Thanks for your comment. I completely understand your sentiment about the hormones. In fact, I would say I am pretty much generally against reaching for chemicals/hormones/pills as an answer for both animals and humans, unless a prescription is absolutely needed (just my quirk). I don`t even take Tylenol unless I have a really high fever. We did search for a doggie hotel but I either didn`t like them because they have the dogs in individual crates for a large part of the day, or they take large dogs who all sleep in the same room. The majority here will not take a dog who is not neutered.
I have a little Westie and I wanted to take him back to the breeder because she only boards Westies, and knows the breed, and she interacts with her dogs with a lot of love. She lives on a farm, and he would be back at his ancestral home where he would have freedom of movement. She has a large fenced-in area and he can go in and out as he pleases. His great grandfather (an old codger) is still there. We took him back for a visit, and it was interesting to watch him learn the heirarchy that at 5 months he is low man on totem pole. He responded well by sitting, and watching how the other dogs interacted. And he will go for 2 nights. I will go back after the first night to visit with him, and then bring him home again after his 2nd night. I want him to understand that I am coming back for him.
Of course, I don`t even want to board him at all, but I live in Europe and my kid is in the US, and I am going to see him. I cannot imagine putting my puppy on the plane for a 9 hour trip, and he is such a social dog that I know he will not sit properly with me in the cabin - at least not at this age.
The Vet told me that there are no long term side effects because it is temporary. I am not sure if his sperm is.....uh what is the right word.....potent or capable, but in the last 2 or 3 weeks he did start humping one of our regulation size soccer balls (of course I thought it was both adorable and hilarious) and he has a large 2.5 foot teddy bear and he goes after that as well, but he is not exhibiting that behavior with me or my husband. The Vet asked me if I thought he was highly sexed and I don`t know if humping his toys qualifies as being highly sexed. I thought it was just normal that he experiments as his hormones kick in.
In any case, most of the literature on line points to that it is safe, but then these things are always "safe" until they are not. I hope that there is someone here that has had direct experience with this.