Neuter or Not?

[labman]

I'm still debating whether or not to get my pup neutered or not.I know it's the responsable thing to do if I do not plan on breeding.I guess whats making me unsure is the fact? there can be slight health issues,like prostate problems etc.(from what i've heard).
I would like to hear other pros and cons on this matter,thanks.

 

[Spirit2010]

Yes, if you have a Labrador, neuter him. He will be so much calmer!! And healthier. Any dog you should neuter. And you'll have a happier dog.

 

[Angel Chicken]

The pros definitely weigh out the cons, in my opinion.

I am a person who has had many, MANY dogs in my life. None where fixed until I got Kona. Now that I have had a dog that is fixed, I will never go back to an unaltered dog!!

Kona is an all around better dog to deal with now she is fixed. I don't have to worry about her catting around to get with a male (I went through her first heat, and after hearing some of the cries this dog made when unaltered males found their way into my yard, you can tell she wanted to go be a hooch:lol-sign: ), and the risks of having any sort of problems are slim.

Plus, he won't be running off to go look for a piece if you catch my drift.

 

[Maxy24]

yes there can be health problems related to neutering just as there is to not neutering. The most important thing for you to think about is if you can be 100% sure your dog will not get another dog pregnant. He can never run away, can't go to any dog park, public place off leash where unspayed females might be etc. It is very important he not get another dog pregnant. Now I will go find the thread we made with the spay/neuter debate.

 

[Maxy24]

here are a few (sorry the word neuter is always red, that's the word I searched for)

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10161&highlight=neuter
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47192&highlight=neuter
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50077&highlight=neuter
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31706&highlight=neuter
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10614&highlight=neuter

Look through those. My personal opinion is to neuter, all my dogs will be fixed.

 

[SizzleDog]

I say neuter as well, but if you're responsible - you can wait a bit longer, there's no rule that says you have to neuter at 4 months.

What do you think is the reason why you're unsure about neutering? With my future boys, I'm going to wait until they're sexually mature, because I want to make sure they're done growing before I cut the hormones. My current male is nearly 4, and he's not neutered - he's a show dog, but I'm not showing him much anymore. I'm keeping him intact because I want to show him in other venues other than AKC.

 

[DanL]

Yes, if you have a Labrador, neuter him. He will be so much calmer!! And healthier. Any dog you should neuter. And you'll have a happier dog.

What evidence is there that a neutered dog will be calmer? I think it's a myth and people will use it to suit their own purpose, like when people decide not to neuter because "I don't want to get my dog fixed, he'll get fat and lazy". Then all the pro neuter people come out and say, oh, no that's not true, they don't get fat and lazy. So which is it?

My friend has a fixed lab. He's far more hyper than my unfixed GSD. The GSD is calm around the house, but when it's go time, he is 100% on and focused for the duration of the activity, whether it's 10 minutes or 2 hours. Then he's calm again. He's not roaming, jumping my fence to find females, fighting, or constantly marking. He marks about 1/10th as much as our fixed pug does.

 

[Spirit2010]

What evidence is there that a neutered dog will be calmer? I think it's a myth and people will use it to suit their own purpose, like when people decide not to neuter because "I don't want to get my dog fixed, he'll get fat and lazy". Then all the pro neuter people come out and say, oh, no that's not true, they don't get fat and lazy. So which is it?

My friend has a fixed lab. He's far more hyper than my unfixed GSD. The GSD is calm around the house, but when it's go time, he is 100% on and focused for the duration of the activity, whether it's 10 minutes or 2 hours. Then he's calm again. He's not roaming, jumping my fence to find females, fighting, or constantly marking. He marks about 1/10th as much as our fixed pug does.

Oh ok.

 

[noludoru]

I've always thought 'calmer' meant (in most cases, LOL) not going NUTS around the ladies. That counts as calmer to me. Neutering also slows their metabolism a bit, but I wouldn't expect that to affect everyday life at all.

Besides, hyperness/calmness is all in a dog's personality and energy level. if they are really lazy, not neutering them won't make them more energetic, and if you have an off the wall dog neutering won't make him calm. Another thing is that different unfixed males have different drives as far as sex goes... same with the human males. (As to him marking less... you're LUCKY.)

 

[Melissa_W]

If you can, I would wait until the dog was at least 14 months before neutering.

