What would everyone say is the ideal age to get a male castrated?

When he's mature, which varies according to the breed.
:)

Thanks - he is a Shar Pei.  He will be fully mature at around 2 I guess.  Although I had thought people castrated before then at around 1 yrs old. 

Also another question ;-)

We are having our 2.5 yr old entire male castrated in a few weeks who is very dominant.  Would we have to have our pup castrated as well eventually?

Thanks

Not necessarily - it depends entirely on whether he has any problems caused by testosterone.
:)

Honestly, unless it's one of those breeds that won't look right if it's done early (male rotts, for example, often don't bulk up properly if neutered early), I'd get him done ASAP - if he's not for breeding, there's really no reason to wait.  Waiting increase the potential for testosterone-related problems to occur, such as aggression and marking where you don't want them to, also humping!

Males (and females) can be neutered safely as early as 10 weeks old - in the US is it already fairly widely practiced, and has been for about 12 years now.  Shelters routinely neuter animal at 10 weeks so that their offspring aren't brought in later because the owners decided they didn't want to neuter their pet.  Also, the younger the dog the faster they heal.

My boy was done at 10 months to stop him peeing up everything cat-related in Pets at Home, my girl was done at 19 months - so late only because it's expensive!  That's the other thing - the smaller the dog, the cheaper it is.  If I had had her spayed at 6 months, she would have cost around £100 - as it is, she cost £230, because of the extra weight and the anaethetic needed to sedate her.

oh, and the older dog - I would get the pup castrated as well, yes.  As it is the older dog perceives a difference and sees himself as in charge; if you take away his testosterone but leave the pup intact, the older dog will be brought down to the same level as the younger.  But, if you castrate the pup as well, the current ranking between them will remain the same.

Nikita, your advice on this topic is IMO and IME wholly inappropriate!  I own entire males who never scent mark, hump anything, are non dog aggressive, don't wander off, haven't developed testicular cancers and one has been used several times at stud! They are my house pets, house trained & well socialised - simple!
To advise blanket castration on the grounds of *possible prevention* of behaviour that may *never* manifest itself is putting a young animal at unnecessary risks of  a) general anaesthetic; b) failing to mature physically AND mentally; c) possible early onset of incontinence in spayed bitches; and (d) in castrated males of "feminisation syndrome" causing other dogs to be aggressive or sexually attracted to him. That some US vets/shelters routinely mutilate baby puppies doesn't make it morally acceptable nor in the physical or psychological best interests of their patients.  That practice IMO is totally unacceptable and I hope NEVER gains approval in the UK.  Neutering animals should be in the interests of *their* personal welfare - not for the convenience of their owners and certainly not done heinously young to simply SAVE MONEY!!!!!  That reason more than any other REALLY stinks 

Hi nic29,

It's important to look at the pros AND cons of neutering either a dog or bitch.  JG has provided a balanced view on the fact that IF castration of a male is actually required for behavioural reasons it is best to wait until the dog is mature for it's specific breed.  The only reason for neutering him earlier than maturity should be if there is an actual medical condition present for doing so.  As JG advised, re your other puppy he may not have any testosterone related problems - why not give him a chance?  Good luck, whatever you decide, but try and make an informed decision by looking at all the evidence as well as those specific to your personal circumstances.

Best wishes, Teri :)

I agree with Teri, neutering is not the cure for all ills and unless there were overwhelming environmental reasons to do so I would not consider it prior to 12 months minimum preferably 18 months.

Im going to get Douglas castrated as he is a white boxer and I feel its the responsible thing to do, the breeder has also asked me to do so.

Teri

We are thinking of getting Ronnie Castrated, he is 10mths now so when would you recommend him being given the snip?

This may I add is much in protest by my other half but the last thing we want is an accidental mating!!

