 CHOCOLATE, my one-year-old Labrador, is a 'humper'. He humps other dogs, his bed and his blanket. He's an embarrassment in the park at times. How can I curb his amorous ways? Sara Cooke, Barnstaple, Devon A) Oh dear, hormones are on the rise, it seems, and at a typical time for a lab like Chocolate. He's becoming a teenager — enough said. One way to rein in this behaviour is neutering, as it removes much of the hormonal drive to act out sexual urges. But the timing of neutering is crucial. Larger breeds, or those that can be prone to skeletal problems, really benefit from completing their teenage and young adult growth spurt with the testosterone in their system. So in Labradors, I would recommend holding out until he's at least 18 months of age if possible, or even a little bit longer — unless, of course, there are any behaviours that are problematic and exacerbated by being intact. Secondly, some of these behaviours can become learned or an important social tool, so castration does not always resolve them fully. Every dog is different. So I would speak to your vet and a behaviourist to work out what's best in your circumstances. On balance, though, if Chocolate is not intended to be a breeding animal, it's probably less frustrating for him to be neutered, just at the right time. Got a question for Sean? SEND your queries to vet@the-sun.co.uk Q)MY cat Bob has arthritis. He's 13 and has painkillers, but is there anything else I can do? Are there any){kind=link}
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Q) CHOCOLATE, my one-year-old Labrador, is a “humper”.