Not sure weather to get 8 month old pup neutered

[elmofan]

Would like to get opinions on Neutering please , pup is starting to get urges & hopping on up dd (4yrs) . Would getting him neutered stop this ?
TIA

[elmofan]

Whether not weather

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Yes, have him neutered if only because it'll make him less aggressive, and less likely to run off the first time there's a bitch in season within a five-mile radius. He might still jump up on your DD - that's an issue that can be dealt with through training, though.

[sharbie]

i wouldn't even consider not having him done if that makes sense

[zanz1bar]

Yes.
It helps to control aggression, smell and behaviour.Dogs tend to run off the moment they get a whiff of a bitch on heat and a 6ft fence won't always contain a determined dog.
I really believe it is the responsible thing to do, unless you really do intend to breed from your dog.

[Alouiseg]

Our dog was neutered at about 7 months. He still tries to hump the odd bitch or failing that, my leg but only if I'm wearing sheepskin boots

[elmofan]

I know having him neutered is reducing the risk of him running away or to be taken but what are the other benefits ?

[midori1999]

If you are going to neuter, do so for health reasons. These are the only guaranteed benefits, most of the other 'benefits' of neutering are solvable by training and neutering is not a training aid and should not be used as one.

Also, some dogs actually become more aggressive if they are neutred, since neutering lowers testosterone, which is what makes a dog brave, so if the dog was actually fear aggressive it will become more nervous, therefore more aggressive.

Almost all of the male dogs I know are entire. My own male dog is entire for now, despite having three entire girls in the house I do not want him mating with. He will be neutered but I want to wait until he's fully grown, so about 2 years old, so another year to go. My own dog, and the others I know all behave well, don't wander or run off, don't hump things incessantly, don't scent mark, will recall from an in season bitch, even when they know she is there for mating and can stand and behave perfectly well in or around the show ring when (silly!) people take in season bitches there. All because their owners do not believe being entire cause a problem in these areas.

Of course, entire dogs do have more inclination to wander or approach an in season bitch, but terriers and hounds have more inclination to chase rabbits etc than som eother breeds, but in most cases that just means they require more hard work to teach them otherwise than other breeds.

If your dog is humping, tell him to stop. Just say 'no' or 'ah ah' and when he stops reward him. My boy wouldn't dream of humping a person, although he might sneakily try and hump the girls (dogs) if he thinks I'm not looking. However, all the girls also hump each other, it's a play thing.

On the other hand, my friends neutered dog humps everything in site and when he visited my house he promptly cocked his leg all over my curtains!

By all means neuter if you want to. It does have health benefits. I would personally wait until the dog was mature though as there are then less negatives.

[elmofan]

So having him neutered won't necessarily stop him hopping up on dd . Is there a "best age" to get pups neutered ?

[elmofan]

Thanks midori1999 x post with you there , He has a lovely nature , not at all aggressive , we do say " ah ah" to him when he climbs up on dd but he won't stop until we get to him to drag him away , then he is put out the back for a few Minutes to cool off . I would be a little worried that having him neutered could make him aggressive tbh

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

What midori said.

Please think very carefully about it, once they are off you can't stick 'em back on and I know folk who deeply regret neutering their dog.

[elmofan]

I must admit WTWTW that i am a bit
and maybe need to check out the pros & cons to having him done before making a decision .

[ragged]

If you neuter him he can't father unwanted puppies. We had a huge publicity campaign about this in the USA when I was a kid (1970s) and it is still one of the main points made over there in favour of it; leaving aside everything else, that reason alone is good enough for me.

[elmofan]

I agree ragged but my pup is never off his lead when outside & is secure while in our back garden so don't think he will get any opportunities to father any pups tbh but i suppose it could happen .
so far my pros are :

1. stops any unwanted pups .
   
2. less likely to wander or be taken .
   
3. Hoping it will lesson his urges .
   Cons are :
   
4. might make him aggressive
   
5. Its a risky procedure .

[Monkeytoo]

I am pro neutering I have to say. I do understand the arguments against but have not had an issue with the dogs I have had, and know, that have been neutered. I have known people have issues with un neutered dogs though, usually relating to behavioral problems. Have you discussed it with your vet?

[SpringHeeledJack]

it's unlikely to make him aggressive afaik- what sort of dog is he?

[elmofan]

He is a brown/white springer spaniel & is adorable
Haven't had a chance to speak to his vet yet about it but will phone her on Monday to get her opinion .

[SpringHeeledJack]

dogs are much more nickable with testes

that's what prodded me into finally doing it (mind you my boy is a staff and they often go missing round these parts- for breeding/fighting - and he is of course a veeeeery fine specimen of the breed)

[bonkers emoticon]

[Alouiseg]

I wish Rupert wasn't neutered, poor little boy had a prolapsed penis and the vet was adamant that it was caused by sexual behaviour.

I understand why vets are so pro neutering, they see too many unwanted litters, but I have a Bulldog who, as a breed are almost incapable of mating without assistance.

If I went back in time i would stand my ground a bit more with the vet.

[Alouiseg]

Good point about nick ability.

My worst nightmare is dognapping!

[SpringHeeledJack]

and mine!

I'm sure I've heard that neutering generally gives dogs an extra couple of years- is this true, does anyone know?

[Alouiseg]

I was told that entire dogs ate more at risk of testosterone related cancers.

[Alouiseg]

Are*

[silentcatastrophe]

Our pup is nearly 1 and still entire. We have been advised to wait until he is lifting his leg before we get his nuts chopped off. He still doesn't lift his leg. It's nice to watch him growing into an adult dog. Apparently neutering too young will leave the dog in a state of perpetual puppyhood. We know that neutering won't stop him running off to chase small animals.

[midori1999]

Neutering dogs negates the risk of testicular cancer. However, some studies have shown it actually increases the risks of some other cancers, such as prostate cancer and bone cancers, especially if dogs are neutered whilst still immature. Neutering does reduce the risk of other prostate problems though.

I am not anti-neuter at all. I just feel vets should be quicker to discuss the cons as well as the pros and that so many people neuter for reasons which can be solved in other ways, For example, my male dog, a staff x, is extremely unlikely to ever be stolen because I don't leave him in any situation where theft is likely. Plus, people do steal neutered dogs in order to use them as bait for fighting dogs, whether they have balls or not matter not one bit in those circumstances.

Elmo, neutering will not make your dog aggressive. If your dog is already showing signs of fear aggression, it may make it worse.

[midori1999]

Also, dogs that are neutered too young will grow taller and leggier, because neutering affects when the growth plates close.