Basenji Boy Puppies

[Mantis]

Cairo is officially at 5months and has found a new bag of energy at night that is extreme to say the least. Caesar and I wanted to know what age you guys are fixing your boys?

Cairo is still small in size and will fixing him at 6month slow his growth or is that just a myth?

[Quercus]

@Mantis:

Cairo is officially at 5months and has found a new bag of energy at night that is extreme to say the least. Caesar and I wanted to know what age you guys are fixing your boys?

Cairo is still small in size and will fixing him at 6month slow his growth or is that just a myth?

Well, Ariel has had an energy boost lately too…I think the other dogs are ready to pack her bags and kick her out the door.

I kind of doubt neutering will help that too much. But if I had a boy dog, I would probably wait till closer to a year to neuter, unless I started seeing some signs of 'testosterone poisioning' If I saw any marking in the house, inappropriate aggression towards people or other dogs, I would probably neuter any time around six months.

Early neuter will often make males grow very tall and lanky, rather than stunting their growth. Something to do with the testosterone is a limiting factor for long bone growth. Lisa has more info about this than I do, and maybe she will chime in here. But I would say no, neutering won't stunt his growth at all.

[lvoss]

Sex hormones are what signal growth plate closure. Males who are neutered before their growth plates close will have longer legs and can be more prone to injury.

My 5 month old is also a bundle of energy. She lost her last baby tooth this week. She is still chewing everything in sight so we have to be always ready to trade for something appropriate. As for the just running around and wrestling energy, Rio is happy to help her burn it so I am lucky. The only thing is keeping enough calories in Rio to make up for all the energy she burns.

[JazzysMom]

Keoki has had a few bursts of energy lately that are surely going to get him killed by Gypsy and Jazzy if he doesn't soon learn how to discern when he is annoying and when he is charming. LOL He is SUCH a pest to those two girls! They take it well, but he has gotten a few pretty sharp warnings – after which he appears submissive for a second and a half, then charges back at 'em again. LOL They are incredibly tolerant.

I think, here anyway, it has to do with the weather. These sunny days put a bit of a spring in all our steps, but he's just more springy than the rest of us.

I plan to have Keoki neutered in late August or September. He will be 7 or 8 mos old.

[Quercus]

@JazzysMom:

Keoki has had a few bursts of energy lately that are surely going to get him killed by Gypsy and Jazzy if he doesn't soon learn how to discern when he is annoying and when he is charming. LOL He is SUCH a pest to those two girls! They take it well, but he has gotten a few pretty sharp warnings – after which he appears submissive for a second and a half, then charges back at 'em again. LOL They are incredibly tolerant.

I think, here anyway, it has to do with the weather. These sunny days put a bit of a spring in all our steps, but he's just more springy than the rest of us.

I plan to have Keoki neutered in late August or September. He will be 7 or 8 mos old.

Oh…so Keoki won't be shown?

[JazzysMom]

Well, he does have to be in one show, per agreement w/Jumoke, and that'll be in August.

I wouldn't mind showing him if he proves to "have the right stuff", but dh doesn't want to go that route again. And since we had originally agreed that Jazzy would be spayed at 6mos and NOT show, LOL, I figured I should give him this one. {although…... one never can tell w/dh. Remember, he didn't want another puppy AT ALL, LOL }
I am a little disappointed, but do plan to still attend local shows to cheer on Jumoke dogs {and Fender if Ambered shows again!!} . But it sure won't be the same w/out my baby out there! I was surprised at how "into" those shows I got!

[felakuti]

our Fela, 4 1/2 month old male has an undescended testicle…the vet said that the testicle tucked into his warm body will produce too much hormones, and will make him very aggressive, and should be removed. That requires exploratory surgery to find and remove it. Any comments and/or suggestions?

[ciarasmom]

oooo, I'm not sure, but I think 4 1/2 months is too soon to say that the testicle will stay undecended. I'd get a bunch of opinions on that, including from your or another experienced breeder.

A lot of people don't realize that B's carry their testicles a little differently than other dogs, and sometimes even judges at shows have trouble finding them because a scared B will pull them up /in.

[JeepJeep]

My mom's poodle had a problem operation while nuteuring to get the undescended testicle. It was more expensive, but he recovered very well and is a sweetie.

