Hi my lovely dog is booked in to be neutered next Tuesday. He will be 5 months old.  I don't have any plan to breed him he is just a very much loved pet but I am questioning whether or not to have him neutered. He is very laid back and gentle and hasn't given me any behaviour problems at all.  Occasionally he will try to bite when he doesn't want to do something but I am hoping with training he will stop.
The vet told me that he may be fine now but once hormones kick in things could change so I could wait and see but then it may be too late as the hormones will kick in.   I also understand that if he is neutered he will not get prostrate cancer.
I honestly don't know what to do, I don't even know if he is too young at 5 months to have it done.
I would value some opinions please and is 5 months too young???
Thank you.

NOOOO!

There are more health negatives than positives to neutering a male dog.

Especially neutering a dog before full skeletal maturity is also unwise.

Unless you have an entire bitch there is no real reason to neuter a male who is properly cred for, not allowed to wander on his own to be neutered at all.

This link gives the pros and cons: http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

There is a higher rate of Prostate Cancer in neutered males, the only thing he won't get is testicular cancer, but that is extremely rare and curative by castration should it occur.

I am definitely in favour of neutering but it is not a good idea to castrate a dog under about 18 months. If a large breed, castration slows the closing of the growth plates possibly predisposing the dog to joint problems and he will also go on growing for longer than he should. Could you wait until he is 18 months old? Why are vets so keen to neuter these babies?  Castration most certainly would not stop him trying to bite you. Training would.

NO NO NO
As well as the link Brainless has given you  enter 'age to neuter' in the google custom search bar at the bottom of the page, it brings up over 400 matches and I imagine most will say NO.
Even the enlightened vets are now saying not until a dog has matured - if at all.

Also if I am not mistaken this is a short legged long backed breed, so I would not think it wise with their conformation to interfere with the skeletal growth by removing the hormones.

The change in muscle tone alone (and the easily gained weight in castrates) may predispose to back issues.

At my vets they recommend that you do not castrate a dog until the age of 3 when the dog has reached emotional maturity - if you want to castrate earlier than that they give you an appointment first with their animal behaviourist to assess the dogs maturity ready for castration - and if you are wishing to castrate for behavioural reasons you can have a professional to advise you as to whether castration would be beneficial for the issues faced or if it could make any issues worse.

Perhaps that is something you could discuss further with your vet or a behaviourist - before actually making any final decision as to whether you should castrate and if so when.

My vets leaflet here explains it quite well - might give you the right things to think about or show & ask your vet  -  together with all the above posters advice.  http://www.drovevets.co.uk/files/CastrationDogs.pdf

The others have allready covered the health cons of neutering and ages to neuter so I won't mention that, but I notice you said
Occasionally he will try to bite when he doesn't want to do something but I am hoping with training he will stop.
This could be a fear linked behaviour, neutering can make fear based behaviour worse. So if you are considering neutering I'd have someone look at his behaviour with the biting first.

> My vets leaflet here explains it quite well - might give you the right things to think about or show & ask your vet  -  together with all the above posters advice.

What an enlightened vet practice, rather than neuter everything as all dog owners of entire dogs must be morons who will breed from their dog willy nilly (pardon the pun) ;)

The vet telling you once hormones kick he will change. He is right because he's going to become a teenager Good grief if humans got neutered when they're behaviours changed they would have died out years ago.

My boy was around 7 mths when he hit teenager. Imagine human teenagers, not listening to anything parents tell them to do, testing everything for boundaries, having attitude. This is exactly what dogs go through and like humans they come out the other end by you sticking to your own rules and reminders of basic training.

> The vet told me that he may be fine now but once hormones kick in things could change

This is called growing up!  We all do it, and yes, hormones can and do interfere but it is natural and a normal part of growth and maturity.  Keep training him, train more when he hits those teenage months, and you'll get through it just fine.  Both my boys are/were neutered before a year and in both cases I've had to deal with problems with other male dogs once they were mature - not something I ever plan to go through again with my own dogs.

He is very laid back and gentle and hasn't given me any behaviour problems at all. 

Neutering him, this early may very well CAUSE the problems to appear. I've been through it! I had brother and sister and had them neutered at 4 ½ months of age -long story as to why, but needless to say never again. These two dogs will be 13 years old next month. The male grew about four inches taller than his littermates. ALL my bitches hated the bitch, as they could not tell what she is -puppy or adult? (Never having been allowed to grow up, not having had a season.) The dog is much the same, everyone hates him. Several yeas ago now one of my entire male dogs went for him and very nearly killed him. Needless to say they are now kept apart from my other dogs. Both are very weak in temperament (which neither of the parents were, and they were very well socialised and trained -I even competed in obedience with the dog). They are just not NORMAL. They were totally ruined by being neutered so early. None of the littermates were and they did not end up this way.

This is called growing up!  We all do it, and yes, hormones can and do interfere but it is natural and a normal part of growth and maturity.

