Should I have my dog neutered?

[shopsalot]

Looking for some advice please - or an idea of where to go for advice before I go to the vet.

My dog is male 3yo golden and is intact. He is well trained: good recall, always looking out for where I am, stops at roads etc. If we ever meet a bitch on heat he is usually only mildly interested and only if they actually meet rather than him picking up the scent. I can move him on without any problems. Today he picked up the scent (of a neutered male dog!!) and ran a long distance to get to him including across a road. Thankfully he wasn't hit. The other dog has a scent which makes him attractive to other male dogs apparently.

I haven't had my dog neutered yet because there just hasn't been the need, he is a happy friendly dog with no behavioural issues. He gets on well with 99% of dogs, the odd incident with another dog has always been the other dog having a growl and my dog ignores / moves on. There is one dog who has taken a dislike to him (massive dog) so I was thinking it was good he's intact just in case the lack of testosterone makes him fearful.

Can I train him out of running after a dog / bitch on heat? Will having him neutered stop this? Should I consider chemical castration first? Has anyone experienced this?

Anything else I should consider? He's back on the lead for a while now!

I'm not sure I'd rush to get him neutered under these circumstances - I would probably have a vasectomy though to prevent any unwanted litters.

These things seem quite country specific sometimes - in Norway it's illegal to neuter your dog for non-medical reasons!

What the above poster said. Do some research on the subject. There’ll be plenty telling you to neuter. But modern research does show it not to be in the real interest of the dog - particularly males.

I think if he’s going to be off lead, I’d neuter him yes, for safety’s sake.

You say he’s only mildly interested in bitches on heat but I’d argue that this incident with the male proves that isn’t the case.

The window where a bitch can actually get pregnant is pretty small, I suspect these bitches in heat were not at the right point of their heat, probably just coming in or just coming out.

I also think the male dog owner should probably get his dog checked, I’ve heard UTIs can make them smell like bitches in heat.

If you decide to do it I'd definitely recommend the chemical implant first, to allow you to see if the drop in testosterone may result in any negative behaviour or confidence changes.

Thanks all. It's a really tricky decision. I haven't had him neutered yet because I had researched it and felt it wasn't in his best interests (health, confidence etc) but this incident has really scared me. No point in protecting his health and confidence if he's going to career across roads! I was just wondering if it's down to poor training on my part or whether it is so instinctive to chase the scent that there is nothing I can do to prevent it.

The other dog seems to always have this alluring scent and has been taken to the vets before so hopefully nothing sinister.

whether it is so instinctive to chase the scent that there is nothing I can do to prevent it
That one.
I have an entire male also.
I’m unlikely to neuter him because he’s a little shy.
I am under no illusions that if he smelt a ‘ripe’ bitch he’d probably be off.
Fortunately he pretty much never goes off lead and he’s very small so he’s not going to pull me over in pursuit of a female.

I woiuld not neuter my dog for chasing after one dog.

I would work on recall and focus on me. You say you have a good recall then you just need to proof it in more distracting enviroments .

If your dog does not chase bitches in heat then I very very much doubt that is why he chased after a neutered dog.

You do not know the reason why your dog chased this dog. Humans who have shit smell have decided it is because of the dogs odor .....

However obviously upping his training to prevent such a scary event again is vital.

You can’t train an entire male dog not chase bitches in heat.
There are massive medical advantages in neutering dogs, particularly when they have built up bone mass, after about 2 yrs. I’m thinking several cancers, in particular, testicular.

However, only you know your dog.
X

Thanks @PollyRoulllson - when my dog reached the other dog he went into full on humping mode, acting like the dog was a bitch. He's never acted like this before - I can usually get him to stop and sit at a distance. I used to think he was well trained, but obviously not. I will definitely work on recall.

It sounds like entire dogs chasing bitches is instinctive and when it's happening, difficult to stop. I'll work on recall and walking closer to me. Also going to take him to places where there are no roads.

The health benefits are a mixed bag - particularly in Goldens, which was one of the reason I've left it - but I'm conscious the research into this is quite minimal.

Thanks everyone