To neuter or not to neuter? That is the question.

[DICarter1]

Our wee boy is a small poodle. He’s nearly 16 months and we are wondering whether or not to get him neutered. Our vet suggested quite a few months back to get him done.

[FluffyAragog]

Why would you not?

[SirVixofVixHall]

I had one not neutered dog, and then a neutered one. I would neuter again as that dog had less aggression from other dogs, and was not as likely to charge off if he caught a scent of a bitch in season.

[CornishPorsche]

Same question. Why would you not neuter?

[DICarter1]

A few people have said not to. A few have had to have their dogs done for medical reasons. When is a good age to have dogs neutered? He’s not at all aggressive. Over friendly yes 😂 I do also wonder about girls in season though his recall is poor so he’s generally on a lead or long lead.

[CornishPorsche]

What reasons have people given for not neutering though?

Age is subjective, and seems to hugely vary from vet to vet. I tend to go younger, so your dog would already have been done in this house!

The risk of unwanted puppies is enough for me.

[Yamihere]

Testosterone is needed to help the bones grow properly so it is always best to wait until the dog is fully mature if you neuter. That can be 18 - 36 months depending on the breed.
It's really your choice to neuter, though. Both have their pros and cons. For example, neutering can make an anxious dog more nervous, so I would read up about how neutering would affect your boy based on his breed and temperament.

[FranklySonImTheGaffer]

We neutered both ours at around 2years old (terriers). Can't think of a reason not to as we didn't want puppies from them.

FWIW, while both were fine before and they weren't aggressive, having them done seemed to stop them being as excitable and easier to walk.

[DICarter1]

They seem to think it’s healthier. A friend says it’s only because of a medical issue they had to neuter their dog. I’ve always been mainly in the neutering camp. Don’t ideally want puppies of any kind. He’s a small poodle (he weighs 10 lbs). So I had been hanging on so he could age a bit more. I’ll have a look at how it affects the breed as ideally I’d like him done. Sooner rather than later.

@FranklySonImTheGaffer, he’s very excitable when we walk so maybe it would calm him down a bit.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Wait until bone growth is complete before neutering , that varies with the breed .

[adaline]

I would neuter - if he's off lead and smells a bitch in heat, you stand no chance.

[DICarter1]

I think he’s about finished growing now as he’s a miniature poodle.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Should be fine to neuter now, but I think he was probably telling the other dog off as warning as he felt a bit threatened. All dogs do this sometimes.
Neutering is a good idea though.

[AnneJeanne]

Of course you should neuter. There are dogs that get euthanised every day because there’s too many of them and not enough homes.

[Ylvamoon]

I had my adult make done and regretted it. If there is no obvious reason I would advice against it.

[Asdf12345]

We won’t be getting our female neutered until 5 or 6 years if at all.

The next dog will come out of her and the rest of the litter should cover much of the cost of keeping her. Depending on the prices attainable at the time we may have a few litters or possibly just the one.

[Asdf12345]

Unless you can get or have the potential to get decent stud fees I would neuter a male though.

[Stellaris22]

I would always neuter, too many dogs in rescue and I hear now and then of 'accidental' litters near where I am. They only need to escape once for an accident, unless there are medical reasons not to you should. From a personal perspective, I have a spayed female and it's noticeable that she gets more unwanted attention from un neutered males.

[DICarter1]

@Ylvamoon what made you regret it?

[adaline]

Unless you're a professional breeder it's highly irresponsible to leave your dog (of either sex) un-neutered. Any dog (or bitch) can escape or run off, no matter how careful you are.

There are too many unwanted dogs around as it is.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Sorry ! i mixed up two dog threads ! Ignore my post about the dog quarrel.

[Stellaris22]

@Asdf12345 what do you mean 'cover the cost of keeping her'? Why are you breeding?

[TinglyFeets]

www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/long-term-health-risks-benefits-spay-neuter-dogs/

Interesting reading suggesting the subject is not so simple as "never neuter" or "always neuter".

[VanillaGodzilla]

That is the question indeed. The answer often has more to do with which country you live in, that some universal right or wrong.

The US tends to neuter more, neuter younger.
Norway doesn't neuter at all, unless for medicial reasons.

There would appear to be more unwanted dogs in the US than in Norway, though I suspect the reason for it is more complicated than one neuters and the other doesn't.

Still, the US approach of social disapproval for not neutering would appear to have zero real impact on the number of unwanted dogs. That disapproval has been there since around the 1970s and there are more dogs in shelters, propertionate to the total dog community, now than there were back then. Probably for multiple reasons, but it is still not a ringing endorsement that neutering really impacts the number of unwanted dogs.

[Wolfiefan]

I wouldn’t neuter automatically. I would want the dog to mature first. If it’s nervous at all then I would be hesitant. There is an implant too.

[IndigoGusset]

I find the black and white application of one way or another very frustrating here.

An easy to read balanced view: positivepettraining.co.uk/castrating-dogs/