To neuter or not to neuter? help me decide.

[LittleB]

I've got a 7mth old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. He's just a family dog, but is from good showing background (I won't be showing him though as I don't have time) I do take him to the local toller group, run by the breeder that he came from, and there's a possibility that I could breed from him if I wanted to as he's turning out well. I've also got friends with a young collie bitch and they'd love to breed their bitch with him when he's older as they think he's a lovely dog and they'd make gorgeous puppies. It'd be lovely to have one of his sons/daughters in the future, pedigree or mutt! but I've also heard that if male is only bred once or twice he can become very frustrated and dominant as he knows what he's missing and to keep him entire and not breed from him can lead to bad behaviour. I've been told it should be done before he turns 1. I wouldn't mind not breeding from him, and I've heard its healthier to get him neutered. At the moment he's pretty good, does try to hump his bed and some other dogs but is fine with people, but he's only 7mths and has only just started cocking his leg. What do others do? I've never had to make this decision before as my other dogs have been rescue dogs and were neutered when we got them.

it is healthier for him to keep him neutered IMO. My ex boyfriend's dog was not neutered [because my ex had macho ideas] and he dog was a blardy nightmare. Running after every dog, female or male, picking fights with other dogs, trying to mount female dogs. once your dog turns one some of this behaviour is inevitable. Also, retriever/collie puppies do sound lovely, but bear in mind how many unwanted dogs there are, IMO people should go and get their pets from places like the RSPCA and Battersea Dogs Home, as there are so many dogs desperately needing a home. Collie/retriever pups might not be that easy to home anyway.

Dogs and bitches hump, is no real indication of frustration. Two of my dogs sired one litter each, it did not affect their temperament - I would not have used them at stud if they had been in the least bit aggressive.

A good friend of our family brought the first NSDTR into the country, sadly she is dead now.

I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions, but here's mine (and it is strident, so look away now if easily offended), there are enough unwanted crossbred dogs hanging around in rescue centres (and being euthanased) without people with little experience breeding their dog 'with a friends bitch because they have nice temperaments/look cute' Sorry but years of working for the RSPCA and other breed resuces have made me hardened to the 'lets have some lovely puppies' (and kittens for that matter)attitude.

Go back to your breeder, ask her/him if they would like to use your dog for breeding - you can get stud terms of cash or a pup from the litter if you wish. Just because he is from good breeding stock does not mean he will a) be perfect, or b) sire good pups.

It is not worth breeding from most dogs until they have done some serious winning at Open or Championship shows.

If he is just going to be a family pet, have him done.

we had a lovely female border collie at home and she never humped!

but agree with rest of your post.

I think have him done, there are so many unwanted dogs already - the world doesn't really need any more puppies! Even if you delay, make sure it is done before he gets to his middle age because the op can reduce the risk of certain prostate troubles.

I have mixed opinions on this.

We have a Beagle who is now nearly 7. We bought him as a puppy and where we used to live was a couple who had about 3 Beagles and bred them.
They approached us on a number of occasions and asked if we would do it.
After a bit of research we decided against it as the last time they asked us was just before dd was born and we didnt like the thoughts of it changing his behaviour with a new baby around.

Now for some reason his beahviour has changed. I think its an attention thing but he is taking the kids toys and ripping them up and being quite nasty with me when I try to take them off him. Very confrontational and aggressive.
Both dh and I are discussing having him done now to see if this will cure the problem.

Also my PIL's have a Rotweiller. They have never considered bredding from him or having him neutered but over the last year or so he has had spates of dripping blood from his bits.
He's had tests and tests for it and although it was just severe UTI's that was forming crystals and cutting him inside.
There were concerns though at the start that it could be something worse like testicular cancer and all the waiting and angst really upset PIL's and under the advice of the vet they had him neutered.
They basically said that this will not only take away the risks of cancer in that area but also because of the lack of testosterone in him, he will be less likely to go round licking other dogs pee on trees and pick up infections.
Anyway after they had him done he turned into a new dog.
He was like a puppy again, he got his spring back in his step and seems a much happier dog.