[JazzysMom]

@ciarasmom:

A lot of people don't realize that B's carry their testicles a little differently than other dogs, and sometimes even judges at shows have trouble finding them because a scared B will pull them up /in.

I'm sorry…I've never heard that before and it just gave me SUCH a visual

[Vanessa]

My breeder recommends that our little guy be fixed in a year. I guess it has to do with health concerns. Having them fixed early could mean that your B does not fully develop

[ciarasmom]

@JazzysMom:

I'm sorry…I've never heard that before and it just gave me SUCH a visual

Completely understandable! Maybe someone with first hand experience will chime in with a funny story.

[felakuti]

we had never heard of that longer leg business before, how interesting. if possible we will wait until fela is a year old too. i wonder why their testicles are different than other dogs? anybody know?

[YodelDogs]

@felakuti:

our Fela, 4 1/2 month old male has an undescended testicle…the vet said that the testicle tucked into his warm body will produce too much hormones, and will make him very aggressive, and should be removed. That requires exploratory surgery to find and remove it. Any comments and/or suggestions?

Ciarasmom is correct. Male Basenjis have the ability to pull their testicles up into their body, usually when scared, excited, or cold. Does the testicle in question ever "settle" into the scrotum when he is relaxed? If so, the pup doesn't have a problem. "Yo-yo" testicles, where they go up into the body and back out again, is usually caused by a vas deferens that is too short. The "cord" is simply not long enough for the testicle to be in the correct place. If this is the case, you just have to wait it out and hope it drops down into the scrotum and stays there. If the testicle has never dropped down, you have a true undescended, or missing, testicle. One missing is called monorchid while both missing is called cryptorchid. Monorchids and cryptorchids are disqualified from dog show competiton and since the problem is thought to be inherited, they should be altered. In any case, wait a few weeks and try to schedule the neuter while the testicle is down into the scrotum. The surgery will be easier for your boy.

And I'm sure that is more than anyone ever wanted to know about Basenji testicles. :p

[YodelDogs]

@Mantis:

Cairo is officially at 5months and has found a new bag of energy at night that is extreme to say the least. Caesar and I wanted to know what age you guys are fixing your boys?

Neutering is not as likely to affect your pup's energy level as much as maturity will. Try to fit in more exercise sessions such as long walks and play sessions with another friendly dog to help curb the problem. My best wishes.

[MaxBooBooBear]

@felakuti:

our Fela, 4 1/2 month old male has an undescended testicle…the vet said that the testicle tucked into his warm body will produce too much hormones, and will make him very aggressive, and should be removed. That requires exploratory surgery to find and remove it. Any comments and/or suggestions?

Many, many years ago when I was in highschool we had a cocker who was very aggressive. Back then–it wasn't that common to neuter males. Our vet recommended he be neutered to try to help with the aggression. He had one undescended testicle (maybe that contributed to him being aggressive). He went into shock on the operating table when the vet was trying to find it, so he stopped the surgery, and the one was left in there. He was several years old at the time and continued to be aggressive.

[tanza]

Undescended testicles are a health concern for dogs.. and I have heard that also about "not" being able to remove them even during surgery, however now days with so many specialist, that is who should be doing that kind of surgery… IMO....
Also, wanted to chime in about a 4 month old with an undescended testicle.. I would wait until at least over 6 months.. especially with a Basenji. In one of my litters, we had a pup that I could find both at 2 wks, however at 10 weeks I could not, nor could my Vet... He was placed local, so I was able to see him a lot and it was not till he was 7 months did the other testicle drop..

Basenjis also carry their testicles different then other dogs, which is another reason people have problems (even Vets) finding them.. instead of like most dogs that carry them side by side, Basenjis carry them one in front of the other... which I suppect is the reason it is so easy for them to "suck" one up... and yes they do that.. especially puppies... Cold hands from a judge and you can bet they are gone!... Many judges will have the handler take them off the table and move them around the ring and then re-check....

[felakuti]

Basenjis carry them one in front of the other?????? First time i have heard of that. Is that verified by anyone else?

[Quercus]

Yes, they are often front and back, often in puppies. And they can be retracted much later into puppyhood than other breeds. In general their testicals are small for their size…probably because They are definitely *different ...maybe because small and discrete are important for bush dogs?

[Mantis]

I have noticed that Cairo's are one in front of the other and have dropped lower now where you can see them from behind.