Ernie is seven months now and I think is starting to feel his testosterone. He’s got good manners and doesn’t hump, but he’s just started getting distracted and I’m wondering if it is the hormones.
Our vet suggested neutering at a year-and-a-half… is that the norm? I’ve only had female dogs since pups and the male dogs I’ve gotten have been neutered already.
What breed is he? They say the large breeds should be neutered closer to 2 so they are able to finish growing first. However, I neutered my lab pup at 7 months because he was prooving to be a very hard puppy (even with many training classes) and I did not want to do hormones on top of difficult. I’ve always altered all of my dogs at 6 months per the vets recommendation, and while things are changing in some perspectives, my vet still neuters around the same, so I felt it was best in my particular case.
I doubt it’s the hormones. It’s most likely just his age. What breed are we talking? The longer you can put it off, the better. It is permanent so all depends on whether you think it would improve his quality of life or not. There is no un-doing a neuter, obviously. My most recent dog is an intact 3yo. In the past I have done early neuters and late neuters. The early neuter developed some issues that may or may not have come from the neuter and died at an earlier age then I thought normal for his breed/type. He developed liver issues and endocrine issues, had a limp on/off post age 8. The late neuter had an age-related heart condition and died from a vaccine-related issue at a ripe old age. I’m not even sure I will neuter my most recent. I keep pondering–what’s in it for HIM?
My current dog was neutered before 4 months. Not my choice, I got him from a shelter and they neutered before adoption. He is almost 3 and no issues so far. He is a very nervous dog, but I have no way of knowing if that is a neuter thing or just his natural personality. My childhood dogs were never neutered and never had any issues. The current dog my parents have is 13 and going strong. Given the choice, I probably would not neuter unless absolutely necessary.
I read somewhere once that the most common age for dogs to be turned into the shelter was around 9 months because they lose their minds. My terrier did the same thing- I swear he forgot “down” the night he was graduating from one of his obedience classes!
Anyway, I bet it’s the age more than the hormones. The recommendation is starting to change from earlier to later in males, with some saying if they are nice and have good manners then you don’t really need to neuter if you can prevent them from getting loose and impregnating something. Even the potential problems (prostate, testicular cancer, etc.) can often be corrected by neutering if they happen.
I was on the fence with my most recent dog (now 3 1/2 yrs). He was great, but I finally neutered him at 22 months - he was REALLY distracted in agility two different nights (there were girls in heat, so I don’t blame him), he was starting to get snarky with a friend’s neutered male (he loved the friend’s spayed female), and the final straw- he was “aggressively humping” his friends at doggie daycare. Neutered him the next week and after about 30 days, he was back to great. 
Yes, exactly!
He’s a rhodesian ridgeback. He’s got about an acre of fenced yard and we also take him out on the trails so he gets lots of exercise. I had just started taking him on short trail rides with me and Mac, but then when walking off leash the other day he ran off to the neighbors’ house. If he’s not going to mind me, then he can’t come trail riding. And that would make me sad.:no:
I’d wait. He’s a teenager. At 7 months, he’d lose his mind neutered or not. My vet is recommending 2 yrs for my shepherd if I do him at all. He’s 1 1/2 yrs and so far so good. Believe me, you do not want the orthopedic issues that are linked to early neutering in large breeds. I made that mistake with me previous shepherd. He may not be reliable off leash for a few more months. Just go back to his basic training.
Sounds like he needs more mental challenge and training. Not all dogs are velcro dogs that will stay close if given the choice to explore.
With a dog that size I would definitely wait.
I have 2 intact male dogs, one just 2 one coming up to 3 yrs old.
Research has shown that neutering Golden Retrievers and I think Labs at 6 months increases their chances of osteosarcoma. Most vets are using that to extrapolate to other large breed dogs.
This behavior is unlikely to have anything to do with being neutered or not. He’s turning into an adult, and just like children in adolescence is testing his boundaries and expanding his “safety zone” around you.
Dogs need to be trained just like horses. There are some dogs that will naturally stay with you, but I would say that’s probably not the norm. It depends on breed/breed type and personality to some degree, too.
I wouldn’t neuter a male RR at this age; I would wait until he’s at least 12-15 months. But I would get training him now…meaning your trail rides may turn into training sessions instead of pleasure rides, or even any ride for now.
I use e-collars on my dogs and one might be appropriate for this situation. But the key really is being able to attend to your dog and correct immediately, which you may not be able to do while on a horse.
We usually neuter our Corgis between 6-8 months but much smaller breed and we’ve always had pet quality or working boys So I have never kept a breeding mail
He is in training…we go to weekly classes and work with him daily on commands.
When he was a wee pup, he stuck to us easily and had great recall…guess he’s just hitting the teenage years as you all are saying. I’ll be quitting the trail rides until he becomes reliable again.
Thanks for the info on the potential health issues. Since I’ve only had rescue males who have come neutered I didn’t have reason to pay attention to side effects of early neutering.
Well yes all training is good - I meant specific training to trail riding if that’s your goal. It might require two people - one on horseback, one on the ground.
Some dogs will just be that kind of dog that wants to be close to you - others, not so much. My dogs would take off to hunt by themselves if given the chance…whether I was on foot or horseback. If I wanted to hunt with them - they would be even happier - but if it’s not about hunting, just “trotting along”…forget about it.
Ah, yes, I understand.
Mr popo and I were very smug at first because Ernie stuck so close. Ha!
My Rhodesian (female) went through the same thing at 6-8 months. From day one we worked on her recall and I could call her off anything, she would stay close by, check in, etc. Then at that age she started becoming a teenager, and she would look at me and blow me off! So we went back to stricter rules and I heavily, heavily rewarded her coming, responding to her name again and at random times so she never knew when she might get an awesome reward for coming to me. A few weeks of this and she was right back to listening. It’s a pretty common puppy phase with more confidence and age.
And yes would not recommend neutering before 18 months for growth issues.
My rescues come that way but I don’t neuter my breeder dogs. Training solves behaviour issues not castration. I leave them intact for health primarily. With some I have been contractually obligated to leave intact.
I certainly would nevertheless criticize anyone for spaying and neutering but I do not think it should be done without careful consideration.
I demand pics!!! Please:D Neuter him closer to 2 years old. Research it, much better for large dogs.
Why is your unneutered dog off leash at all?
Why not? My intact dogs go for off leash runs all the time. Intact hunting dogs are off leash all the time. Intact working dogs are off leash all the time.
I neutered mine as soon as the vet had an opening. I got him at 5 months old, neutered before 6 months.
Three days before his surgery, he discovered he loved another dogs lambchop toy- no, really, LLLOOOVVVEEEDDDD!!!
There’s enough puppy love out there…no need for more.
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