Those of you who have neutered male dogs.

[Doglikeahorse]

Can I ask a couple of questions please

What age did you neuter?
Did you notice any changes in behaviour? If so what?
If you had any behavioural issues did they improve?
Would you do it again?

Thanks!

We neutered around the half year mark. No changes in behaviour at all. It was very straight forward. You'd never know he had the surgery on the day either. Yes, I would do it again. There are enough puppies in the world in need of homes without contributing to creating more.

What age did you neuter? 18 months
Did you notice any changes in behaviour? If so what? Stopped humping the gap in the sofa cushions.
If you had any behavioural issues did they improve? No - separation anxiety improved with age and distraction!
Would you do it again? Yes - who wants dog Jim on the sofa.

About 8 months old. No real change in behaviour. But in the week or so leading up to us booking it he peed in two peoples houses (people with dogs) which he hadn’t done before and he didn’t do it again afterwards…. likely a coincidence though I reckon. Only thing that was an issue for us was weight gain afterwards, we’ve had to watch his weight ever since (he’s 7 now!).

We neutered at 3 years old, on advice of vet. He was not the most confident of dogs.
No changes in behaviour other than becoming food obsessed where before he had had an interest in bitches. ( He’s a lab - food or sex are their hobbies)
I would be thinking long and hard about any future males as to when to neuter- at 3 it made little difference to behaviour; but neutering may have made a difference to health ( at any age - for better or worse)

Dog Jim

I’ve read about the coats being ruined? Is this an actual thing? It’s not happened with my spayed bitch!

We neutered about 12 months, he has stopped the incessant humping and is way more chilled.
I think everyone should have their dogs neutered, as a pp said there are too many puppies, and no one without serious experience should be breeding their dogs.

About 18 months.
Yes. He had been trying to hump every other dog he met. That stoppeed very quickly. His recall improved too - perhaps he was getting to that age anyway, or perhaps his drive to explore and greet everyone in sight wasn't as strong.
I'm really glad we did it. It made him much easier.

16 month medium breed, hasn't changed the behaviour I was hoping for but he doesn't pee every five seconds on a walk anymore which is quite pleasant.
Does listen a bit more if he feels like he's in the mood but if he sees another dog on a walk forget it, he still wants to play doesn't listen in the slightest then.

he was never aggressive or nervous and that hasn't changed he's still a very friendly dog I'm just hoping maturity will now stop the obsessive need to play with other dogs.

When I saw your update about coats I would say that my boys coat has definitely changed he is a lot fluffier and scruffier but I don't mind that because he's a mixed breed anyway and he looks a bit cuter this way

friend of mine had a female Parsons Terrier and her coat really changed a lot from really silky to quite fuzzy and fluffy

And yes, my dog's coat is less straight and smooth now. But he's less of a dickhead, so fair trade off, I reckon. A woman I know has a similar breed. She won't castrate because doesn't want his coat to go curly but everytime you see him, he's on the lead because his drive makes him run off or hump.

My doggo has a lovely shiny coat. I suspect this might depend on the breed?

I’ve had a few that came neutered.

One that was done at 7 months, (contract with rescue) no chance in behaviour, but it did affect his growth, he went yon leggy way early neutered sometimes do.

One that was done at 15 months, partly under advice from a behavioural vet that there was no reason to wait, partly because he needed x rays doing then and partly because the plan had always been to get him neutered at some point anyway... it made no difference to the behavioural issues either way.

Current dog is coming up 18 months and not done yet, I’m unsure actually if we’re doing it or not, he’s another rescue with issues that could be made worse by neutering so we were letting him finish growing anyway and I need to weigh it up with the trainer I use, vet and rescue. There’s no way he’s getting to breed, lol, but I can manage that fine with him intact anyway.

Age - about 2 ( rescue so don't know it's exact age)
Change behaviour- hard to say because we only had him for a few weeks before we had it done but I don't think so.
Do it again - yes definitely.

There was no adverse effect he did not gain weight nor did his coat condition change.
X lab- staff for reference.

Oh and the coat, it’s definitely breed dependant if it’s a thing, it makes no difference at all to short coated dogs IME.

