Is 11 months too young for my dog to have the chop?

[MillGuff]

Hello all. I have a lovely flatcoat retriever pup who has a great temperament and hasn't really shown much interest in chasing ladies yet. No leg humping to speak of either. His recall is fine, but he's beginning to be quite far-ranging on walks in a bid to find other dogs to talk to.

On Friday he spent an hour trying to have sex with next door's neutered male lab while playing out on a walk and in the garden, so I think the time might have come to think about getting his nuts off before he does, IYSWIM.

We'll never breed from him as he's already had to have surgery for a dodgy leg which is genetic, and I think it'd be kinder all round to castrate him.

I've booked him in for mid-may, when he'll be 11 months. Is this too early for a dog of his size? Any advice?

No, it's fine! Dogs can be neutered when they are about 6 months old. Cats can be done at about 4 months.

Thanks CountryGirl - I'd just heard that for bigger dogs the longer you can leave it the better. Oh dear. Looks like they're coming off...!

I waited until gone 12 mths for my dog. I read a few reports that state that its better to wait until their joints are more fully developed as if neutered too young it can lead to joint problems in older age, my breed club also recommend this, although the vets said 6mths. I'd wait another month if I were you. My dog was done yesterday, he's 13mths and recovering well!

Thanks for more advice - someone else said this to me recently as well as something about how if you do it young, you arrest their development. The male dog he's so keen on doesn't cock his leg and is smaller, like a bitch, and he was neutered very young. I think ours must think he's a bitch!

I'll have a further think and see how he goes in the next few weeks.