> , there may be a lot more misalliance injections needed (Not everyone is sensible!) and lots of pregnancy related appointments

Those are the people that should neuter, those who know they cannot ensure their dogs do not mate or get mated.  the ones who already have 'accidents' unfortunately are the ones who won't neuter, the ones most likely to do so are the ones who are responsible enough not to need to.

marion,
Your not cynic it is true. I get baffled when the vets say get your puppy neutered to stop aggression!!
Why would anyone buy an aggressive puppy? What do they consider aggressive? Samoyeds are not aggressive by nature. All teenage puppies are a handfull in all breeds. It also does not stop the dog mounting and tieing with the bitch! that is smell and the head rules the body. If you don't what to breed have two of the same sex bitches. But, you need very placid breeds. As two dogs and two bitches will fight at one time or another, just like children. I just wish Vets would be truthfull how can you build a relationship with a vet that isn't. Old school vets are the best bet if you can find one.The dogs that probly should be neutered are the one's that probly will not attend the vets anyway. In my opinion The vets are just looking for money making ventures,

Denese 

hi,

I think vets cause a lot of confusion regarding neutering, my vet reccommended i get my 4 month old cocker neutered at 6 months, too young imo.  My mum got her lovely little jr pup neutered at 6 months and he has honestly turned in to a little bag of nerves, they cant watch the tv without him attacking it and he has started to bite people when they walk past he is scared of everyone now.  My parents are devastated about it, so i think vets need to stop ecouraging neutering so young.

Does anyone konw of any specific studies that refer to the effects of neutering early? It is impossible to stop vets suggesting it if there is no empirical evidence, so if anyone knows of any please let me know.
I still stand by the fact that some owners are not responsible enough to prevent accidents or intentionally create there own (particularly if there is a poodle involved!!!) Vets are not neccessarily going to be able to tell from a 10 minute consult how sensible they are hence the suggestion to prevent bad breeding. I really don't think money even comes into the equation. It certainly doesn't in my practice.

> Does anyone konw of any specific studies that refer to the effects of neutering early?

I posted it above: "This http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf is a balanced article re neutering and it's long term effects.  The conclusions drawn are that on balance there are more health negatives than positives in neutering males. "

Thank you. Which journal was this published in please? Do you know of any that  corresponds to the behavioural effects?

I beleive the references are at the bottom of the article.

Thankfully not all vets push early castration.
My pup is almost 8 months now and we see the vet quite often at the moment, but he hasn't once mentioned having him neutered. :-)