Neutering dog at 6 months due to daycare?

[Extraordinarymagic]

Hi all, I have a 5 month old cockapoo. He started daycare two days a week and loves it and we might up it to three days a week as a result. However the daycare won’t take any dogs unneutered over the age of 6 months. So we really need To make a decision on this.

We don’t actually have to do it as we’re both working from home due to covid for another few months so we could just pull him out of the daycare however it’s very hard to find information on whether it’s a good idea to neuter him at 6 months or wait and if so how long.

Does anyone have any ideas? I’m going to ask vet but with covid we can’t really get in there to have a proper discussion.

Does it actually matter when neutered? For context of his personality he’s very good with children and loves people in general and very happy pup. Easy to train and very affectionate. He was wary of other dogs at first but the daycare have done a great job socialising him to all sizes and say he’s a lot happier. He doesn’t like being left on his own in the house but sleeps in his crate downstairs alone from 11-6 and randomly is happy out in the car on his own if we pop into the shop so he doesn’t seem particularly anxious bad if we try leave him during the day in the house alone.

If you can delay for as long as possible - up to age 2.
At 6 months he has not yet developed an adult coat, his bones are still growing and he still has puppy mentality.

Given that he doesn't need to be in daycare at the moment, I'd wait as long as possible - there are implications for things like joint health, emotional wellbeing and so on.

If you can ensure your dog isn’t going to escape and cause accidental pregnancy, I would certainly hold off on neutering him. Testosterone has a positive effect on reducing nervous behaviour.

Early neutering has been shown to have adverse effects on health, growth and behaviour. The growth plates aren’t closed at 6 months so you are better waiting until the dog is physically mature, if you go ahead with neutering.

Agree with the above. In addition a dog will often become more nervous after neutering as the lack of testosterone will affect his confidence.
I always aim to ideally get my dogs to at least 18 months if at all possible.
I’d be a bit concerned in all honesty with a daycare setting which had such a set in stone policy. It is far from a one size fits all decision and a blanket policy might make it easier for the staff, but is not really in the best interests of the dog.

any reputable breeder or a vet will tell you that leaving neutering as late as possible is very important.
my male dogs have not been neutered until over 12 months.

please think of the longer view for your dogs health.

Please wait until he is 18 months at a minimum, hormones are very important for growth and development. Daycares shouldn't be requesting this when it's bad for the health of the animals.

My daycare had a similar rule but after chatting with them they've agreed to do it depending on each dog. If they are a nightmare then maybe daycare isn't for them until after neutering and a dog walker may be better.

I wouldn’t neuter until he’s grown and matured. I would avoid neutering a nervous dog if possible too.

No, please don't neuter him at such a young age. He should be 18 months old at an absolute minimum.

It really frustrates me when daycares say things like this - they're causing harm to so many animals by indirectly forcing their owners to get their dogs neutered too young.

Thanks all. That is pretty unanimous in response. We probably won’t be able to hold out to 18 months as we will be back in the office so will need the daycare however we should be able to get to 11 months. I’ll speak to the vet too. We will just have to pull him out of daycare in a month.

I would look for a different daycare. Or make alternative arrangements.

He was wary of other dogs at first but the daycare have done a great job socialising him to all sizes and say he’s a lot happier

Apart from all the good reasons given, he is still too young to accurately understand his adult behaviour. Reactive dogs often do not display their reactivity until they are 1 year+. Another reason why waiting to see the final temperament of your dog before neutering.

Which is not to see I think he will be reactive. More to call it out because it's a real kicker for those owners who neuter, then realise their dog is reactive and spend a lifetime wondering if neutering made it worse.

All dog day cares I know say one year. I'm surprised at this. I'd look for new day care.

I will look into other day care - it’s such a shame though as this place really are excellent. I think we will wait till then mention it to us and then see if they will consider keeping him on. They said their business has been impacted by covid so if they have fewer dogs/all male or neutered dogs it might be ok.

I was just reading this article which says 6-9 months is when you should neuter a medium sized dog. www.briarhillvets.ie/neutering-the-why-and-when-we-do-it/

So maybe that is why the daycare say 6 months. I think we will definitely be able to manage ourselves with some working from home until he is 12 months so that would give him a few months past what that vet is recommending anyway so hopefully it will be ok.

