What age to castrate?

[Friendshipover5]

I have a 13 month working cocker spaniel, he’s only a small little boy, between 7-8kg just before his one year check up which I was told was on the lowest end of a normal weight for his breed. Should I wait a little longer to castrate him or does this not affect his growth? Vets just said any time after 12 months to castrate. He’s fed double what our older dog gets but occasionally you can see his ribs - will castration help him put weight on? TIA

Yes. All my dogs have gained weight a lot easier after castration.
My shizu mix is a bit of a barrel and he doesn't even eat much, so we have to be careful with him.

I've always done it after their 1st birthday.

The advice is not to castrate at all unless you have a behavioural or medical need. In females it is better to wait at least a season but still advisable for them to be spayed.

They will not necessarily gain weight but their metabolism will slow so you do need to be more careful about calories.

My working springer spaniel was done at 18 months, as he had then matured mentally. Young Labrador being done in six weeks at two and a half. None of mine have put weight on afterwards. If your dog is looking ribby I would feed a little more.

I know lots of working cockers and many of them are quite ribby. It's not a bad thing, it's just how they are.
Agree with pp about not castrating unless there's a medical or behavioral problem.

I have a working springer who's entire. He's from a good line so I won't castrate for that reason, and also because I don't want him to gain weight. Working dogs are supposed to be a bit ribby, it's healthy and normal. You should be able to feel his ribs easily.

I wouldn't castrate at all unless there was a medical or behavioural reason to do so.

Gaining weight is not a given. None of my neutered dogs or cats have but then I’ve been careful with food and treats.

Loads of working and sporting dogs are neutered and most are a really good weight.

I have a small and slim wcs the vet says he's fine and within weight, I'd prefer him a bit chunkier he's is 15 months and.starting to get a bit of muscle so he isn't fully grown, we are planning on having him castrated after 18 months.

There Is also this although I said we are planning too we are still unsure.

Try the implant first.

The vet suggested this he is back soon for his kennel cough vaccine ill talk to them, the vet also said there isn't any real reason to castrate if there is no issues . It's a quandary we keep going back and forth about it!

Our last dog was a rescue he came done.

I wouldn’t with a male but females it’s usually better medically and behaviourally as phantom pregnancies can affect them badly. We’re waiting to spay my nearly 2 year old but she’s having a phantom and she’s much more anxious, struggles to settle and just generally unhappy. It has to resolve before we can go ahead. Lots of dogs I’ve taught have had the implant and most go on to neuter. It’s a no lose try before you buy thing. I wish there was the same for bitches!

I've got a working cocker that's entire, he never showed any behaviour to warrant it. But, he became a sitting target for other entire male dogs. He's been attacked three times, and one of those was so bad we ended up going to court with the owner. He's now incredibly reactive.

It's all very well saying don't castrate but my god I wish we'd done it.

Took doggo (labrador) to the vet to assess him for neutering at a year old. They told me he was ‘too immature’ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Little bugger strutted out of there proud as punch, crown jewels swinging. He got to keep them 8 more months 🤣

Oh no @LizzieBennett73 your poor boy this is one of my fears other intact dogs .