I hope that bit of history helps

yes we eventually got my ex's dog neutered and he was a different dog. Stopped fighting, was much calmer and happier.

Agree with Alycat, we had a Border Collie and she was lovely, but a friends dog (a rough collie) was badly injured in a fight over her in the prk- not really a desirable effect! Cost them hundreds in vets bills to save the poor animal .

Dh's family used to keep Yorkies (why we dont ahev dogs: I cant abide the little ones, DH cant stick the big ones LOL), and they ahd a case of a male who turned really ansty and aggressive (FIL was anti neutering). he dominated the whole household- decided who was allowed in which room, bit visitors etc etc.
he was eventually neutered which modified his behaviour somewhat, although the vet said they'd ledt it too late to cpmpletely alter the abd traits- they'd become habit, iyswim. Their current dog (MIL's) is a Westie who was a result of badly practised breedinga nd ahs ahd multiple complications that have caused many ops, so again I'd be wary of self- pracrised breeding; he's a pure breed, but would have been put down if he hadnt been rescued.

Agree with other posters that it might be a bad idea to breed from your dog.

As to neutering, I was just speaking to a fellow dog walker this morning who had recently had his elderly dog neutered because of some health complication that earlier neutering would have avoided.

But on the other hand, he told me the vet had said that neutering young male dogs, while protecting against some health probs, can lead to overweight if you aren't careful about feeding -- and the overweight in turn can cause difficulties like arthritis. So the medical aregument could be made either way.

The behavioural advantages are huge with some dogs. My rather feisty terrier has been improved a great deal by neutering at one year old. But with other dogs their temperaments might be such that neutering isn't particularly called for.

With an unneutered dog there is always the risk that he will wander off in pursuit of some neighbourhood bitch in heat and get hit by car or lost. And there is also alwways the risk of unwanted litters.

I'm not sure why you've been advised to have him neutered by one year. If it was to prevent male agression developing there would be good reason for doing it early as poss. But if your dog is not an agressive type (and I'm guessing that breed isn't agressive) then later might be at least as good a time. My previous dog was an Italian Spinone, a large breed and slow to mature physically. I was advised that neutering him too soon would prevent proper development, and so not to neuter him until at least 18 months. I did neuter him then -- but I regreted it because it wasn't necessary for temperamental reasons. However, he didn't put on weight and he lived an active life until he died at a good age for his breed.

Thanks for the advice. I knew I'd get some of the don't breed replies, it wasn't me who suggested breding him, it was the friend with the collie, who will breed their collie, with or without our dog. I don't think homing the pups would actually be a problem, as we'd have one, and they've got other interested homes through friends and family. As I said I've has rescue dogs in the past and will again in the future, I only have a pup because I have a 2 yr old dd and wouldn't trust a rescue dog with her (I know some are lovely but you never know - even my old collie who supposedly came from a lovely home and was only in the centre a couple of weeks, I couldn't trust around young children) and alot of rescue centres won't rehome dogs to families with young children anyway. As we plan to have another dog when my toller is mature (at about 3) the next is also likely to be a pup for the same reasons, we'll be back to rescues in the future.
It would be down to the toller group as to whether they thought he was worth breeding from, he doesn't need to win shows as he has good bloodlines and the bitch is likely to come from show stock too. The group is run by the largest breeders of Tollers in the UK so she knows what to look for and thinks hes looking good, but its too early to tell and he would have to have tests first and if all ok would be used for breeding more that once I expect, but obviously its up to us.
If neutered he wouldn't get the chance to get fat, he's well excercised and I'd keep a close eye on his diet and weight (my past dogs were neutered and never had weight problems when I owned them - although my collie was overweight when I got her as a rescue age 6 which probably contributed to her arthritus).
I've got a friend who recently neutered her dog (he mated his mother - and both are now neutered) and she says his behaviour has got worse since and she wished she'd never done it, so I am cautious.
And regarding getting him done early I was told it had a better effect on their behaviour, you're right he's not an aggressive breed and has been well socialised, but I guess he could still become dominant with other dogs.
Keep the replies coming I'd like to get lots of different opinions as I still don't know what to do!
Thanks.