Sorry quote “ Medium sized dogs (10-25kg at adult weight) should ideally be neutered from 6-9 months old. ”

You can find any info you care to on the internet. Some right, some wrong.
Ask 3 vets, you’ll likely get a different answer from each. It’s a minefield, but there is very little evidence that later neutering at 18-24 months has any ill effects. There is plenty to suggest that earlier is a bad idea.

You need to look for a new day care!!! This is disgusting

Dogs should not be done that early. There’s literally NO reason for a dog to be done so soon unless it’s life saving.

Please find a new day care.

I’ve never heard of that before? No day cares in my area have ever required any dog to be done?!

I was told a similar thing by one daycare centre when I was looking around for my puppy to get some social time with other dogs - I was really disappointed as I had chosen this one from good reviews etc, but I don't want to neuter my dog unless I really have to and certainly not at 6 months. I rang another daycare place and they said they don't require it at all, they thought it was quite shocking. So it's not a general thing.

@Loveablers

I’ve never heard of that before? No day cares in my area have ever required any dog to be done?!

Sadly, plenty have that as a stipulation. Presumably to prevent things like unwanted pregnancy, marking and other behaviours associated with entire dogs.

Lots of the ones we looked around refused to take un-neutered males. It makes me quite angry because a lot of people will assume the daycare have their dogs' best interests at heart and will dutifully neuter their dog, and could end up with all sorts of problems further down the line.

I don't think vets are neutering at present due to covid. I have a pup I'm awaiting neutering. Normally I get them done as soon as possible. Personally you will get a different answer from people regarding neutering. If your not breeding your dog then neutering is best. My other dog was neutered at 6 month old. I've always had my dogs neutered with no issues the younger the better.

@vanillandhoney this is definitely what we thought. If they’re recommending it it must be the right thing to do. We also choose this daycare for excellent reviews and just lovely people running it. Pup is so happy there he legs it in every day. At least we are not stuck given we’re both working from home until Christmas Id say.

@Sitdowncupoftea what types of dog do you have and you haven’t seen adverse effects from neutering at 6 months?

I neutered my dog (working cocker) 10.5 months of age.

Tbh one of the factors of doing so was because we relied on dog walkers/daycare and whilst there had been no stipulations requiring neutering from my current one I was mindful that others wouldn't walk my dog in groups etc and as I didn't have family on hand I needed backup/secondary dog carers for unexpected illness and holiday cover.

I had discussed it with my vet and they were mindful that it wasn't recommended if they were still growing physically nor if the dog had shown dog/human fear aggression or other behavioural issues.

Ideally I would have waited until he was 1 year old having read all the research myself but for practical reasons it was done a little earlier.

@vanillandhoney I've had all sorts of dogs all my life all lived into their senior years all neutered without any adverse affects. The dogs I have now are huskies x malamutes. I had one done at 6 month old as basically ones his bit are formed they can be done. I dont see the point delaying it. If your not breeding them get them done. I'm on a waiting list as present for my pup. As for the lack of testosterone affecting confidence never had that in many of my dogs ever. My dogs are not timid no fear in them whatsoever. Mine were laid out watching the thunder and lightning last week.

[quote Sitdowncupoftea]@vanillandhoney I've had all sorts of dogs all my life all lived into their senior years all neutered without any adverse affects. The dogs I have now are huskies x malamutes. I had one done at 6 month old as basically ones his bit are formed they can be done. I dont see the point delaying it. If your not breeding them get them done. I'm on a waiting list as present for my pup. As for the lack of testosterone affecting confidence never had that in many of my dogs ever. My dogs are not timid no fear in them whatsoever. Mine were laid out watching the thunder and lightning last week.[/quote]
There are arguments either way - ultimately it's down to personal preference, but I don't think there are many good reasons to get it done before the dog is fully grown and sexually mature.

You say yours aren't fearful - but mine was neutered at 18 months and he isn't fearful either, so it's not really evidence either way, it's just luck of the draw isn't it? Some dogs will be neutered at 4 months and live long healthy lives, others will experience a lifetime of anxiety and joint problems.

As long as the owners is informed of all the pros and cons, it's ultimately their choice. There are valid arguments on both sides.