When to neuter

[crazycatgal]

I've got a 4 month old puppy and before we got him we had already thought about neutering. As far as I was aware he could be neutered from 6 months onwards. I know sometimes it's recommended to wait until 12 months for larger dogs.

On a local breed group someone asked when they could neuter and lots of breeders commented saying 18 months+. Is this correct? He's a small to medium breed spitz type dog.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

As more research is done, I think advice about neutering will get more and more breed-specific.

If your dog's breed is included in the breeds here that might be helpful.

Otherwise, I'd be inclined to wait until he's not only physically but also mentally mature. Have you asked his breeder for her advice?

[Dreamersandwishers]

As well as breed, a competent vet will consider the dog’s personality; Is he confident , reactive etc. Neutering too early in a submissive male can leave them prone to fear aggression.
It’s too early to tell at 4 months, but take your time; if you think he’s ready, perhaps try a temporary chemical suppression drug to assess him.
My male was 3 (Labrador) but we meet lots of intact males older than than that who are very healthy, fit and pleasant dogs. It’s very dog specific.

[Lou98]

Ours youngest boy got done a few weeks ago and he's 8 months. However our older one didn't get done until he was 18 months, both times were after vets assessing and advising when would be best. (Both staffies)

You'll mostly get told on here to wait as long as possible but only you know your own dog, 4 months probably is too early to tell, id wait until their 6 month vet check and have a conversation with the vet about it then😁

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

Our dog is 14 months now and I'm planning on waiting until he's at least 2yo. All the behaviourists I've spoken to have said to wait, they benefit from the testosterone and neutering too early can cause behaviour issues.

[StillMedusa]

It's really worth doing some research. Generally the later the bettter, and it will not solve any behaviour issues.. especially timid dogs who are more likely to become fear aggressive after neutering.
The longer you leave it, the better for their bones, and emotional maturity. Unless he's humping everyone in sight (which isn't likely to be about sex either) I'd hold off until he's at least 2.

I have a girl spitz type..medium sized and her breeder specified that she must not be spayed before an absolute minimum of 18m and preferably a lot later, for bone maturity and emotional maturity. It's a royal pain in some ways (I'v had to leave dh at home with her this week and take my son camping alone as she's in season) but research is showing up more and more that delaying neutering is better for both males and females. I'm planning to wait until she is at least 3.

[MaryLennoxsScowl]

Mine is 14 months and has just been neutered. He had never shown more than passing interest in bitches in season - I.e. if there was one near him he’d run up to her and if not deterred quickly would probably have a try at humping her but would forget as soon as she’d gone/he’d been taken inside. Then bang, about a month ago every other dog in the park was a bitch in season and he was hanging out the windows panting when brought inside, took off to chase them right across the park - if there’d been a road he wouldn’t have stopped - and he was whining to go out and hunt for them when he’d just got home, and sometimes he wouldn’t leave their scent and just stopped dead and had to be dragged away, even when we were waving chicken under his nose. I can’t keep him away from other dogs who might be in heat, as we live in a city, so he had to be done. I had always wanted to wait until he was at least a year old (cocker spaniel) and might have waited until he was 2, but it’s not fair on him to be exposed to so much temptation when he can’t ever have what he wants and it’s no fun for him if he can’t get off the lead for fear of him smelling a bitch and running across a road. Don’t get too attached to an idea of the right time and be guided by your dog. I know someone whose dog sexually matured at 6 months (a smallish lurcher) and started this behaviour then and they felt it was kinder to neuter him then.

[vanillandhoney]

You'll get lots of differing opinions.

Personally I wouldn't even consider neutering until your dog is fully grown as early neutering can have an impact on joint development. We got ours done at 18 months (he'd been fully grown height wise for six months by then).

He calmed down slightly (though that could be age as much as anything else) but otherwise his behaviour didn't change. If your puppy grows up to become fearful or nervous then I wouldn't neuter him at all.

[crazycatgal]

Our last dog was intact and had a fab temperament, he was lovely.

The main reason for considering neutering is that we want to use a doggy daycare service and a lot of them ask for males to be neutered. I think i'll have another look around and try to find somewhere that wouldn't want him neutered by a certain age.

[Floralnomad]

The table linked to above suggests you are ok to neuter a Labrador from 6 months if I’m reading it correctly which sounds incredibly young to me for a largish breed that’s still growing . We have a patterdale x (16kg) and he was neutered at about 11 months / a year but mainly because he was a rampant humper and we thought it might help a bit , which it did .

[Hovverry]

Boy dogs don’t need neutering except for medical problems.