Have had this dog for a couple years now and is a great dog. Kids love him and play fetch all the time. He is not a neglected dog for sure. But recently he will not stay home and our little dog is tagging along with him.

He was 3 miles away when we found them last time. As soon as we leave the house, he takes off. Cannot keep him in a kennel either. Has dug out and climbed out.

We are in the country and he has always had plenty of pasture to run, but not sure what has happened that he has started to take off completely.

Located near Yoakum.

Is he neutered?
Sounds like there are ladies around in heat.

Not neutered.

have you thought about cutting him to keep him around? he's trying to bang and following instinct.

Gunny456 said:

---

Is he neutered?
Sounds like there are ladies around in heat.

---

Agree with this. Neutering him will likely cure this problem and if you still want to give him away, would make him a little more desirable to potential owners.

Sounds like you and family love him and he is a great dog. It cost little to have him cut. I would try that first and give him a chance for his sake and your kids.

Cut his nuts off. Invisible fence. Train him. Have fun.

Forget cuttin...find the poster that has good aim and shoot 'em off. Only cost you about 50 cents.

What kind of fencing do you have?

How old is he?
Pictures?
Has he hunted at all?

Is Texags slacking? Y'all usually go HAM on people who want to get rid of a dog because a dog is being a dog, and the owner can't be bothered to make some changes.

Well he split again. If I can find him, I will take some pictures and hopefully get an appointment to cut him.

MaroonSpirit said:

---

What kind of fencing do you have?

---

No fencing. He has stayed on the property for 2 years with no issues. The deer are not even bothered by him.

MaroonSpirit said:

---

How old is he?
Pictures?
Has he hunted at all?

---

5-6 YO
No hunting.

AgsMnn said:

---

MaroonSpirit said:

---

What kind of fencing do you have?

---

No fencing. He has stayed on the property for 2 years with no issues. The deer are not even bothered by him.

---

For sure get him neutered. This will likely cure all, and then you can keep him.

Unless you just don't want him any more. But still, you should get him fixed, so as not to pawn off issues on someone else.

GSP Owner here. Also have an English pointer. Great dogs. Very loyal & fully intending to guilt trip you into keeping him because you should feel absolute shame for thinking about giving him up.

1) You have a GSP. You do realize they are bred to run & hunt right?
2) Neuter him. Some of that pink meat makes a dog do weird things especially with balls behind the red rocket
3) Invisible Fence (Buried, Halo collar etc)


Ours doesn't run. I don't even have to turn the collar on anymore and she stays home now. She used to. Collar fixed it 100%.
I've had her on 3 acres and 200 acres. She stays home regardless now.

Will definitely get him cut.

Got my GSP a Tractive GPS collar after he got out at night and I spent an hour driving around before I finally found him. It's a small monthly charge but has been good peace of mind. Needs cell service so if it's spotty in the country it might not be effective or drain the battery quick.

My GSP is an asshat but is sweet and a lot of fun. Counter surfer extraordinaire. He'd fetch until he collapsed if I didn't cut him off.

If you fence him after you neuter and things don't work out,post here again.

What collar fence is recommended?

Also recommend the Halo dog collar. Have 2 Weims also live on a ranch and we use the Halo collars.

Gunny456 said:

---

Sounds like you and family love him and he is a great dog. It cost little to have him cut. I would try that first and give him a chance for his sake and your kids.

---

$700.00 little ......ask me how I know.....

Rattler12 said:

---

Gunny456 said:

---

Sounds like you and family love him and he is a great dog. It cost little to have him cut. I would try that first and give him a chance for his sake and your kids.

---

$700.00 little ......ask me how I know.....

---

What the heck? Vet in Fredericksburg charged us 90.00. Vet here in the Ozarks charged us 180.00 but did some shots too.
What happened?

Vet bills are crazy right now, like everything else. I know I spent over $200 for a neuter in 2018 before the prices went insane. And this was our vet friend who is old school and not pushing extras. The spay in 2020 was much worse.

Glad our local Vet here in Burnet allows me to have a charge account and able to pay on my account monthly. We have show cattle, commercial cattle, dorper sheep,dogs, & horses.

We had DogWatch Collars. Those were buried line but the dog could wear the collar all the time. Battery lasted like 6-9 months.

We moved and now have Halo Collar. It works pretty good, but I dislike needing to charge the battery every night. Not a big deal if doggo comes inside at night. But GSP's are smart too. Couple good pops at the fence boundary and he'll figure it out pretty quick that home is the place to be with the collar on (whether its charged or not).

If I didn't have 60 acres I'd go back with the wire in a heart beat (and actually might save up the pennies to do it).

I was quoted 600-700 by my urban vet. Full adult like the OPs dog.

Glad he came home.

I'm not a vet, just a lifelong (39+year) dog owner. Lots of on point advice above. You might look into rescue groups in San Antonio or Houston for a more economical referral. In DFW we have TCAP that offers low cost vax, spay and neutering. They are fantastic. I'd call them and ask if they have a recommendation near you in Houston or SA.

I can't imagine rehoming a dog over something so simple. At least you asked for help/advice.

This. Or make some calls to different vets.

Made an apt with a local vet.

$120 plus pain meds

He doesn't need pain meds. Just trying to get that bill a little higher IMO.

John Cocktolstoy said:

---

He doesn't need pain meds. Just trying to get that bill a little higher IMO.

---

Go get your nuts cutoff and see if you want pain meds. But I'm sure you are correct. Vet is trying to get extra margin on those pain meds.