Castration dilemma

[NevilleBigBottom]

Ddog is just 3, an entire Labrador. He's just wonderful, and we've left him entire as he has never given us any trouble and he is a bit of a wimp so benefits from the testosterone (with vet's agreement - in fact suggestion!)
However he has started to really pine when there are what I can only assume are bitches in season around. Whining, pacing, chomping his mouth and unable to settle. He also off his food, but is not unwell. He's very unhappy and frustrated!
I will obviously speak to the vet but since they will no doubt ask what I want to do, I wanted to get some opinions.
Im worried he will get attacked or come across a nasty dog and won't have the hormone boost to feel he can just walk past like he does now. But he's such a pain when he's like this! What would you do?

I should add we live in London suburbs so there are lots of dogs around so it's not going to be possible to avoid bitches potentially in season. They also walk past our house as we are on a main road.

What I am going to do with my lab is try chemical castration and see how it impacts him. This is what my vet and dog trainer have recommended. It lasts six months so that should give enough time to see what the impact is.

He's a bit anxious/socially awkward but at the moment a lot of (neutered?) male dogs get aggressive with him. I'm worried castration will make him more anxious but I'm also worried keeping him intact will put him at risk of getting attacked.

He is obviously very interested in female dogs and when he gets that certain sniff his teeth start chattering 🤣

He has very recently started getting more protective/barky (as I was writing this some teens walked past being a bit loud and he jumped up and barked at them). I don't really want that to continue either!

I wouldn’t castrated him. If bitches in season are an issue you could try the chemical castration.
It is my understanding that bitches should be spayed for their benefit after a first season but dogs are left. We’ve had a few entire male labs and they’ve all been fine, not had any issues. We didn’t have them as young dogs though

How old is he @Drivingthevengabus ?
I did chemical castration with a previous dog about 15 years ago and he went hypersexual! Humping everything in sight and every leg in the house 😳 so I'm a bit nervous about that. Maybe it has improved since then, or previous ddog had a strange reaction?

We did chemical first and then surgical. It was for reactivity and we wanted to test if it made it worse. It's improved that a lot. He's a lovable little chap now

I had to have my nine year old dog castrated purely because of a very enlarged prostate. I really didn't want to - on the grounds that he didn't kick off with other male dogs as a rule, and it's inherently unnatural. But he does seem happier in himself and I think that's because he doesn't get troubled by girls on heat any more.

I do think it's a tricky one though. The vet was dead keen always but I held out until the prostate issue (I could see how large it was for myself on the scan).

Yikes!! That sounds like a nightmare.

Mine is 18 months - so pretty teenage.

He is not at all humpy at home - occasionally I'll see him trying to square up to a female dog, but he doesn't hump at home anymore (he used to get amorous with cushions as a puppy!).

One of mine lost his when he became very interested in in season bitches in the area. He started humping his brother, who wasn't best pleased. But the nail in the coffin was him running across two fields, onto a road and nearly being hit by a car.
It didn't change his personality at all. Just stopped the pining and humping.

SpanielsGalore (mine are spaniels too), can you tell me if it's curbed the running off across fields?

Only after in season bitches. Not after rabbits and deer. Or pheasants. 🙈

Thanks SpanielsGalore.

That's my hopes dashed then😂

Suprelorin is brilliant for situations like this.