Does anyone know the right age to de-ball a male puppy? Ziggy is 18 weeks old. Is this too young??? He's not showing any problems, I just sort of want it done and dusted so he gets used to being ball-less. :D

Cheers

CG! :)

Most people say wait until a year old .... in welfare groups we neuter from 6 months onwards. Not everyone agrees with it ... but of all the many dogs I have watched neutered I definitely wouldn't have it any other way. But 18 weeks is just a bit too young ... needs time to develop and mature I think

If they're sucessfully neutering at 6-8 weeks now, probably anytime after 4 months would be safe for a regular nonspecialist vet.

The 6-8 weeks early altering is going on in the States so that shelter pups can go home and not have to get the owners to return them 6 months later for the operations. They heal faster and easier, but from what I understand, special equipment and experience is needed.

I had my lab/gsd mix neutered at 6 months of age long ago. He was healthy, happy, and very solid calm temperament when he hit about a year. It didn't cut down on his desire for me to throw tennis balls :) :) :)
toodles

First question to ask yourself is why are you castrating. When you have decided that it will be easier to answer the question. Ja:)kie

I have heard recently from mainly US lists I am on that an increasing number of US vets are going back to not spaying or castrating before 6 months having previously done the early neutering so presumably they do not think it is as safe as all that!

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Sorry, I'm over "there" and haven't heard anything of the sort.

Carissa

Sorry - I can only repeat what I have been told by several different breeders from different parts of the US who have been told by their vets that they will not neuter until at least 6 months.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Why do you want to risk an anaesthetic on a whim?

Hi Cuteygirl

I used to work for a vets, and we did not neuter or spay until they were at least 6 months old., preferably later if possible. I think you will find most vets would not do anything before they are 6 months

Natasha

When you remove a dogs testicles you remove part of the dogs hormonal system. If you need to consider this because you have an intact bitch or your neighbours do then please consider vasectomy which will stop unwanted pregnancy without interfering with the dogs hormonal system. If you have some other reason I would be pleased to hear it. Ja:)kie

Only real unjustified reason was my mind showing me images of him running around trashing everything and then making every bitch in the neighbourhood pregnant. He isn't like this now (well he does run around and trash stuff, but doesn't mount things) and I don't believe there to be any intact bitches around here. I just got scared after reading articles about how awful dogs get when they mature!!! I think the best thing to do is cross that adolescent hormonal bridge when we come to it!!! :)

Thanks for you reply to my question, I can only say I don't know what you have been reading but in my experiance dog are much easier to handle than bitches, what breed do you have that is going to cause such havoc. Jackie

We have Border Collie and he has already attempted jumping fences and runs off and takes us ages to fiind him!!! I just start putting 2 and 2 together and think right he's gotta be "done" to calm down.

The "Calming down" intent of neutering tends to be over rated if you're talking about temperament. Nothing seems to stop youthful exuberance except maturity. :rolleyes:

But neutering definitely will cut the desire to "roam"....esp. if there's females in season within a several mile radius of where you live :) If he's intact, he'll be wanting to share in the 'fun' of the birds and the bees :)

It may well make no difference at all, after he is 6 months old or when he starts cocking his leg if later, ask your vet to give him the injection which mimics castration to see what difference it makes. The chances are it will make no difference at all, you have a very active breed who need lots of excercise for both their bodies and their brains. Is your dog from show stock or working. Can you not increase the hight of your fence and take him training. Jackie

He is going to obedience classes. He finds them a challenge. He is always the example dog, but a real poo when he has come out of the class and we get him home. He was bought from a pet shop, so we have no idea about his past/family history. Yep would could increase the height of the fences :D

You have given me a lot to think about and maybe I shouldn't put my hopes on castrating him if it is just his character. Guess I bit off more than I could chew with a BC, doesn't mean I won't learn. It'll be hard for both Ziggy and I, but most of all I have to stop freaking out lol.

Some pithy sayings from the battlefield of dogdom that I've learned along the way. Take them as you will. It might help to save your sanity if you can mutter something when you're about to lose it :)

Puppyhood is harder than everyone says it is. They forget or smooth over the rough times and remember the good. Also the end product, does make it worth while :)

You will not "wreck" your dog by one simple mistake or error. It's the cumulative effect that you have over the dog's life which adds up in the end. :)

"Freaking out" is contagious :D :D Seriously, nerves easily spread around. If you're being high strung, your dog will likely be too ;) My mom the horsey person always recommends "soft eyes". Dogs do react to your sharpness ---voice and gaze. Be the adult and try to keep things calmer. Difficult, but losing patience helps no one.

