Shhhhhh, he mustn't find out yet!!

oooh - poor lad. are they causing him a problem then?

No, but he's begining to notice that some dogs are more intersting than others, particularly the female ones!!!! 

I believe they are better off without if they are not going to breed.

poor boy but as we know he'll be back to normal within a couple of days, just less for him to keep clean.

Just be aware that it isn't a cure for all -I have 3 neutered male dogs that will still mate and tie with in season bitches, it didn't change them at all. But at least they're not fertile!!

Just had to share this, I know its a bit too early to be talking about it, but hey, its funny and cute! 

I got an email last Christmas from a breeder friend of mine, and it was a dog in a Santa hat.  He was singing the tune "All I want for Christmas is my two Front Teeth"

Well instead of his two front teeth, the song went "All I want for Christmas is the two balls you cut off earlier this year!!!!"  LOL  If I could link it, I would, because it was hilarious!!!

Whistler parted company with his Wednesday he's sat here with his buster collar on, he keeps licking the scar. Bit sorrowful but other wise upbeat!! (cant be much else really)

I'll send it to Whistler & Jake if you ever do. LOL I said to my OH! at last you can say you have the biggest now!!! he was not amused I was!

I appreciate it's not a cure-all, and I understand that he may still 'mate' but at least there is protection against unplanned/unwanted puppies.  We walk the Lickey Hills on the outskirts of Birmingham frequently (and other places) with him running loose and I'd hate for him to get an unsuspecting little bitch pregnant!!

I'd hate for him to get an unsuspecting little bitch pregnant!!

Any one with an in season bitch, should not be walking her in a populated area where this could happen.

Looking back, your boy is still only around 7/8 mths isn`t he...(sorry if wrong)  he is awfully young to be done,  he has not finished growing yet, and castrating at such a young age will not be beneficial to him

But its your choice at the end of the day...

Trouble is some folks have got NO common sense. During my usual walk yesterday morning my 22 month old boy disappeared. It's a popular circular route used by lots of dog folk, that he knows well, so I knew he wasn't lost. Walked round with my other boy to be met by a woman with 2 Staffie bitches on lead, both in season.
He of course thought it was a wonderful start to his day. She's done this before.
I was flabbergasted and more than a bit annoyed that she was doing the same thing again!!
What can you say to such an irresponsible person?
We live in an area where there are lots of quiet woodland walks that she could use.
Personally I wouldn't dream of taking one of my bitches that were in season to such a popular walk!

Jackbox - yes, he's just over 7 months.  I can only find information to say that his growth may (or may not) be affected, or that he might stay puppy-ish in temperament.  What else could it affect that might be detremental to him?

> Jackbox - yes, he's just over 7 months.  I can only find information to say that his growth may (or may not) be affected, or that he might stay puppy-ish in temperament.

These are serious affects on his life, not just a may/may not situation either. The testosterone is required to ensure that the growth plates close at the appropriate time in his life, if they don't it isn't just that he will grow taller, he is at risk of developing orthopaedic problems because of this.

In some breeds it can make their coats change & become almost unmanageable except by clipping. Prostrate Cancer is marginally more common in castrated dogs ! Early neutered dogs tend to be more attractive to entire males.

Vets prefer to castrate early as a contraception method & also because the operation is easier for them & the dogs tend to recover more quickly than dogs done later in life.

Yes he will still be able to mate & no vet will give you an exact time by which the dog will be sterile & the only way to know for sure is to do a sperm test

> What else could it affect that might be detremental to him?

"Early neutered dogs show delayed closure of bone growth plates and so will tend to be significantly
larger than their un-neutered siblings. They also tend to be lighter of bone structure and have
narrower chests and skulls. This alters body proportions and the lengths, and therefore weights, of
some bones relative to others. In the hind leg this has been correlated with heavier legs below the
stifle and altered angle of the joint leading to greater risk of cranial cruciate ligament rupture with all
the attendant stress and surgery needed to correct that involved."
Studies have also shown:
increased risk of hip displasia.
fearfull/agressive/undesirable sexual behaviour
All of the above taken from here it's quite a large article covering the PROs & CONs :)

Oh my goodness!!!!  Now I am totally confused!!

I have read all the articles that have been referred to in here, and now I am wondering who/what we are supposed to believe?  I have had several male dogs over many years and am not aware that any have suffered for being castrated at around 7 months of age.  None of my dogs have had any of the cancers referred to, nor have they had any incontinence issues, and none have grown overly tall or had any bone/joint problems other than arthritic changes as they got older (over 10 years).  One had a cruciate ligament injury, he was not castrated, was not fat, and he later had a perianal hernia at which time he was castrated.  One uncastrated mounted any and every thing (including female dogs) at every opportunity, being a complete nuisance to everybody if he was allowed to walk off-lead, and as he was a big strong broad Boxer he was a complete arm-ache to me when walked on lead.  He was also aggressive to any male he met, seeming always to need to establish his dominance. 

I am trying simply to provide the best for my dog, and have based that on my own previous experience coupled with Veterinary advice and now do not know whether I am doing the best for him or whether I am condemning him to a lifetime of uncertainty!

> I have read all the articles that have been referred to in here, and now I am wondering who/what we are supposed to believe?