Hi Blondiflops,

It's not as I've said something I'd personally do to a male for that reason alone BUT equally I respect everyone's right to make the decision they feel is best for their circumstances (can't help myself springing into lecture mode :rolleyes: -smacks back of hand!) I'd wait until he's a minimum of 18 months and judge from that period on when you think he's not only physically mature but mentally too, ie. out of the obvious puppyish behaviours - they don't all grow up completely anyway ;)  but that's a condition affecting most of the male species!

Regards, Teri :)

LOL!

Thanks, we don't really want to get him done, we love him 100% all of him nuts included!!:D and we're still in the discussion stage.

My OH comment was if you do him then you do me!! my reply was....ok...:D

But we're thinking in the future we may get another bitch and we don't want to have any unplanned litters.

If I had to wait till the boxer was mature, he would be about 9 years old

Hi all

Thanks for all the advice.  We would not get the pup done just becuase we feel like it.  We are having Bailey who is 2.5yrs castrated because of aggression problems.  I've spoken to the vet this morning and he thinks it will be the best thing to do as well as getting him seen by a trainer.  Vet said castrating improves things 70% of the time if done before 3yrs of age.  I wouldn't get our pup done until at least a yr old ideally unless we had too. 

What I was worried about was after Bailey was castrated we might be evening them out in terms of dominance in another 6 months say when Dutch is around 9 months old.  Bailey has always been top dog and thus we didn't have fights between Bailey and his other brother Harley even though there was only 6 months between them and they were matched size wise and both entire.

We have problems with Bailey (aggression) and that is the only reason we are getting his done.  We have never had scent marking, humping or any of those problems. 

Bailey is booked in for the end of the month when I can take a week off to be with him. 

My husband is the same!  Men seem to have a problem with castration - too close to home I guess ;-)

Calm down, Teri.  I was simply stating my knowledge on neutering as I know it - no-one knows everything about dogs, and different people see things differently.  I did not say that if a male is not neutered early on, he would go no to develop behaviour and marking/humping problems in every case, did I?  I was simply stating that it is a risk - I have known well socialised entire males go on to develop aggression problems, I have also known others that are fine all their lives.

My interest in early neutering is purely to avoid unwanted pregnancies, as well as inappropriate breeding - something that is rife in pet animals today, like it or not.  In my time in a kennels I saw several pups come in for rehoming at 5 weeks old - simply because the owner of the inact dog & bitch was breeding when they shouldn't have been.  If the dogs were neutered, it wouldn't ahve happened, and those pups wouldn't have gone through what they did.

The monetary advantage in it is something I mentioned only as that, an advantage - definitely not something that should take precedence in the decision of when to neuter, of course.  I mentioned it only because many people don't neuter simply because of the high cost - and a fair few can find themselves with unwanted puppies because of it.  If finance is no problem here, then please, disregard that comment completely, as it doesn't apply.

I'm sorry if I've offended you on this topic, but do understand that not everyone thinks as you do - I do not condone keeping entire males at all unless they are very good quality, healthy dogs intended as sires - the risk of them getting out and making pups is not worth it IMO, as well as the health risks, regardless of how minor.

Another opinion would be that of the vets - most in this country recommend neutering at 6 months if the dog or bitch is not for breeding, to avoid any potential health problems such as testicular cancer or mammary cancer.

So if my advice came across very negatively, as it appears it did, then I apologise for that - but please do not fly off at the handle because someone has an opinion, or different experiences to you.  Neutering is a personal thing, I've no wish to actively go out and change people's preferences - just offer my thoughts on the subject.

Nikita, these boards are used by people of varied experience often using the search facility to find previously discussed topics - castration being a perfect example.  Your original posts come across as vehemently promoting castration as the ultimate problem preventer as well as solver - whether your intention or not.  As stated, the other reasons cited by you IMO made your reply to the OP irresponsible.
I've no hang ups about people choosing to neuter pets - often, with pet bitches certainly, it's the best course of action.  However I feel strongly that if someone is giving out advice about health related issues on a public forum, they should provide a *balanced* view - it is still possible to include personal opinion but it should be made clear that is all it is.  There are many very experienced people on this board, several far more so than me, and when a topic is raised about which I feel I have no valid experience I prefer to sit back and hopefully further my knowledge by reading replies of those more learned in certain areas than I am ;)
If I came across as rude, I apologise, but I feel passionately about animal welfare and moreover that health related choices be made only when owners are provided with *all* the pertinent facts.  Teri

valid points.  My apologies for coming across the way I did - I certainly don't view neutering as the be-all and end-all of solutions and preventions, I didn't mean my post to come across that way.  As for my other points, in retrospect I should have left some out, I agree; but criticism is always welcome on these things - how else can we learn?

