Just back from a walk where we bumped in to an owner we habe not met before. The person I was walking with was saying how strange it was that he boy seemed to like the new dog so much as he can be funny with other males. To which the owner said her had been neutered so perhaps that's why. My friends dog would not leave the new dog alown and was sniffing his backside constantly like when my girl was just about to come in season which the new dog wasn't happy with. So I said that I had Hurd if there done young they can apparently smell like a bitch in season. The owner then said they she had him done when he was 14weeks as it would prevent him running off!! We had to bite our toungs at that one.



I can't believe there are vets here doing it that young, I know the local rescue doesn't neuter untill 6 months.

Some Shelters do them even younger than that!!  What happened there was to be expected - entire dogs don't always know what a neutered animal is!!    Poor young puppy.  He's going to need 'protecting'.   I have no idea why anybody, or vet for that matter, would castrate that young.   Preaching to the converted here, but clearly running off won't be cured in the same say a good fence will.    I don't do castration other than for medical reasons (retained testicles being the big one), and certainly not before a year by which time the pup has had time to mature a bit, and the owner time to think whether it's really needed.

Spaying - yes, but again not until around 6 months or even later with a bigger dog.   Some vets prefer to allow one season before spaying.    I'd be biting my tongue too - which is also why I'd never make it as a vet's receptionist!!!

she was saying how her sister had a dog who would go running off and be gone for week or months at a time and come back skinny, so I don't think they have much grasp of fences.

>she was saying how her sister had a dog who would go running off and be gone for week or months at a time and come back skinny,

Surely her sister could be reported under the Animal Welfare Act.  I would do my utmost to have them banned from keeping a dog.

Sorry, but people like that make me want to spit!

I couldn't believe it when she said it, surley after the first time you would make sure it couldn't run off again, but guess not.

> Surely her sister could be reported under the Animal Welfare Act.  I would do my utmost to have them banned from keeping a dog.
>

Case for the dog warden - any loose animal without collar ID can be impounded as a stray, then comes the statutory council fee for picking up, kennel fees by the day, and any other fees on top if it requires vet treatment. 7 days to claim, or the council will rehome (very low PTS figures thankfully) *fresh from a Doglaw seminar*

Even if local people know whose dog it is, they can get the DW to take it, if it's been too much of a nuisance getting out too many times and the owners are too casual about keeping it properly secured. But a word from the wise, don't threaten to do this - keep schtum, I had repercussions when my ASBO neighbours' dog wound up in the pound - but I really had no choice but to call the police one day when it was headbutting my back door trying to get at my dog and I was concerned for my own safety.... the dog was picked up a lot later but they still blamed me for it.

yes as mamabas said this is becoming more common particularly in rescues. I believe it comes from the idea that a neutered dog cant breed and therefore the sooner the better .
I can see the theory but in practice isn't good for either male or female to be neutered that early.
As with a lot of things it seems to be particularly prevalent in the states and we are following suit