I would recommend speaking to a vet and if appropriate also a behaviourist to understand what is right for your dog.

My dog is 2 and about a year ago he was attacked by an off lead dog at the park, after the incident he became very nervous when out and would bark at other dogs and people, pretty much any noise he heard when out. The vet treated his physical injuries, which apart from a couple of scars healed quickly but we also spoke to a behaviourist to address the nervousness and she advised not to get him neutered at that point, a year later he is so much better, he no longer barks at people and only occasionally barks at certain dogs so we are now reconsidering whether he should be neutered.

We neutered our last dog at about 12 months. There were some behaviour changes (slightly calmer) but they came at the same time as other changes so I can't be sure it was that.

Our vet has advised us not to neuter current dog. The guidance has changed as you often don't see the benefits you expect and it can increase marking and aggression apparently.

We have a small breed dog who had possession aggression. He'd guard treats or toys and turned absolutely vicious if you tried to get the item away from him, even if you tried distraction techniques. It was awful. Had him neutered around 8 months old and now we have a completely different dog. Once or twice he's got a bit possessive, but we know now what types of toy can set off his possessiveness and don't get them for him. Overall though, he's a loving and friendly little chap now.

Mine was 4 years old. I wouldn't nuter a male dog again.

He got fat, lost some of his "spark" and strangely less tolerant to intact male dogs.
(Nope, he didn't know what he had lost, as he never was a "humper")

18 months
He calmed down and stopped humping DDs friends, he also listened more and stopped being such a Dick on walks. Daycare said it was like having a different dog and other dogs were now happy to play with him.
Would absolutely do it again

I have two littermates/brothers but we’re neutered at different times. One dog was neutered at 6-7 months when he had emergency surgery for a bowel obstruction. Vet asked as we had him booked in for a months time. Other dog was neutered at around 10 months. No changes in either, didn’t calm them ( their spaniels so not likely). No coat change or personality. Weight has barely fluctuated and they are 12 now.

Hi
My two brothers have just turned two and had them neutered in October.
Would I do it again ? No! One boy was a little bit prone to a lazy cocky leg indoors and I can't lie it has totally stopped that but they have both always been fairly anxious dog reactive walkers , I would say my smaller boy is worse on a walk now since , he barks automatically and is even nervous of bikes now and big vans etc going past ... wasn't before ... the other one is about the same as he was before
I think for my smaller one he's become even more anxious I'm just about to try a adaptil collar after the cheaper type on Amazon did nothing
I feel bad that I've helped him feel worse tbh

Mine was 10 months old.

He stopped humping and became less stubborn. He's always had a retiring nature, neutering made no difference to that, he's friendly just not the most confident dog but it doesn't really affect him, he's just quite submissive. He's always been the same. He's never been fat and he's still well muscled, we walk lots and feed high quality food.

Neutering hasn't ruined his coat. That was ruined by a dodgy dog groomer saying she'd hand strip him then clipping him and thinking I wouldn't notice. 🤦‍♀️

I'd absolutely do it again - I really dislike the jizz on everything, humping and pesty behaviour from most entire male dogs - even the ones where the owners claim they're well-trained and it doesn't make a difference. I also just think it's responsible if you're not planning to breed from them, same as spaying a female dog except neutering is a simpler procedure with fewer possible side effects for the dog.

Whahhahhha mr two dogs who are brothers ... not my own two brothers 🙈🤣

Advice on neutering varies depending on breed and temperament. Large breeds should in the whole be neutered later and nervous dogs later too.

Also consider maturity. Dogs mature mentally aged 2-3 and I'd never neuter before that age again unless I had to.

Thanks everyone!

Dog is a large long/double coated GSD.
His coat is easily maintained at the moment but if it went fluffy it would be a nightmare!

He can be reactive to certain dogs and loves others. I am unsure if it’s nervousness or being an entire male. He’s perfectly manageable at the moment but obviously finds walking in busier places more stressful than it needs to be.
My trainer has said to think about neutering but I am worried about making any reactivity worse. There’s no way to be sure.

I considered the implant but it’s £400