Smart dogs take up more human time and effort than dumb and simple dogs :)

If you can put him down in a down/stay and work the time up, you will control his desire for boredom. Just because he is prone to want to be moving, you can still teach him to relax on command :) Use the leash in the household, esp. if he responds well to it. :D

Border collies are wonderful dogs, but not originally designed for home life. They do manage to adapt, but it takes work and patience. I'm sure you know this :)

If you can, locate a border collie club. I'm sure they can help give you directed suggestions and moral support since there are long term fanciers at these clubs :)

good luck,
toodles

hi all,
can't understand why people still think that castrating a dog is going to change there behaviour in any way,
only stops them from reprodusing,the only other advantage makes them less likely to sparr with another dog that has not been done,has no affect as to the behaviour towards humans.e.g have had two g.s.d. one from a pup all in tact tempremant sound in every way
never aggresive to any humans or other dogs .year old rescue dog casterated every behaviour problem in the book,aggressive on lead, sound off it, two visits to the vets with bite marks from other dogs never stood up for his self, aggressive towards humans progrest from mouthing to biteing. it is a shame people are reading and getting information after they are purchasing ther dogs and not before,go to training classes before you get a dog,get books from the library,boards likethese.
we all need educating about our four legged friends, then hopefully not to many problems to deal with,happy dogs and happy owners,rescue centres are full with dogs that people just don't understand and could not cope with most going in between 8-12 mths dogs, border collies g.s.d.or the poor old ones due to ill health or just got bored with regards tina.

Hi all, thanks for your comments. I think I will be leaving it till he is at least 6 months. I don't want to risk his health so young. Maybe I was getting a little anxious after reading about puppy adolescence :D I think it would be best for him to mature a little then get it done. Adolescence is something I'll have to suffer with him, although he is pretty good at the mo. Spooked himself out when he attacked a plastic bag :D :D

Thanks for all your advice. I am so grateful for all the support you give, esp. as Ziggy is my first dog. I just want to get it right first time. :D
Thanks to you guys I hopefully will :) :)

A very grateful CG

CG, I'm very interested in why you are thinking of castrating, please could you let me know as I am working on the reasons for castrating and the effects of it. Thank you Jackie

OK, I shall try and list it all here. Ziggy is a nightmare sometimes. He mounts other peoples' dogs (male/female he doesn't care) he runs off for miles and never comes when we call him, therefore he is not allowed offlead, he keeps trying to dig his way out of our garden and we live near some main roads and I am frightened he'll get hit. If digging doesn't work he's tried jumping!!! He is uncontrollable when there are distractions around. Maybe this is normal puppy behaviour or even Border Collie behaviour??? I just wanted to "calm" him and I thought that it could be done early he wouldn't miss his bits and he would not become boisterous and hopfully he would grow out of this running away/being a horrid dog stage. Perhaps I was being selfish in wanting to get him done to "avoid" his adolescence, but I know this isn't fair. I want what's best for him. I guess I can't play God and muck about with his hormones. It's not fair.

Sorry I don't think castration will solve any of your problems, ask your breeder for advice who should realy have warned you how active a BC can be and try to find a good training class with a view to doing agility when he is old enough. Ja:)kie

Guess I am paying the price now of buying him from a pet shop. Nope they didn't warn me about him and nope they're not interested now. Not much I can do now, except give him lots of training at the local dog schools :D

Sorry that you find yourself in the position you do, the pet shop should have warned you that the BC is a handfull especialy as yours is likley to be from farming stock and bred for working. Try to find a BC club or an experenced owner who will help you through until he grows up. But as even adult BC are a handfull, so make a determined effort to come to terms with his tempermant now. Know it will be hard work and I'm cross that people can sell a puppy like this with no help or follow up service. If you told them that what you wanted was a family pet then you could hold them responsible for suppling goods not suitable for the purpose. But I don't supose you would want to return him now. Jackie

HI Cuteygirl

Have you read "Understanding the Border Collie" by Carol Price?

It is very good and not very old in book terms so you could order it, it is a big floppyback book.

I found it very helpful when looking after a friend's working bred BC, it does help you get your head inside the breed :) if you see what i mean ;)

I think you may need to give him lots to do, and that may go a long way to solve problems, but you need to know how to stimulate him, mentally, as just a game isnt enough. You will learn loads fromhim and if you can stick with it, it will all be worth it in the end :)

Lindsay

Hi Cutey girl where abouts do you live? Gillian

I live in North Hampshire, but I bought the puppy from New Malden.

Thanks all, you have been wonderful

CG XX