I wasn't neutering him until he was well into adulthood for the health benefits.

 

[Ravenbird]

Without other witnesses you have no way of proving whether the attendant is lying or not. Humping should never be allowed on other dogs, people, toys for any reason as it becomes a self rewarding habit that will stay with them for life. Neutering doesn't usually change it. Many dogs neutered before 6 months do it, and females can also develop the habit. So if Flint did do this, the attendant would be right to let you know, but had no business sharing her feelings about cropped ears.

I think I've aired my feelings about day cares and dog parks enough but I'll say it once more. Doggy Day Cares and Dog Parks are nothing but a wreck waiting to happen. Be it a nasty dog fight, being bullied, learning to be a bully, learning bad habits and not getting corrected, having other people correct your dog in ways you don't approve, or letting (or encouraging) your dog behave in ways that you don't want it to etc. etc. etc. If you have to use the dog care, request kenneling with potty breaks on leash or in an outdoor run with no dogs.

She wasn't happy when I told her I wasn't neutering him until he was well into adulthood for the health benefits.

It's not your job to make her happy. You're paying money to have your puppy cared for properly, personal opinions shouldn't be brought up.

 

[Kswoodssue]

This is what dogs do when left to their own devices, and may be triggered for a number of reasons. The behavior is not acceptable in our companions. Returning him to this situation is setting him up for failure. Let his experience with other dogs be at the end of your leash, teaching him to ignore them and NOT interact with them. As for ears, most people will not understand the choice to crop. How you handle that is up to you, and I am sure someone here can give you options for best responses. It will all work out.

 

[StateOfMine]

Oh Flint is a complete ass when he comes home at first. Then he gets reminded very swiftly that this isn't daycare, I'm not afraid to give stern corrections and I'm not one of the dogs that I am sure he bullies sometimes. He falls back in line quickly after he gets that first reality check. I definitely didn't care about the attendant's comments on ear cropping or neutering, she sounded exactly like what every other brain-washed, no-thoughts-head-empty person I've come across that supports spaying/neutering as early as possible but thinks I'm an ass for cropping.

I have done a few training sessions in front of Home Depot and Petco where we stay by the door and he learns to ignore the people/dogs passing by. Some days are better than others, but he understands when I expect him to ignore the other dogs/people. I know our ideas differ from here, but I think keeping them away from dogs their whole lives won't prepare them for inevitable or emergency situations where they need to know how to interact with other dogs, whether to submit or be assertive or whatever the situation calls for. Things happen and dogs can become lost or I may need to leave him with a friend or family member for awhile, all of who have expressed interest in having dogs. I do understand what you're saying though and I don't think your approach is bad. The lab I had never interacted with other dogs until she was an adult, and that was only to chase strange dogs off the property in our forested, rural area. When we had to move her to the suburbs, she was about 6 years old, but she seemed more indifferent than reactive like we thought she'd be. Maybe it was her age, I don't know.

The daycare crutch will not be used indefinitely, even if their policies didn't state they won't accept intact dogs over 9 months. I did notice he is more confident around dogs since I started taking him and more responsive to when other dogs try to tell him he is making them uncomfortable (which is another reason I thought that lady's claims were so surprising). He doesn't get in another dog's face and bark uncontrollably anymore. Once he gets that little reminder that he is back at home and he needs to settle, that drained energy is apparent and he is more content to chill on the floor by my feet and take a snooze than fight me for a spot on the couch (he never wins but he certainly feels entitled to be on my couch without permission).

There are drawbacks too I'm sure. Maybe now that he is in his teens I'll pull him out of daycare and we'll work more on the ignoring part.

 

[JanS]

TBH, it sounds like the daycare lady is being a little reckless with the dog in her care. And the ear crop/early neutering is such an implanted stereotypical belief from people who just don't care to learn the truth.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Also apparently it was her chocolate lab that he kept trying to mount, and she is a year old spayed female. So I do wonder if she was just pissed off at me bringing an intact male in.

I think this is it. She ignored the bad behavior before, but now that it affects her dog, she's openly complaining about your dog. Some Doberman's are natural bullies, and because he is intact, the other males may gang up against him to teach him a lesson, including the neutered ones! This is a bit of a dangerous time for Flint, so do be careful.

 

[Kaiser2016]

but does mounting start this early?

Yes, train him against the humping. Kaiser is intact and never humps anyone. Well, there was this one time

 

[JanS]

Kaiser is intact and never humps anyone. Well, there was this one time

LOL and if he's going to go for it, it might as well be big.