One recent TV programme explained that adolescent male dogs have FIVE TIMES the amount of testosterone that adult make dogs do, which is why they go all silly, and owners give up all too easily and have them neutered. But of course they do grow out of this stage and the levels drop down.

> One recent TV programme explained that adolescent male dogs have FIVE TIMES the amount of testosterone

This is needed to produce masculine features.  Once that is complete then they fall to maintenance levels.

Just to say for me 5 months is way too young to castrate a male, even if he has yet to have both testicles in the right place.   Wait until the growth plates have closed - for starters.   And I'd give him until he's at least a year before thinking about this - it will give you time to make an informed decision, based on how your puppy is by then, and him, again, a chance to mature a bit.

Your vet is using words like 'may' and 'could' - hum.   I'd suggest there might also be a 'kerching' involved there.   If your puppy is laid back and gentle, castration could well make him too 'soft'.   This surgery doesn't suit all dogs - I actually had my vet recently agree with me that castration wouldn't suit my Basset!!   Refreshing.   We've kept entire males since 1972 and have had NO prostate cancers.

Castration only prevents puppies which shouldn't happen if he's properly contained.   Training should sort out any behavioural problems that 'could' occur!

I'm interested to know if there has been any research on the effects of early neutering on the Achondroplastic breeds. 

I know you said you had an issue with one of yours with growth plates, so did wonder if neutering might worsen any issues???

> I'm interested to know if there has been any research on the effects of early neutering on the Achondroplastic breeds.

Interesting, I've 'visited' two forums re our breed & it's enough to make one weep. Front leg issues are dire & this is often put down to genetics & poor breeding, on one forum it has become almost an on going dare I call it 'battle' between those in the UK who advocate moderate exercise in the first year & those across the pond who see no problem with excessive lead exercise from early months. The neutering question is asked almost weekly, with a number of us who constantly 'suggest' that owners wait at least till the dog is mature, growth plates  closed, take time to train their dog - as many seriously believe any behavioural problems with disappear over night once neutered - & to asses the dogs character when fully matured. Not many take heed. Also wonder with many breeders especially in one such as ours that has problems, apart from doing research into current generations whether they actually look any further back, as long as the offspring look like a ........ & pet buyers are willing to pay up?

Our youngest has dreadful growth plate deformities, feet point out like flippers, toes bunched. I (we) were very careful re weight & exercise BUT he was crypto orchid. Breeder insisted that she'd never had the problem before but have since found this not to be correct, though only one retained. I was told it's all my doing, at ten he's been managed on a daily basis for years & still wonder if I did something to exacerbate his problems?

Wow I am totally amazed I truly thought everyone would tell me to neuter him.  It has been quite the opposite and I am so grateful for the information given especially for the vet study and the info from the vet practice.  I had a feeling that my puppy was too young.  He will actually be 4 months and 1 week on the date he has been booked in for.  I am really upset that my vet has said to proceed at such a young age, I certainly intend to hold off particularly in light of the information pertaining to growth plates.
I may also change my vet!!!!

Another who wouldn't advocate neutering at such a young age.  Your vet says that hormones will kick in.....yes, they will.  He will become a teenager and test the boundaries as he will struggle to cope with the level of testosterone in his body.  HOWEVER, the hormone surge is just temporary and it will drop back down in a few months to a more manageable level.  You just need to train, train, train throughout this phase!

The hormones are needed to complete growth, it is hormones that regulate the way the body develops, maintains it in a healthy condition and helps repair when needed which is why the castrated dog nearly always suffers some unwanted response to neutering particularly doing so before the animal is fully mature. Just why your vet seems to think 'hormones' are some sort of enemy I can't imagine, yes as in humans the teenage stage can be tiresome but if you work through it with firm but kind discipline the result is well worth the effort.

I have only once castrated a dog before maturity and I regretted it the whole of his life, he spent more time at the vets being treated for many different problems and in the end had to be put on HRT and his system just could not cope without his hormones.

My mind is made up, my poodle is keeping his crown jewels. He is 17 months old and apart from his running off to play with anything on 4 legs, he is an angel. Brilliant in the home, coming along very well with his obedience training, loves everyone, especially my 4 grandchildren. I will grit my teeth, go out armed with high value treats, take his squeaky balls and get through this stage. I know he is going to make a brilliant, dog, he already is. Thanks JeanSW for your advice and pointing out this thread.

> apart from his running off to play with anything on 4 legs,

and that is nothing to do with being a boy but his outgoing nature and immaturity, he's a canine kid so of course he wants to play with the other kids.