Hi again Nikita :)

>criticism is always welcome on these things - how else can we learn?<

Absolutely - forums such as this are excellent because they give everyone the opportunity to exchange views and, importantly, share information.   We're *all* learning - or, at least, should be :P
As you can see this particular topic is an emotive subject - which is fine, at least it shows we all care - we just have different approaches :rolleyes:

regards,   Teri 

Castration will only help if his agression is directed at male dogs, any other reson and it could actually make him worse, especially if it is lack of confidence. 

I am getting a Rottie Pup and have been advised by the breeder not to get her spayed until she is about 18 months.

Sarah Gorb: your breeder needs to do some reading up on the link between early neutering of bitches & significant 'protection' against mammary tumors. Speak to your vet who should be only to happy to discuss the pros & cons of neutering & the age at which to neuter. Personally, I'd go for approx 5 months.

I own five bitches and only the oldest had a Mammary tumour (tiny) at five years old, as she had already produced the next generation she was spayed.  the tumour returned in the same spot some 3 years late4r so she had a partial mastectomy.  She's now a fit healthy 13 year old enjoying daily brisk 3 mile walks.

The others range from 19 months to 10 years.  Two eldest were spayed at 7 years and none have had any mamamry tumours.

Statistically it is said that 50% of unspayed bitches will get them, and of those 40% are likely to be malignant.  The sample used to get these stats was actually very small and has been proved to be unreliable.

Having spoken to many breeders in my breed where bitches will ahve been entire for the4ir reproductive lives at least, and some for their whole lives the incidence of mammary tumours in my breed at least would appear to be much lower than is quoted, and that is all tumours not just malignant ones.

Now a breeder of Welsh Springers I knew found thart most of her bitches developed mammary tumours in later life.

I would be interested in the expereince of breeders on this site as to what percentage of their bitches had mammary tumours???  I would be surprised if it is as high as that quoted by the veterinary proffession as a strong reason for neutering.

I wonder if we need to seperate the risk factors of those that are unspeyed but have not had puppies, as in humans those that do not have babies are at higher risk of breast cancer.  In all my family's dogs we only had one bitch who went unspeyed beyond about 3 and never had puppies and she died of mammary cancer but of course these little bits of anecdotal evidence don't really say much a decent sized study would be good but then again a vet could glean alot from the dogs he treats at terminal stage.

Thanks for the advise Ral, but when I was at the vet on Saturday, someone asked the nurse a question on Neutering and they don't like to do it until the dog is at least a year old

I think that neutering is a very personal choice but I have to say I have seen so many male dogs with absolutely miserable lives because they cannot carry out what nature intended.  I also believe that there are too many unwanted animals in this country and if neutering solves the problem then maybe some of the poor souls in rescue centres or pounds would be better placed to find a loving family rather than people buying dogs that are not well bred just to have a "breed".  I would never keep a dog entire unless it was a quality dog that I wanted to show or work.  What is the point?  I have seen more problems with unneutered dogs in inexperienced hands than I ever have with neutered dogs.

What is the point? The point is to have a dog which looks like a dog. Otherwise I'd get a bitch.
:)

So you don't like somebody with differing opinions?  I would also add that I would get a bitch speyed if I felt it was not a quality dog.  I agreed that it is the people that let their dogs roam etc., are the ones that won't get their dogs neutered but then the previous post of castrating early would solve that.  I reiterate, I would only keep a dog entire if I wanted to breed or work them - male or female.  That is my opinion and I am entitled to have it. 

