Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs Time to FIX a problem...

My 6 month old male lab has started to pay a LOT of attention to my wife's 3 year old female English Mastiff. And although I am certain that they would be adorable (and HUGE) puppies, I am not at all interested in having a bunch of Labriff's or Mastador's running around. When is it appropriate/safe to have my pup fixed? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

There seems to be a trend towards earlier and earlier nut-cutting among the pounds (err, "shelters"), but from what I can see, there are some serious problems involved with it. Developmental, coat, temperamental, health. I won't cut a dog unless there is a medical reason. That's what kennels are for. However, if you feel you have to, I'd wait until the dog has at least physically matured. JMO, Dutch.

Opinions differ considerably. The pro-neuter advocates like to claim there are no negative side effects, where temperment is concerned, to having a pup as young as 8 weeks snipped.

That sorta depends on your definition of negative. Males who are neutered very young can grow up...well, bitchy. If you wait 'til after the dog reaches reproductive maturity, it may not change his disposition much at all. That includes all the downside activities of an intact male i.e., fighting, humping everything in sight, and marking.

If the dog is lazy, and lacks drive, you may want to wait a while. If the dog is hard charging and hard headed, having him neutered now amy make him more biddable without dampening his fire. The negatives (if any) are probably easier to manage than an intact dog and a bitch in heat, in the same house. I don't know that there is any reliable way to predict the effect on any individual dog, at any particular age.

My opinion is: an accomplished dog, from an excellent pedigree may remain intact if the owner has a real clue about his breed and wants to improve it. Otherwise, there is no shortage of marginal to mediocre dogs in the world, and there are millions of irresponsible backyard breeders who will pick up the slack for your dog, should you choose to have him cut. Shelters and rescue organizations are never in danger of running out of candidates.

I'm going to have my 5.5 month old Golden pup done but wil probably wait 'til he's fully grown. He's going to be bigger than I thought and neutering an immature dog will cause him to grow bigger and thicker than if he were not cut. The extra weight (even if he's not fat) will slow him down and cause more stress on his joints. My guy looks like more of a lover than a fighter, so waiting doesn't appear to pose an undue risk of puncture wounds.

If it was up to me, he would stay intact, but both dogs spend the day outside together, alone and unsupervised. Right now, he is a head strong rageing idiot who smells quail and looses his mind. I say "Where's a bird", and he gets all wired up. And this is only after a little work in the yard with some birds I brought home opening weekend. I just can't afford to have any "accidents" that might bring about unwanted puppies.

Like your pup, mine goes berzerk over birds. More than his usual berzerkness. I figure having him cut wouldn't hurt him any, in the temperment department, but I picked mine because he looked like he was going to be on the smaller/lighter side of normal size. He's lately looking like he wants to be a horse when he grows up, so I plan to wait.

Being in a city I see a lot of male dogs being walked in parks and such that were cut way early. The effect is pretty much the same as neutering a bull calf, they end up with a big slow ox of a dog.

In neutered male dogs cut early the growth plates on the bones stay open longer, resulting in an odd long-legged appearance combined with a distinct lack of muscle tone, that last likely from lack of exercise.

Our little 8lb terrier we left intact figuring there ain't too many dogs he could get up into (which has proven to be the case) neither does this particular dog take off after bitches in heat, though he gets plenty of opportunities. We left him intact on account of cutting a male can alter the personality of a dog, and at 8lbs he needs all the attitude he can muster.

If the dog was mine I'd leave it uncut, but if I HAD to get him cut, I'd want to wait until at least one year of age, so that he had pretty much finished growing and all his brain cells were in place.

Birdwatcher

Based on my own research and my vet's advice, I had my Lab cut at 6 months. It was a very good decision. My dog is a spectacular specimen. At 9.5 years old, he is sleek, muscular, full of energy, and a pleasure to be around. He has retrieved hundreds of ducks in his life and done very well in several UKC hunt tests. The only negative I have gotten is from others saying that I should never have ended the procreative abilites of such a geneticly superior animal. Knowing what I know now, I would do it exactly the same again.
RS

Thanks guys. I think I'll get him in the field a little this fall, let him get good and birdy, and then probably do it in the spring, closer to a year old.

Thanks again.

Wayne

I fixed my male this past year at age 4. I waited to decide if the gene pool could use his genes passed on. I came to the conclusion that he does have the bird hunting gene, also a very handsome dog, larger than the breed standard (95 pounds prior to fixing) but is dumb as a post overall. Actually the neutering made him much more affectionate, more interested in playing with me (retreiving for the sake of retreiving), and generally more playful overall. He was following the testosterone up to that point I guess. He has gained 10 pounds since being fixed. A virtual tank.

Rex will be one in two weeks and We are going to wait at least another year below taking his manhood from him.

Michael

my dog was cut at 3 1/2 months, he is a big pansy and very needy and a huge lap dog. when playing with other dogs he rolls over and omits to the. i believe this is because he was snipped so young. he can get rowdy when need be, but i like a dog with a little more attitude and stand up for himself. he is a great dog, great with kids and loves to hike but he is a pansy.

firstcoues: it is often just the nature of the animal. I had a Rottwieler pup who, at 7 weeks, was writing checks his azz couldn't cover. He was the OG before his testicles dropped. My 7 month Golden is a very mild dog. I would be beyond shocked if he ever initiates a ruckus. That may change.......but I seriously doubt it. If a burglar ever breaks into my house, he'll likely carry the bad guy's tool bag around for him.

Neutering will affect aggression, but a tough customer would probably just become disinclined to leave home to look for a brawl. Still, I've seen females who cut a pretty wide swath.

If a burglar ever breaks into my house, he'll likely carry the bad guy's tool bag around for him"

thats pretty funny! my dog is a good guard dog as his hair stands up an dhe will bark and growl but i dont think it will get past that. which is fine with me because him barking, gives me enough time to wake my XD-40 and its 12 155 gr. friends up from their nap.