We have a neutered rescue dog - he was done at around 11 or 12 months (not sure of his exact age!) - he is now 6.5yrs.  We also have a unneutered WHV - now 2yrs.

I'm not sure it's completely necessary to neuter every male dog but like you, we've had no problems with our neutered boy either.  His coat did change but as a mongrel we're not too sure what it might have or should have been. Also as it coincided with the gradual change from a puppy coat I don't know how much to attribute to his op.  Coat, however seems one good reason in certain breeds to avoid neutering if possible.  I'd certainly be loath to have my wire haired vizsla done - partly coat, but also because there is no problem it would solve.  He isn't terribly interested in girls and is happy to leave when asked but he isn't subject to much temptation either.  I'm not sure how good he'd be if we had an in season bitch living next door!!

One thing for sure is that you have time on your side.  This isn't a decision you have to make by a certain age and I've seen many posters recommend you wait until your dog is older than 12 months.  The general consensus is that waiting will do no harm but it seems that having it done too early runs some risk.  Decisions like this are never very easy are they!? :)

Very interesting article,Mastifflover.Given the problems that castration can cause(directly and indirectly with all the health problems caused by obesity) I wonder why vets aren't carrying out vasectomies rather than castration?(If the main reason for neutering is to prevent unwanted pups).
Interestingly,I was talking to someone today who said her vet actually advises against castration unless absolutely necessary because of some of the problems caused.
We have had some castrated dogs in lately with horrendous coats that are virtually impossible to groom,in particular a pom, a couple of shelties and a rough collie,the owners just can't cope with their coats.

Why not wait until he is a year old? That would only be another 5 months.

I have one family who had one of my pups (who will be 2yo next month), unfortunately
they were given incorrect advice/training methods from 'so-called trainers'/local training class which ended
up in puppy/young adolescent becoming a misunderstood, highly frustrated, not socialised nor exercised Boxer male.
All of this = one huge problem to a family that were previous Boxer owners, other extended family members even told them
put the dog to sleep!!

With the help of a trainer/behaviourist who has Boxers amongst other breeds they have slowly turned the situation
into a more manageable one and one where the dog has a happier life and has daily exercise.
Their vet did push for castration which they have done now - he was approx 18 months
when this was done. He has grown into a tall, big strong Boxer. For the family there was great disappointment as the
vet had indicated that castrating him would suddenly turn him into a perfectly behaved young man.
Unfortunately althou it has calmed him a little it will not undo 'learned' behaviour that has to be un-learned with correct
training methods. Sometimes it will not be able to completely undo the damage done - in these cases it's damage limitation the dog may
never be able to be a very social canine member able to play off lead with others.
In the case above it was lack of socialisation once he had left here and incorrect trainers which assumed his OTT exhuberant behaviour
was 'nasty' infact it was an overexciteable Boxer puppy which had not been out much and was on sensory overload with loads of new
canines to play with. His owners who hadn't been to training classes in over 10 years weren't to know that the methods they were
given were incorrect nor detrimental to the wellbeing and upbringing of their boy.
I am lucky that they are very committed to him (lucky that I knew of the trainer with breed experience that understands the quirks that the
breed has and what buttons to press etc) else the above story could have been so different and had a completely different outcome.
Yes he may now never be able to be a completely social Boxer, able to play and have fun with other dogs no matter the breed, like his litter sisters and brothers who were socialised from a young age and were lucky to have correct training classes. They have lovely temperaments and love to play with all.

So in a long winded way what I am trying to say that the correct socialisation (plus plenty of it) and training methods for your pup whilst he is young will be key to behaviour
not really if he has his 'bits' or not.

We have both castrated now, Jake at 8 months due to undescended testies, OH's decision his dog!! I kept Whistler "whole" thinking that with no problems I could just leave him be. He is 29 months now and the last week we had off he went to his usual dog minder and "he was a nightmare". Including trying to mate with their old male dog, walking around with his "bits out" and all "sticky". He has been with the same minder from about 12 weeks, we would always take them to her if we had a day out at rugby ect.. So he had the snip. (well snips). Jake is a big strong heavy BC and has not been a problem, Whistler seems ok now but he cant go to his minder yet as she said he would be fertile for a little while longer and she has a bitch in season.
Im hopeful his coat does not go to woolley but to keep him with someone he is happy with and we are happy with is worth the decision. He is to big to be a good specimin and looking at some of the advice on here over the years my thoughts of breeding would not have been responsible, besides I could have a different colour next time!! or a staffie! oor a great dane, huskie the list is endless.

I have a male dog that was castrated at 5 months of age. He is four inches taller than his litterbrothers (bigger than both parents), has never grown up mentally, still acts like a puppy aged 7, but aged 3 he started cocking his leg and mating bitches (complete with tie) and he often gets picked on by other male dogs, poor boy is always in trouble, so it's something I will never do again. On the other hand  have two others that were neutered aged 3 and they have had no problems whatsoever afterward -apart from a woolly coat in the Golden, the Cavalier's coat did not change.

I don't really understand the cocking leg issue.  Bob cocked his leg from 4 months, so high initially that he almost fell over.  He now cocks 99% of the time, high, but not high enough to unbalance himself.  At 7 months he is taller than my 11 year old bitch, so he's probably at the height that my (deceased) castrated male was.  He has rather large testicles!!  I've never noticed a coat change in any of my previous dogs.