Who said I didn't like you? I don't even know you! You asked a question and I answered it, that's all!

My entire males (aged nearly 6 years) don't hump, don't roam, don't fight; one will never be bred from, but I'm still not going to have him castrated - there's no point. And they're perfectly happy the way they are - not suffering from being as nature intended at all.

I appreciate what you are saying but then you obviously have years of experience and know how to handle dogs.  I am a firm believer in neutering as there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that it does a dog any harm and if you are inexperienced and leave a dog to reach maturity by that time behaviours may have crept in that are hard to change.  I only know this because one of my rescue dogs came to me from an inexperienced family who had treated him badly.  He had all sorts of behavioural problems.  Before having him neutered I tried the drug (forget its name!) to see if if had any effect (I was very niaive at the time!).  It did, so I had him done but had to work very hard on him over a period of 1 year to sort out the bad habits!  I currently have 4 dogs and experience working with dogs and, honestly, the problems I have seen would curl your toes!!!  Not every dog has issues, I agree, but if you couple testosterone with inexperience IME it is a recipe for disaster!!!  I probably shouldn't have responded to this post because I know this issue is close to a lot of peoples hearts.  What is it they say never discuss politics and religion.  I think we should now add dog castration!!!!  Sorry if I offended - didn't mean it to come over that way.  Not my gaff at all!

No offence taken or intended, gemspan! It's just that these are the first dogs I've owned (always had bitches before) so I'd class myself as inexperienced with dogs too.

And don't worry - we all have different experiences and opinions, and all are equally valid. But it doesn't mean that we all have to agree with everything everyone else says. Differences of opinion are just that - differences! Not a personal insult. ;)
:)

But JG was inexperienced once...same as me! :)

Generally, its far better to offer education on keeping male dogs than suggest castration is the answer to all IMO.

I agree completely but unfortunately there are no real platforms for people to get the correct advice.  Like I said, a very emotive subject - should have kept my keyboard shut!!!!!

I have the same problem on a horse board I go on. They are fanatically pro-castration and I find it infuriating they refuse to see an alternative! I avoid those threads now! :D

:D  @  Chloe  :D

Not having Willis "gelded" then   Perish the thought
Teri  :P

Vet doesn't have a wheelbarrow big enough to take them away in

think that neutering is a very personal choice but I have to say I have seen so many male dogs with absolutely miserable lives because they cannot carry out what nature intended. Not in my house you haven't :D

I would never keep a dog entire unless it was a quality dog that I wanted to show or work.  What is the point? Whats the point in castrating a perfectly happy healthy dog with no problems?

The fact is that the very people who allow their dogs to roam, mate indescriminately and do not discourage unwanted behaviour are the ones least likely to castrate!

We have four entire dogs who live with four entire bitches; they all know exactly where they stand in the pack, and get on fine.   Admittedly my husband takes the dogs to work with him, so they have a natural separation from the bitches much of the time, but never a cross word.

We also have a rehomed neutered dog, who was being picked on by a younger neutered dog, and they couldn't live with the blood up the walls.    Neutering here made absolutely no difference, in fact it aggrevated the situation.   Presumably the pack order vibes are completely upset.   The older dog was castrated first - big mistake.

Personally I would never mutilate a dog for my own convenience - if I felt it necessary at any time, I would feel I had lost the ability to understand and manage a dog.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I would agree with those who say if there is no reason then don't do it! Nature intended for them to be entire so I feel we should respect that, obviously unless there was a valid medical reason to do otherwise. This is just my opinion but you think of all the problems people have when they have hysterectomys for example,  hormone imballance etc, if anything it could cause unwanted behavioural problems by having them speyed or neutured.

Oh god - so now I am totally confused as to what to do!  Bailey is aggressive to male dogs, he prefers the ladies. 

On another point we spoke to Baileys breeder and he said it would be a good idea to get him castrated and he says that it often prolongs their life?  Is this true?