I don't know of any such research (effects of early neutering with the Acondroplastic breeds).   And for sure, although my buy in Basset suffered with this (ulna, both sides) he wasn't /isn't castrated (I've just had to have him injected with Tardak - chemical castration - because he went stupid silly with his spayed, at 11 months, companion.  Had to be a local bitch in season).  This problem can happen in the Basset (premature closure of the growth plates) but I put that down to 'too much' too fast' (food - he was on Royal C Junior until I realised what the protein level was!) in his case.   He was a very big puppy.   And as suggested (I was involved in the 'discussion' with the Americans on another forum re over-exercising the Basset as a puppy), doing too much organised exercise, on hard ground especially, at under 6 months is NOT a good idea.  Long-term breeders know this, how important it is to gradually build up to full exercise with the big-boned breeds especially.   But again, a big part of all this, with Basset fronts can be genetic.   And too much turn-out can be seen in puppies at a very young age in the breed.   Actually my Basset, much as he has suffered from his prem.closure, moves really well, and the turnout can't be seen coming towards.   It's just when he sits.   I was warned he might suffer with arthritis later on.   He has had a couple of unexplained bouts of lameness which goes (overnight in his crate!) as fast as it hits.

Beardy could you put him on a long lead in the park so he can have his freedom but you can still get him back to you when needed?

Does anyone know at what age a standard dachshund will reach maturity?

From personal experience iv found that spaying and neutering has been detrimental to a dog health and now never do it unless we really have to, all of ours if they have to be neutered are always done as adults once the dog has finished growing.

For me a dog is mature when they change from a lovable hooligan to a delightful gentleman, it is never before they are two and takes another year to be the dog you always wanted.

We noticed our boy changing at around 22 mths. Suddenly he didn't need to run full pelt to a dog in the distance Also dogs that were coming towards us instead of just running up he started stopping and watching to see what the other dog was about. He also started listening if told to stay close instead of making his own mind up. He's now 26 mths and still calming down

Hanging in for the last few months of teenager

I am just wondering about the growth plates closing which is interesting because I am being very careful regarding exercise in light of this and follow the 5 min rule so it just makes me more sure that I don't want to have him neutered especially if it can be detrimental to bone growth but how can I know when the growth plates are closed?

In any breed they will be by 2 years, different bones finish growing at different ages.

Thank you :-)

I know this is an older thread, but I felt I wanted to add my experiences of early neutering too, just in case anyone who comes along still unconvinced!

I firmly believe that early neutering (10 months old) ruined my dog's life to an extent. As a puppy, he was an outgoing little chap, with excellent communication skills - if you can call them that! When he started to go through the manic humping (with or without a humpee) phase and another male dog went for him, the advice was to have him neutered.

He developed fear-aggression to the point where even nearly 8 years later, I still have to work really hard to engage him in some diversionary activity (like formal heelowrk) just to get him past other dogs that are pulling towards him, without incident. He is terribly unsure of other dogs and although he plays with some dogs that he seems comfortable with, the only time I've seen him actually snuggle up and share a bed with another dog was with our lovely, gentle old bitch who has now passed away. This is despite living with quite a pack of very sociable dogs.

He lives in a state of almost permanent low-level pain and anxiety - which is awful because he's without doubt the cleverest and most eager  to learn dog I have ever met. Despite all his mixing with other dogs, he has never figured out exactly how to behave and will even try to mount and hump young puppies, because he just has no idea how to react (we do distract him as soon as we see a twitch - and reward him for soming away - we don't let him hump them!)

When he finds the odd dog he feels comfortable with, the look of joy and relief on his face is obvious and we see glimpses of the dog he might have been. Sadly, he's also very wary of humans he doesn't know, possibly as he is anticipating pain.

He doesn't have a very masculine head - which is the least of my worries, really, but he often gets mistaken by people for a bitch.

The really sad thing is that when his 'teenage' behaviour started, I spoke to a very sensible vet nurse, who said to just keep consistent with the training and he'd grow out of it and grow up. I was over-ruled, because he was a rescue dog and the rescue 'advised' otherwise.

  Someone help me!!! I couldn't decide whether to neuter my baby German spitz or not. I read a lot of cases, and I believe there is no official (I mean with numbers) cases for avoiding the cancers risk when neutered. Purple is 4 months old. Energetic, a little stubborn, beautiful dog. I don't want her to change. I love her just the way she is. Does anybody have an experience involving German Spitz and neutering? Answers will greatly appreciated. Thanks

I certainly wouldn't do it at 4 months, if I were you, wait until this time next year then start thinking about it then

I have a small breed and spay at 4 years old.

4 months is FAR too young for any dog, regardless of breed.  I'd wait until at least 2 years old on anything, unles there was a compelling reason to do it first.

An example of a compelling reason for me is my foster - a 14 month old GSD/husky - who was neutered two weeks ago today.  Far too young for my liking but both of my entire girls have begun the buildup to their next seasons (they take about two months for this stage), and I will not rehome him entire.  So he had to be done now whether I like it or not - I couldn't chance an entire male here when my girls come in, in case he hasn't found a home then, and I won't send him off to a new home until he's fully healed (and until I'm sure the neutering hasn't adversely affected him behaviourally so he'll be here for at least another month I expect).

However my girls, for whom there are no such deadlines, are being left until at least another season has gone by.  They're both 2yrs old, they've already had two each.  If the seasons themselves weren't so disruptive and distressing for all of us I'd leave them longer!  Although I will reassess when they are ready - they may have another after the next yet, we'll see.  As both are reactive I have to be careful about doing it.