Hello to everyone!

I have two males.  Small breed, lovely family dog, 5 to 6 Kg.  Male 1 is roughly 7.5 years old, male 2 is roughly 4.5 years old.  Male 1 is dominant, male 2 accepts this with no problems.  I breed with male 2, but no longer with male 1, and so I am considering having him castrated so that I needn't worry any longer about his mating one of my females.  What concerns me is the relationship between the two males, as they are really close and care very much about each other.

My question to the forum is:  Could castrating male 1 change the relationship between the two?  Might male 2 decide not to accept the supremacy of male 1 any longer if he (male 1) is castrated?  Might fighting ensue?  Have any of you had experience with this?

My vet suggested "chemically" castrating male 1 (so it is reversible) and see what happens.  What do you think?

Thanks.

I think it may well be that once castrated, the young dog will 'know' and could start picking on Dog 1.   You could try the chemical castration option but that may not give you the true picture.

If they are getting on okay right now, why not leave the status quo, and continue to confine both dogs when you have bitches in season around.

To be honest, I'm not one for castrating males, other than for medical need.   I do spay, when my bitches are retired, and in that, perhaps spaying your retired bitches would be much better than putting either of your dogs through what is surgery, even if not invasive.

Regardless of the relationship between your two males, when I had to have a couple of our oldies castrated (prostate flare-ups) I bitterly regretted it - both went very 'soft', lost any zip they'd had, tended to put on weight unless carefully watched, and grew thicker coats.

ps   In any case, castrated dogs may well still mount and even tie with a bitch in standing heat.   Even if they'd not be able to sire litters - it could still be a source of competition between your two boys.

When I had two males I needed to castrate my more dominant male, he was mature and 18ths old than my other male who was entire and used at stud. It made absolutely no difference to their relationship. The castrated male was never challenged by the you get entire male but both were under thumb of my girl LOL
Guess all depends on relationship between the dogs, may well be best to try supralorin implant which is at least reversible before surgical castration.

> may well be best to try supralorin implant

Agreed but be aware that the implant can last a LOT longer than advertised. I got my boy the 3 month one and it lasted 18 months.

> When I had two males I needed to castrate my more dominant male,

Normally if castration is needed, it's better to castrate the more submissive male so if the dominant male tries it on, he won't get any response so ends the confrontation, or should.   No two situations are the same however - and I would totally agree it's the bitches who rule!!

It really does depend on the character of the dog.

I knew a castrated male (done before he was in the home) who was the dominant individual in a house full of entire males.

Nobody can give you a cast-iron guarantee, but in all probability it should be o.k. 'one way or the other'.

You know your dogs better than anyone and from what you have said, I believe they will be o.k. even if they have to adapt. Hope it all goes well for you/them Cheers.