We've got a 6 yr old entire male springer who has got quite 'grumpy' since our cocker had pups.  He was protective of her during her pregnancy and didn't like other dogs getting too close.  There hasn't been a fight but the only thing I can say is he 'grumbles'.  He's a working dog and has always been used to quite sizeable crowds of other dogs.  He hated the pups and of course we kept them apart from him and after 8 weeks he's as friendly as can be with the little lad we kept from the litter but needed slowly-slowly introduction to him.

In the next month or so, our bitch should come into season again.  This has always been a nightmare of a time and logistical hell!  We have in the past sent him off to friends, taken him to work, etc etc but as he 'knows what it's all about' his personality has definitely changed over the years, but then again it might have done this anyhow.  He's still a lovely dog, good with people and children but has always ignored most dogs.  He doesn't do playing, he does looking for pheasants, rabbits, etc!

As I have occasionally walked all three dogs together and haven't got totally used to this yet, I have a tendency to either keep him at heel or put him on the lead, depending where I am, when I meet other dogs who I don't know.  I don't know how he will react with the pup in our pack too so would prefer to have the situation under control.  Now don't get me wrong, he's only ever been in a fight with one dog who hated him from the moment he set eyes on him (a terrier cross who I go out of my way to avoid) but in recent months he raises his hackles a lot more and will growl quite a bit (certainly more than I am happy with) if we pass certain dogs when he is on the lead.  I've given up taking him out with my neighbour whose lab now smells like a girl since castration and mine will try to mount continually.

My son, who works him and walks him most often has a different relationship with him to me being the 'leader of his pack' and he doesn't behave in the same way.  I know that I can't keep two dogs and a bitch in the kennel long term without having someone neutered.  My instinct is to get my male springer done.  Needless to say, eldest son is firmly against this (with wincing expression!) but I think he might have a better shooting season if he doesn't have to assert his dominance, worry about others, etc.  I don't know how this will effect his position in the pack of three.  And of course I fully realise that we also have another male that will be quite happy to mate in months to come.

I would welcome opinions.

I would not expect his attitude to change much after castration at this age, as this weil be in the main learned behaviour and his way with other dogs. It iwll of course help with the logisitics of keeping your bitch safe and only needing to farm out one dog, though he may still mate your bitch.  He also could end up like your freinds dog and be attractive to males, whcih might make him worse with other dogs than he is now.

The grumpiness around the litter is not unusual among mlaes, and some bitches too.  It is usually because they are afraid of this horde with teeth who view any dog as a source of milk!! 

My Champion bitch as an adult prior to becoming a mother herself was afraid of baby puppies, and would growl at them, but was an excellent Mum, and with her Mothers last litter just ignored the pups as no longer worried by them.