We have got a 23 week old male Bichon Frise.  He has just got over an hernia operation about 4 or 5 weeks ago and the vet is now saying that he should be castrated in the next couple of weeks.  I have read the other threads about castration and about the higher incidence of cancer in castrated dogs but when I mentioned this to the vet she says this is rubbish.  As he is only a small dog who isn't aggressive and will never be allowed out on his own then I don't really see the point in putting him through an operation.

My sisters 3 males were all castrated at 4 months old and they are now 8 years old and overweight and they still jump on each other and cock their legs up on her furniture.  We had a male poodle who lived to be nearly 17 years old and he wasn't castrated.  I just don't know what to do - any advice would be welcome.

Do not be persuaded by your vet to do anything which you are not happy about. If you have researched all the possible benefits, and all the possible drawbacks, of castration you are able to make an informed decision. That decision is yours, not your vet's

Your dog, your money, your vet, your choice. It is up to you if you wish to keep your dog intact this is your decision and it is wrong for your vet or anyone else to bully you. Would think your vet is either very young or totally disinterested as there is plenty of knowledge out there about the side effects of castration, I have asked around a number of vets and researchers and anyone who says there are not problems have their minds firmly closed. There are advantages but not many, if your dog has a aggression problem that is fuelled by testosterone then castration may help but it is never certain and the other main benefit is that a living organism cant develop cancer in a part of the body that has been removed, but there are other organs and parts that are far more likely to be effected and we do not remove them until a problem occurs, so why pick on the testis that are not at high risk and are far easier to keep a check on. Apart from that there are very few advantages and the chance of any number of problems.

I had a Bichon when I was younger and he was castrated due to medical reasons at about 8 years old, after that he put on weight and his coat went all wiry.  The good thing was that he stopped cocking his leg and started to squat like a puppy which meant he didnt go around the house cocking his leg up the furniture :) 

Personally I would only ever get a dog castrated through medical reasons, if you are a responsible owner and dont let your dog wander then there is no need to have him done - IMHO.

If you are not entirely comfortable having your dog castrated for purely cosmetic (for want of a better word) reasons, then disregard your vet's opinion.  If it were for medical reasons, then that would be a different matter.  Castration involves anaesthetic which has it's own risks.  If you believe your dog does not need the op, listen to your own judgement.

I have 3 Staffs and the 2 boys are entire (the mum is neutered now) and I have no intention of castrating them, unless medically required to do so for their own health.