Thinking of castration for almost 1 year old jrt

[bobstersmum]

We have had our lovely jrt since he was 5 months old.
He is perfect temperament (we have young dc) he's just a happy little dog, however his recall is getting worse and worse. He is off like a shot the first sniff he gets of another dog, I do not want to have to always keep him on the lead as he has quite a lot of energy, more than me and I am the one chasing him. I am scared that he is going to get run over or get into trouble with another dog, and spoke to the vets today who have said that castration will help.
I am thinking that we will do it but I don't want him to turn into a lazy blob or for it to take his spark away. Has anyone got any experience of their dog changing drastically after castration?

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Castration will not solve recall. Only training will - and it's traditional that recall gets worse at this age as they start to test the boundaries.

The only behaviour that is reliably improved by castration is scent marking.

Pippa Matthison's Total Recall book is meant to be excellent amzn.to/2DoVwws

[bobstersmum]

Thank you avocado's, seems the vets just recommend this to make money then! She definitely said it would help his recall, he was previously very good at recall, he would come straight back when called. We have stepped up his original training but to no avail, it's not like he dithers before he comes back, he actually runs far away, out of sight even, so I'm reluctant to let him off at all at the moment.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

It's more likely that the vet doesn't understand issues around training and behaviour - many don't as it's barely covered at uni.

A long line for safety and employing some of the tactics in the book will definitely help. Most dogs lose their recall around this age - you've just got to keep at the training and you will come out the other side!

[bobstersmum]

Thanks again, the vet was also pushing castration as a way of preventing testicular cancer as he gets older, they were basically saying unless you are going to breed from him then castration is the best thing for him! Our last dog wasn't castrated.

[adaline]

His recall has gone out of the window because he's bang in the middle of the teenage months - I feel your pain! Mine was appalling from about 7-11 months but he's massively calmed down since he hit a year. He's not neutered, it's just something that comes with age and consistent training.

Put him on a long-line for walks so he can run but you ultimately have control over him so he can't disappear or go and pester other dogs, and just keep practising. His recall will come back to him eventually it just takes time!

I was always told not to castrate unless necessary, but if you do want to get them done, then to wait until they're at least 18 months for smaller breeds, 2 for larger breeds like labs, Great Danes etc. Our beagle will be getting done when he's eighteen months as he goes to daycare and they require them to be "fixed" after a certain age.

[TheBestThingsInLifeAreFreee]

I agree with your vet, it could help with his recall as he'll be less distracted sniffing after bitches and a good way to stop him getting cancer too. If you don't plan to breed you may as well get it done. Both my dogs have been done and it certainly didnt take their spark away. keep working on recall too though with positive enforcement and high grade treats. castration wont fix the problem but may help.

[bobstersmum]

I think we have decided to go ahead with it. Will definitely keep going with the recall as like I said he was very good up to recently, now though he just plain ignores us. I will keep updated with his progress if anyone is interested!