Thanks again for everyones posting.

Nic

I've never known an entire dog die from anything that a castrated dog couldn't get either. So no help there, I'm afraid!

I would not know if it prolongs their life, I have never heard that before. The only thing that a castrated dog would not be able to get was testicular cancer. If your breeder feels it would stop him being dog aggressive then it may be worth considering, but there is no guarantee it will stop it. Everyone has their own opinions on this one so really it is down to you, and if you feel the breeder has alot of experience and truly knows their breed then may be worth listening to them. Sorry I have not got any helpfull advice.x

I have watched this thread with interest and now utterly and totally confused. !!
We were considering getting our lad done he is 2yrs + can be a bit grumpy with certain males, but loves the ladies. Lately though he has calmed down quite considerably and is to us, turning in to a  wonderful dog. BUT this is due to all the training we have done since we brought him home at 6 weeks old.

We are wanting to get a female and looking around and contacting breeders,  I know we will get her spayed (as hubby says one female in the house is more than enough!), shall we also get our man done??...he does hump his blanket from time to time, but our other dog did that and he was nuetered.We just ignore him, and have to admit he dosent do it as much as he did when he was younger.

I can see the pros & cons for it, and now after all the posts totally confused....!!

I'm afraid that's because it's not a 'one size fits all' situation. :( There simply is no single right answer. Each person has to make their own decision having been given as many of the facts, both pros and cons, as possible, and based on their knowledge of their dog and their personal situation. And yes, it's very confusing. :(

Yep I am confused too!  I wouldn't get them done as a matter of course if you don't have any problems.  I'm just hoping it will help with Baileys dominance and agression.  He is aggressive to other males if he doesn't know them.  Although I think a lot of males are the same.  Bailey used to hump things but that was when he was very young and it stopped before he was 4 months old.  He is very clean indoors and never scent marks.  My sister had her mini sausage dog done at 2yrs old as he used to hump everyone who came in the door.  He is now reformed!  Although he is very aggressive with other dogs but I think this is fear aggression as he goes for every dog but if they so much as growl back at him he runs away and hides.  Can't say this has got any worse with him since castration.  Fear aggressive is definately not something Bailey has.

Good luck!

Hi Nic - if you decide to go ahead with Bailey's op I hope it does the trick and he becomes less aggressive.
But my experience has not proved this to be the case. We once had a very aggressive dog and everyone, including our vet, advised us to have him castrated.  So we did and it didn't make a scrap of difference ! 
In hindsight I reckon he was vaccine damaged.

I feel I must reply to this one - nature intended for dogs to be wolves, living in very, very large territories with only a few other wolves around them.  It didn't intend them to be the myriad of different breeds (and temperaments) that they are today, nor did nature intend them to live in very close quarters with other dogs, or be kept separate from most (often all) other dogs for the majority of the time; it also didn't intend for any dog to be capable of reproduction, in behavioural terms - in a pack, only the dominant pair would breed.  Today, any dog can breed without the psycological restrains of subordinance holding it back.

I'm sorry, but I really don't feel that "nature's intentions" can be used as an argument against castration (or spaying) - nature has no grounds here.  the situations our dogs live in today are entirely man-made.

I agree with Teri, I never have my boys 'done' unless they give me a reason to. At the end of the day, what are you, or the dog, gaining from castration? Answer = nothing. My older two are both done, one cos he was stressed and starving himself when he was younger; he was a rescue. The other was done because he is highly strung and fear aggressive. It worked with the first and not the second. Another rescue I had but rehomed was done because he was simply aggressive and it made no difference with him either. Eventually he turned on my mum twice and also attacked someone out on a walk, although it was the mans fault, so he was rehomed to a single woman with acres and acres of land who had no need to take him out. My youngest is 10mths and although he does scent mark, very occassionally in the house, he is not dominant or aggressive and will not be done. I have only had him under 2 months and he was only house trained 5 weeks before then so I will give him a chance, he is already improving.