At what age to neuter puppy?

[ChooksChick]

I always got males neutered by 14 weeks because once they get those doses of testosterone, certain personality changes are irreversible...I kind of like having male dogs that don't even think about girls...

That being said, I do the same with cats, so males don't ever think about territory and don't spray. I'm fond of eunuchs, I suppose...I'd hate to think I did structural damage to a dog from altering too young, but I don't exactly keep high-performance bow-wows:

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
Do you have a book that you recommend?

There are too many dog training and dog behavior books out there, Bolddog Kennel, a Member here has written some books. I have not read any of them..yet.

I actually don't usually recommend dog training books. There are too many variables when training any particular dog for a book to be really very useful for general training. (I feel differently about specialized training books, however.) What I would recommend is some group training classes or in the least some training DVD's for basic obedience and manners-- at least watching someone in a Video is more useful than reading a book and looking at a few ill-timed pictures of what the trainer is trying to accomplish. In watching a vid you can see dog behavior and watch the endless nuances of what the trainer is doing and the dogs reaction to the trainer.

Really your best bet for success is training in a small group class or some one-on-one instruction.

 

[BoldogKennel]

Oh heavens! I sure haven't written any books on training! I TOTALLY agree with you about that. Nothing like one on one and I just like working with my dogs... People make me crazy!

My books have been two breed books and one "girl and her dog" novel. I am currently working on a book on dog management and another on how dogs of character are quickly going extinct in the US (thanks to PETA, HumaneSUStates and sheeple). Who thought in our lifetime (those of us 50 years and older) that we would see whole breeds of animal and fowl outlawed? I sure didn't. It is happening so very quickly now that it has gotten a foothold. So many well intentioned people out there supporting the very folks taking their pets away.... sigh.

My personal preference is to not watch a 10 y/o female die of sepsis from an infected uterus (pyometria) or die of mammary cancer because she was never spayed

I know what you are saying, but also have to say that I hate seeing neutered dogs dying of prostate issues. My beloved first pit bull, Ch. Bandog Dread, SchH III, IPO III, CD, TD, U-CDX, WH, WDS, STD ducks/sheep, etc, basically died because he was neutered. That was a tough one for me and I don't neuter a male now without good reason.

they suggest 6 months. we got ours done at four because he was showing early signs of aggression and it helped 80%. I know alot of people think it is a myth that this works but it worked for us.

It would be really tough to tell what effect altering had ona pup at that age. A young dog's behavior changes SO MUCH at that age, that you have no real idea if reducing sex drive in an immature pup changed his aggression issues???

BTW: I'm seriously weirded out that an ANIMAL FORUM changes the word b i t c h to "grump"!! And removes H*S*U*S Good lord!

"​

 

[chook pen jen]

It took me a while to work out what "grump" was,

I dont think I'll be useing it.

 

[tazcat70]

Wow! Lots of great information.

I think one of the reasons that I asked so early is because it would get it done. I wouldn't have to worry about it. But with all the information, and the fact that I am not worried about keeping them from wandering, I am going to wait. There is no reason to have additional risks.

We have been doing basic training. When I can control my daughter, she doesn't understand why I want to keep them off the furniture.

I want to do it right and so I will definitely look into classes/videos.



Boldogkennel- It took me a minute to figure out grump.

Dak- I almost asked your opinion on the matter, but I didn't want to bug you.

Thank you all for your wonderful input.

 

[schellie69]

I have all my animals fixed. After watching a dog that I loved very much developed cancer due to not being fixed soon enough she was used for backyard breeding. She was my 1st doberman she lived to be 14 so she had a good life but the vet said she would have had a better chance of not getting this type of cancer had she been spayed at an earlier age. So now I do neuter my dogs around 5 - 6 months and my females around their first heat. I am still looking for a doberman I would love to do a rescue but it will have to wait until we move on to our farm.

 

[backyardmenagerie]

My personal preference is to not watch a 10 y/o female die of sepsis from an infected uterus (pyometria) or die of mammary cancer because she was never spayed.

While I totally agree, the same could be said of hermangiosarcoma, which a spayed female is far more likely to get than an unspayed. There are legitimate arguments to both sides.

For anyone interested in further reading, here is an article on both the benefits and risks of early spay/neuter: http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/spay_neuter_risks_benefits.aspx​

 

[dak]

Quote:
While I totally agree, the same could be said of hermangiosarcoma, which a spayed female is far more likely to get than an unspayed. There are legitimate arguments to both sides.

For anyone interested in further reading, here is an excellent article on both the benefits and risks of early spay/neuter: http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/spay_neuter_risks_benefits.aspx

Hard to evaluate that article as it does not have a single reference from any respected veterinary publications.

This is the last I'll say on the matter. I see 100 times the problems from not neutering pets as I do from neutering. I have keep dogs intact for breeding purposes, and neuter them ASAP when they are done. If I thought the benefits outweighed the risks, I would leave them intact. Ask you vet if their own animals are intact. I see MANY more cases of pyometria than I do of hemangiosarcoma AND when I do see hemangiosarcoma it is generally related to breed predispositions.

 

[backyardmenagerie]

Quote:
While I totally agree, the same could be said of hermangiosarcoma, which a spayed female is far more likely to get than an unspayed. There are legitimate arguments to both sides.

For anyone interested in further reading, here is an excellent article on both the benefits and risks of early spay/neuter: http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/spay_neuter_risks_benefits.aspx

Hard to evaluate that article as it does not have a single reference from any respected veterinary publications.

This is the last I'll say on the matter. I see 100 times the problems from not neutering pets as I do from neutering. I have keep dogs intact for breeding purposes, and neuter them ASAP when they are done. If I thought the benefits outweighed the risks, I would leave them intact. Ask you vet if their own animals are intact. I see MANY more cases of pyometria than I do of hemangiosarcoma AND when I do see hemangiosarcoma it is generally related to breed predispositions.

Oops, sorry, here's the article with references: http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
And I totally agree that leaving dogs intact is more risky than fixing. I think the debatable element is the age at which it is done.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I just had my four year old GSD neutered yesterday. I had intended to keep in intact until I finished his training, had him titled, ect. However titles come at a cost and financially it wasn't feasable for me to keep training. I neutered him because I am trying to see if his behavior changes enough for the positive. He's a very high drive dog, who is a bit sharp and has some issues with my daughter. Its been managable so far, however I am really on the fence on whether I should rehome him to another working home where he can be used. Last year when I was considering this two police agencies were interested in him...so we'll see.

How much will his behavior change? I don't know, but I will let you all know so you have another example.