Advice on adjustment and mating

We have a four year old male yellow Lab. We stay in India where it is
quite hot. We have been trying to get him mated twice but have not
succeeded as the dogs did not get along. Since then we havent even
tried due to a personal tragedy. Does the fact that he has not mated
yet affect the dogs health? Is is bad? We are also moving to a new
place. Once there the main owner may not be with him for long. Will the
change affect him? How can we help him adjust?

Why exactly do you want to breed him? AFAIK, there are no known long term
health benefits to it. Also, there are all kinds of risks involved for the
female.

My advice, assuming you can find a competant vet there (I know in some
countries, or areas of some countries it can be difficult, but I think India
should be fine), is to have him neutered. There are definite benefits to it
(for starters, chances drop to 0 for him ever developing testicular cancer
: ) ).

As far as the primary owner having to leave him for extended periods, I
would try working up to it. Have them go out for a short time without the
dog, then a longer time, then a short time, then an even longer time, etc.
This should get them used to the idea that they will come back, eventually.

Dale

<mnitin73 RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1140782948.692788.321180@z34g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> We have a four year old male yellow Lab. We stay in India where it is
> quite hot. We have been trying to get him mated twice but have not
> succeeded as the dogs did not get along. Since then we havent even
> tried due to a personal tragedy. Does the fact that he has not mated
> yet affect the dogs health? Is is bad? We are also moving to a new
> place. Once there the main owner may not be with him for long. Will the
> change affect him? How can we help him adjust?