'delicate' subject

[Marsha]

I'm not sure where to post this question, but, since I'm wondering if Spanky's 'parts' are functioning normally, I've put it in the Health section.
Spanky has been a mounter from time to time, but, as he's gotten older and calmer, this behavior has diminished quite alot. I can't remember the last time he attempted this with our child or his friends. His 'love interest' now seems to be our throw pillows. Until this morning, I thought this might have dwindled away, too, because it had been a couple of weeks since we had caught him with the pillows. This morning (as has been the case a couple of other times) I didn't actually catch him interacting with the pillow, but the evidence was there. The pillow had been dragged to the floor, to begin with. Now the 'delicate' part. Someone on the forum had used the term 'lipstick' too describe her neutered male and ask if this was an erection. She, however, seemed to be describing the tip of the lipstick sticking out.....something I saw frequently with our old neutered male. What I'm seeing with this one, I haven't seen before with anyone's dog. The entire lipstick is out.....(it looks overextended to me!!)....and the puppy is standing there looking miserable with his tail tucked and not being able to move. At least he doesn't move, and it's a very uncomfortable look on him. Is this just a normal erection? Or is something not working right? If it's working right, is it supposed to be able to work this well after being neutered? He got neutered 5-6 months ago. The behavior itself, I know, is another issue. And we seem to have made alot of progress in that area. In fact, he hasn't done the mounting in several weeks, at least in our presence. And while this wasn't done in our presence, I could tell that's what he'd been up to, so I don't think he's done it away from us either in several weeks. That's quite diminished from what it used to be. (Maybe the pillows have to be put away for a week or 2 and then see what happens). My main question right now, though, is not the behavior and what to do, but if his body is functioning correctly. Should he be able to do this when neutered? And, if it's working right, should he look this uncomfortable? (I don't want to be too graphic, but the lipstick is WAY out).

[Grace Erick]

I met a gal in a store who had a chihuahua, and I can't remember if he was fixed, I thought he was, but still humped away like crazy. He loved doing it to his toys and she said if she did not take his toys away at night, he would never go to sleep and would be humping his toys all night long!

She could never have anyone over and leave a toy of his in the livingroom, because he would have his way with it and embarrass them:)

[Jo Russell]

Um, seeing as I have no experience and little knowledge on this topic, I don't know that what I have to say will be much use to you, but if, as you've said this behaviour has dwindled since he was neutered, perhaps he was just having a final fling?! I think I'd take away whatever it is that seems to get him going, for a while at least.

I have heard of neutered males, past the few weeks after the op. when hormones are still settling, managing to knot with willing females. So, it seems all sorts of things are within the realms of possiblity.

[Ann Morscher]

My parents neutered two year old Westie also has his "lipstick' protrude out very far and he also sits in that very odd stance looking uncomfortable. Their dog stayed with me for a month this winter and I saw this happen a few times. I had no idea neutered males could do this. He humps occasionally, but I saw him in this situation a few times. I mentioned it to my parents and they said it happens to him every once and awhile.

Ann

[Jill Ramsey]

I can always tell when Finnegan's excited. His comes out. It has nothing to do with humping, it happens when he's excited.

[Marsha]

Yes, our old neutered Pug's would come out just out of excitement. He did very little of the humping behavior. But his only came out about 1/2 inch. Nothing like Spanky!!! And I was worried about the uncomfortable way he looks afterwards, too. Sounds like Ann's mother's dog did this, too, though. Maybe it's normal...nothing wrong with him. I think I'll put the pillows up for a little while!!

[Marsha]

Spanky was at it again last night. He had gone off by himself and was too quiet for too long. I went in to check on him, and he was standing miserable by a throw pillow that he had pulled onto the floor looking uncomfortable and unable to move easily. He was no longer doing the behavior (we never actually catch him at the behavior anymore), but, since he was looking so miserable, I tried to get his mind off of it. I got treats out and tried to get him to SIT or DOWN. I suppose it's hard to do this in the state he was in because he tried but wasn't able to get in a full sit. It lasted about 5 minutes, and then he was back to normal. My 10 year old son came in during this time. He didn't notice the erection (I guess that's what it is?), but he did notice something was odd. He said Spanky doesn't look happy, what's wrong with him? Again, is it normal for it to get so enlarged that he's miserable, can't sit or lay down, etc?