Here are some articles you may be interested in.
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf
http://www.acc-d.org/2006 Symposium Docs/Session I.pdf

 

[happyhound]

I always wonder why people refer to spaying/neutering as "getting fixed". Were they broken in the first place?? :lol-sign:

 

[Laurelin]

I would wait until the dog is older, but if you aren't interested in showing or breeding him the future, then I'd go ahead and get him neutered. It's just easier to manage that way. On the other side of the coin, Beau is three and intact and isn't a menace at all. No marking, etc. He did get a little crazy at the breeder's house however. But there were 15 females running around and he was the only male, so you can't really blame him. All my other dogs are spayed and neutered.

 

[labman]

Well i'm still a little confused,hopefully I won't be after I read all the other past threads.The vets recommend neutering at around 6 months before the hormones kick in.I think dogs just like peaple are all different with tetestorone(sp)levels,I live in a very rural area with a few neighbors and their dogs are fixed, I think what also concerns me is a close highway with coyotes crossing back and forth.I know domestic dogs are somewhat interested when the coyote breeding season is going on.

 

[DanL]

If you have a larger breed dog, I'd wait. Those hormones are there for a reason, not just for breeding. At some point they have something to do with your dog's growth. Some people have noted that larger dogs that are fixed early do not grow the same- they get taller and lankier and don't fill out as well as a dog that is allowed to mature naturally.

 

[~Jessie~]

I had Madison and Rylie neutered/spayed when they were 6 months old.

However, I decided to wait with Chloe. She was spayed when she was 14 months old. I didn't notice any personality changes with any of my dogs, actually.

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

If you have a larger breed dog, I'd wait. Those hormones are there for a reason, not just for breeding. At some point they have something to do with your dog's growth. Some people have noted that larger dogs that are fixed early do not grow the same- they get taller and lankier and don't fill out as well as a dog that is allowed to mature naturally.

Exactly why I would wait..........Hormones help your dog to grow and become well matured. Caiza is two and still intact because we are doing protection sports. It is best if they are left intact for things such as protection/schutzhund for better drive. It is a BIG myth that a dog will calm down after they are fixed the only thing that calms down is their hormone level which is a good thing. I will probably have Caiza neutered eventually just not anytime soon. Their are pros and cons to both but if I were you I would wait until your dog is around 18 months old before you take anything away.......Of course the vets will push you to do it and only tell you the pros to doing so. You will never hear a vet say wait until your dog is fully matured before you fix them. IMO males are much easier to deal with being left intact than a female, if I had a female she would have been fixed before her first heat cycle. Melissa W supplied a couple of great article for you to read, this one I like the best.......http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

 

[Dekka]

I would wait till your dog is done growing. Hormones play intricate roles in growth, even the gonadocorticoids. I believe nature has a reason those hormones are used in growth. So I leave them be I have noticed physical differences in dogs fixed early. But no behavioural ones.

 

[Labra]

You should most certainly fix your dog. I really don't see any reason for keeping a pet dog intact. All responsible pet dog owners should spay and nueter unless there is some kind of medical reason that prevents them from doing so otherwise, IMO.

Assuming you have a Lab, 12-18 months is a good time to get it done.

 

[showpug]

I personally think if a dog is not going to be used in a breeding program they should be neutered. To keep a male dog intact and not use him for breeding isn't all that fair if you think about it. He will have a permanent drive to seek out and mate with females that he will never be able to fulfill. If he smells a female in heat a mile away he will become agitated and most likely stop eating from the stress. As he matures he will develop more of a tendency towards urinary marking and this includes inside your home. The number one dogs hit by cars are roaming intact males, many of which are in search of a mate or have gotten loose because they smell a bitch in season.

If the behavioral reasons aren't enough then think about how keeping him intact will increase his risk of prostate problems and testicular cancer. We saw many dogs in our clinic that were left intact and DID develop cancer. It's not all that rare.

I think neutered dogs make better pets. The hormones don't get in the way and they can focus on being a companion instead of their natural hormonal drive to constantly find a mate.

Just my two cents anyway...

 

[BostonBanker]

Caiza is two and still intact because we are doing protection sports. It is best if they are left intact for things such as protection/schutzhund for better drive. It is a BIG myth that a dog will calm down after they are fixed the only thing that calms down is their hormone level which is a good thing.

But "better drive" equals "not as calm" to most people. Yes, I can see making a bit of a distinction with sport dogs, but for the average pet owner, I don't think they are going differentiate the two.

The whole debate makes me glad I have a female! I do not believe that intact males should be off-leash outside of an enclosed area because I do not believe it is worth the risk. I understand the health concerns people have about neutering too early, and can respect the decision as long as it is thought out and the dog has NO chance to mate. I'm not sure I would be willing to take the responsibility myself. I love hiking with my dog, and wouldn't want to have to keep my dog on a leash for a couple of years while he finishes growing.