Our last dog was neutered way too young (4 months 
) and had tons of issues. The incidence of ACL injuries, etc. is also far higher since they keep growing past when they’re supposed to. We found this to be true with him as he tore his ACL and later retore it. We also lost him at 6 1/2 to an immune system disorder that I honestly think could have also been related. But he was also a huge dog (130+ lbs) so it was especially bad neutering him so early but we didn’t know any better and the vet had said he was “plenty big enough” and we were having some issues so yeah. We switched vets eventually for other reasons but yeah.
Honestly though I don’t think it has to be neuter or not neuter. I don’t think it’s so black and white. And I’m also not convinced the solution is never neuter but rather wait if you can. Dogs don’t finish growing until 18 months (maybe slightly less for small breeds and even later for the giant breeds) so I think waiting until at least 1-2 years rather than the typical 6 months is best, if you really want to do it. Or for females until after 1-2 heat cycles. They do also have hysterectomies and ovary sparing surgeries now as well so they can keep the hormones but not get pregnant. But they’re more expensive and not many vets do them yet.
I’ve seen images of pediatric neuters next to their intact littermates though and the differences are dramatic. The pediatric neuters are usually way taller and lankier and nowhere as filled out, etc. plus of course all the other issues so for me, I’ll always wait now.
Also, altering does NOT always fix problems. In fact, some of the worst humpers are altered dogs! My friend’s (spayed, female) goldens are HORRIBLE about this. Also, the whole aggression thing isn’t really true either and they can actually develop aggression and fear behaviors and stuff from being fixed. Not always of course and of course certain breeds or whatever may be more aggressive but yeah. I’ve actually experienced this firsthand myself with Brew. Our biggest issue has been with NEUTERED males. They don’t like him and snarl, etc. when we’ve met them so we try not to now. So yeah. He, of course, doesn’t react at all.
Neutering doesn’t magically fix everything and being intact doesn’t magically create problems either. Nor puppies. It all depends on the individual dog as well as the amount of TRAINING you put in plus proper management and making sure they’re contained properly. Of course if somebody is unwilling or unable to do that then altering is absolutely the best thing. But it’s really not all that hard to manage them.
I will say though I hate how rescues are now altering teeny tiny puppies
I mean, I get it in a way, so they don’t have babies and also I think a lot of the transportation companies require it and they ship dogs up from the south now but still. I just hope they don’t have issues.
) and had tons of issues. The incidence of ACL injuries, etc. is also far higher since they keep growing past when they’re supposed to. We found this to be true with him as he tore his ACL and later retore it. We also lost him at 6 1/2 to an immune system disorder that I honestly think could have also been related. But he was also a huge dog (130+ lbs) so it was especially bad neutering him so early but we didn’t know any better and the vet had said he was “plenty big enough” and we were having some issues so yeah. We switched vets eventually for other reasons but yeah. Honestly though I don’t think it has to be neuter or not neuter. I don’t think it’s so black and white. And I’m also not convinced the solution is never neuter but rather wait if you can. Dogs don’t finish growing until 18 months (maybe slightly less for small breeds and even later for the giant breeds) so I think waiting until at least 1-2 years rather than the typical 6 months is best, if you really want to do it. Or for females until after 1-2 heat cycles. They do also have hysterectomies and ovary sparing surgeries now as well so they can keep the hormones but not get pregnant. But they’re more expensive and not many vets do them yet.
I’ve seen images of pediatric neuters next to their intact littermates though and the differences are dramatic. The pediatric neuters are usually way taller and lankier and nowhere as filled out, etc. plus of course all the other issues so for me, I’ll always wait now.
Also, altering does NOT always fix problems. In fact, some of the worst humpers are altered dogs! My friend’s (spayed, female) goldens are HORRIBLE about this. Also, the whole aggression thing isn’t really true either and they can actually develop aggression and fear behaviors and stuff from being fixed. Not always of course and of course certain breeds or whatever may be more aggressive but yeah. I’ve actually experienced this firsthand myself with Brew. Our biggest issue has been with NEUTERED males. They don’t like him and snarl, etc. when we’ve met them so we try not to now. So yeah. He, of course, doesn’t react at all.
Neutering doesn’t magically fix everything and being intact doesn’t magically create problems either. Nor puppies. It all depends on the individual dog as well as the amount of TRAINING you put in plus proper management and making sure they’re contained properly. Of course if somebody is unwilling or unable to do that then altering is absolutely the best thing. But it’s really not all that hard to manage them.
I will say though I hate how rescues are now altering teeny tiny puppies
I mean, I get it in a way, so they don’t have babies and also I think a lot of the transportation companies require it and they ship dogs up from the south now but still. I just hope they don’t have issues.
