The last week or so has been crazy. Poppy is in heat. Spotting, acting anxious etc. We've been keeping up with her and fortunately it's diminished considerably but, here's a small problem.

A male dog has been hanging around the house for a few days now. He's attracted to Poppy and we've been pretty careful (not letting him anywhere near her). Fortunately, I've been able to scare him off but he keeps coming back.

<Darth Vader voice> "Never underestimate the power of the penis".

Anyway, until Poppy's heat is over, (and a trip to the vet's for that operation), are there any suggestions for keeping this dog away from the house short of a nuclear holocaust?

I don't want to injure or kill the dog. I just want to keep him away.
To date we've tried:

1) Chili pepper around the doors
2) Spraying "Chomp" on the spots where the dog urinated. He hasn't urinated on the spots since.
3) Spraying Bitter apple. Ran out of the stuff but it was working so we gotta get some more.

Fortunately, the weather forecast is calling for rain this weekend so Poppy's smell should be somewhat diminished. Also, as mentioned, Poppy's cycle is finishing up and when that happens, she is going to the vet's to be spayed so there should not be a repeat of this.

Thanks for listening and any other advice offered.

It's nearly impossible to keep a male dog away from a girl in heat. However, it's not all bad news, I had to have April spayed while she was in heat, and my vet charged me about $15 more. You might want to call your vet and see how much he charges to spay a dog in heat, but it's not impossible or that much more expensive.

Good luck!

Is this a stray dog that's coming 'round? If not, call his parents and explain the situation to them. They need to be more responsible anyway.

Posted by SaraBellum It's nearly impossible to keep a male dog away from a girl in heat. However, it's not all bad news, I had to have April spayed while she was in heat, and my vet charged me about $15 more. You might want to call your vet and see how much he charges to spay a dog in heat, but it's not impossible or that much more expensive. Good luck! Is this a stray dog that's coming 'round? If not, call his parents and explain the situation to them. They need to be more responsible anyway.

Thank you for the advice. The dog has a collar and he looks like he was well cared for but my neighbours and I can't seem to get close to him. I've never seen him before so I don't know who he belongs to. Nice looking dog too and yes, his parents need to be more responsible. My one neighbour suggested that I call the dog pound and I believe I may have to do that.

Posted by rainman8889 My one neighbour suggested that I call the dog pound and I believe I may have to do that.

Animal Control in Nashville won't respond to a call unless the dog is biting people.

Have you thought about getting a water gun and shooting the dog whenever he comes by? That might do it. Maybe you should tell him to come back when he has a three carat engagement ring and some nice flowers, because we all know Poppy isn't the kinda girl who'll just put out on the first date.

Posted by SaraBellum Animal Control in Nashville won't respond to a call unless the dog is biting people. Have you thought about getting a water gun and shooting the dog whenever he comes by? That might do it. Maybe you should tell him to come back when he has a three carat engagement ring and some nice flowers, because we all know Poppy isn't the kinda girl who'll just put out on the first date.

Never thought of that.

And yeah, I told him he's not Poppy's type. Doesn't seem to listen though!

Argh! I hate guys like that!

Oh, just so you know, male dogs have been known to climb fences to get to their girl, so be careful if you leave Poppy out unattended.

Posted by SaraBellum Argh! I hate guys like that! Oh, just so you know, male dogs have been known to climb fences to get to their girl, so be careful if you leave Poppy out unattended.

Definitely. And yeah, I caught him trying to climb a fence. For now, the only time Poppy is outside, we are with her. Fortunately, the dog can't pick locks.
(Yet)

Go to the local vet and ask for an old neck cone thingy...preferably one worn previously by a neutered dog.

The scent of genital distress should be enough to scare the suitor away.

Posted by KublaKhan Go to the local vet and ask for an old neck cone thingy...preferably one worn previously by a neutered dog. The scent of genital distress should be enough to scare the suitor away.

Hmmm. I like that. And try to borrow the instruments used in the neutering as well eh? <smiling wickedly>

The little bugger is still hanging around. We came home and found him in our back yard. I chased him off and he came back again. This time, I got a pic of him.

click to view

At first, I thought some people down the street were his parents (he was playing with them) but they though he was my dog. They don't know where he is from either. And one guy briefly got a hold of him but found no tags on him.

