At what age did you get your male dog neutered?

[BabyBadger]

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What age was your dog when you chose to get him neutered? Is there anyone who wishes they’d waited longer?

I’ve got a 8 1/2 month old Sprocker, I don’t want to breed from him so I am going to get him neutered. I keep wondering when the best time is. Nothing is really helping online and my vet says anytime now onwards but easily can wait until 18 months. He’s a lovely chap and is not humping or being dominant at all. I don’t want to leave it too long and him start these behaviours but I’m worried about doing it too soon. A friend of mine got hers done at 6 months and then said he was much more timid around other dogs.

Would love to hear any experiences.

 

[JoanneF]

Six months, on the advice of the vet - I wish I had waited longer too, for the same reason as your friend.

 

[JudyN]

Jasper was neutered at 10 months - too early IMO for a large dog, but we were having a lot of behavioural issues. It's difficult to know whether it was a good idea or not - he did become less 'Angry Young Dog' but he can be anxious/insecure and still has issues, though a lot less than in his youth.

Being unneutered doesn't make a dog 'dominant' - this is a misunderstood term, and the sort of behaviour often called 'dominance' (like picking on smaller dogs) is actually caused by insecurity. Entire dogs don't necessarily hump everything, and neutered dogs still sometimes do - and it can usually be dealt with by training & redirection.

So if you neutered earlier rather than later, you may be doing it to avoid a problem that was never going to happen anyway. I've met a lot of delightful entire males of all ages, who are very easygoing. Though this could be because all the ones that aren't easygoing have been neutered!

One problem you might find, though, is that other males, either neutered or entire, might take an active dislike to your dog when they get a whiff of testosterone, and it won't do your dog any good to get picked on repeatedly. It's a difficult one as their owners probably don't meet that many adult entire dogs so it doesn't occur to them to stop them approaching. I'm forever peering between dogs' back legs to see if I need to put my dog on lead!

 

[BabyBadger]

Thanks for replying. I'm really in 2 minds. He's been cocking his leg for a couple of months and this has really amped up in the last few weeks, he's spraying all the time although not indoors. Yesterday was the first time a dog has taken a dislike to him, just growled as they sniffed and I wondered whether that was why.
I know I definitely want it done but I just wish there was a marker to know when is right!

 

[JoanneF]

There is a temporary chemical hormone suppressant that has the effect of neutering, but wears off - so you could, if you wanted, see what the effect is like before doing something permanent.

 

[PWDmum]

If you are in 2 minds leave it and wait till you are sure, there is absolutely no rush, the longer you leave it the better for his wellbeing and development, you need to wait and see how his temperament pans out as he grows, just because he is entire does not mean he is going to develop Any undesirable traits. Personally I would wait at least till he is 18 mths old, or longer if he shows no sign of unwanted behaviour.

 

[PWDmum]

There is a temporary chemical hormone suppressant that has the effect of neutering, but wears off - so you could, if you wanted, see what the effect is like before doing something permanent.

He is to young to have the superlorin implant, they won’t do it till. Pup is fully mature .

 

[JoanneF]

He is to young to have the superlorin implant, they won’t do it till. Pup is fully mature .

Ah, thanks.

 

[Caro Perry]

Harri is just over 12 months and I'm in no hurry. Other than being a typical terrier he has no behavioural issues so I'm waiting and seeing.

My vet hasn't even mentioned the subject

 

[Mad Murphy]

Murphy was 18 months because he was such a softie we didnt want him done any earlier, but at 18 months he started to get interested in girls and got very aggressive toward another dog when that dog came near 'his girl'..

Benny our old beagle was done at 13 months, he went from a floppy beagle pup to a muscle bound Teminator in less than a month and he got really bad snapping and growling at anyone or anything that got near my daughter and extreamly dominant. All of which calmed once he had been castrated . He always remained very well muscled for a beagle though..

 

[merlina]

Leave it till 18 months...let his body finish growing and his endocrine system mature. I've a working cocker who is 2 and a half now and to be honest we still haven't decided whether or not to. Depends on where you live, where you take him etc. There are no entire bitches in our village so he's not being upset! He riots everywhere but that 'cos he's a spaniel. Also having the snip doesn't mean your dog won't be beaten up by other dogs- my rescue corgi x has been attacked and he came without his bits.

 

[thedogsbeforetime]

Pet dogs I keep intact until at least 4 years old if given the option (nothing medical comes up or sometimes they are done earlier if adopted or rehomed); breeders would be a couple years later.