And here's a pic of Poppy.

click to view

SPAS15. Does the job every time.

Posted by Captain Obvious SPAS15. Does the job every time. http://soldner.jow...weapons/SPAS15.jpg

Yup. It would but kinda noisy. And besides, I may have too much fun.

I think they'd make adorable puppies. I know that doesn't help, I'm just sayin'.

Posted by SaraBellum I think they'd make adorable puppies. I know that doesn't help, I'm just sayin'.

Yeah, shutterbug and I were thinking the same thing. He's friendly and shutterbug thinks he has the cutest feet but we unfortunately don't have the necessary resources for the puppies. And regrettably, I don't think he's the "child support paying type".

And I'm afraid of sending them to bad homes where they would be abused.

Why isn't Poppy spayed? Seems like that'd solve all your suitor problems now and in the future!

Apparently I can't read. Don't have any suggestions for keeping the male away, but bitches are fertile AFTER being in heat, so I would keep an eye on her even after the bleeding ends (unless you get her spayed then, of course). I don't know if you have a fenced yard or what, but I would keep her on a six-foot leash whenever she's outside, so that you'll always be right next to her. Dogs after bitches in heat are very bold; a friend of mine let her in-heat Rottie bitch outside to pee, watching from the doorway about twenty feet away, and a neighbor's unneutered dog ran up and was tied by the time she could run over there! Thirteen puppies later...

Posted by solstice Why isn't Poppy spayed? Seems like that'd solve all your suitor problems now and in the future!

She was about 6 months old when we rescued her back in November 2006. We were told to wait until she was 9 months old. A car accident in January screwed us up in the money department and the vets around here want full amount up front. Fortunately, the money situation has improved and we are booking an appointment asap.

Posted by solstice Apparently I can't read. Don't have any suggestions for keeping the male away, but bitches are fertile AFTER being in heat, so I would keep an eye on her even after the bleeding ends (unless you get her spayed then, of course). I don't know if you have a fenced yard or what, but I would keep her on a six-foot leash whenever she's outside, so that you'll always be right next to her. Dogs after bitches in heat are very bold; a friend of mine let her in-heat Rottie bitch outside to pee, watching from the doorway about twenty feet away, and a neighbor's unneutered dog ran up and was tied by the time she could run over there! Thirteen puppies later...

That we already are and the only time Poppy is out is when either one of us is with her. The rest of the time, she's in the house and unless the male dog learns how to pick locks...

An update: We had a really nice heavy rain on Sunday and to date <knocking on wood> we haven't seen the suitor since Saturday evening. (whew!)

And when that little operation is done, no more suitors.

Give all the boy doggies condoms. Nothing beats safe sex!

Posted by monster Give all the boy doggies condoms. Nothing beats safe sex!

LOL! I just pictured the looks on their faces when I read this!

Thanks monster for the laugh.

And fortunately, that little operation was done so this quandry is thankfully done.

http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=43935

Also, if you folks want a really good laugh (I had one although it was quite ironic...

My neighbours immediately to the east of me thought the suitor was our dog. They let him into the back yard when we were not home. Fortunately, Poppy was inside the house at the time. I mentioned to them the dog they let into the back yard was a male and Poppy is a female. Ooops!

I want to say, thank you very much for your advice and comments.

Posted by rainman8889 My neighbours immediately to the east of me thought the suitor was our dog. They let him into the back yard when we were not home. Fortunately, Poppy was inside the house at the time. I mentioned to them the dog they let into the back yard was a male and Poppy is a female. Ooops!

Dog gay sex

This may sound kinda wierd but they do have doggie diapers......well more like chastity belts. Just in case he does get to her

Posted by monster Dog gay sex

Great. I just pictured the suitor wearing leather and chains and calling on the neighbour's dog.

Posted by Bustedknuckle This may sound kinda wierd but they do have doggie diapers......well more like chastity belts. Just in case he does get to her

Yup. I've heard about those and seen pictures of them.

Fortunately, as noted in a later thread and a previous post on this thread, Poppy had her little operation so fortunately, there are no more suitors (lots of friends) and no more need for contraception. <whew!>

http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=43935