Zeus is getting older and I've been contemplating whether to neuter him or not. I don't own any other pets, and I live in an apartment so I'm not worried about him getting another dog pregnant since he's only outside when supervised by me. I would just like to know some experiences with life after neutering or not neutering. I'd love to hear your honesty because this is a big decision for me. I'm more worried about changes in tempermant, activity level, friendliness, etc.

I do think neutering is the responsible decision. If I had to do it all over again I would neuter all my males around 16 months old. Keeping consistent exercise, socialization, and training up until that point (and obviously beyond.) If they are beginning to show signs of "aggression" towards other intact males- I would do it sooner. But I feel at 16 months old they're much more mentally mature and would be better for them to be neutered at that point. I think anytime between 12-16 months is appropriate. It depends on the dog though.

I have never seen a negative impact on my dogs from neutering in regards to temperament, activity, or friendliness.

I thought the same thing with Saber, he'll never get a dog pregnant, etc. I ended up getting him neutered at 6 years old due to an enlarged prostate. It helped tremendously but every so often his prostate flares up and he has to go on antibiotics. I'm not 100% sure, but if I had gotten him neutered right away he probably wouldn't have this problem. So, I do regret not getting it done at 12 months (age I most likely would have done it). When I finally got him neutered, there was no personality change, he remained the same old Saber that I knew and loved!

I'm having this debate myself. I am getting Mishka neutered because I feel it's the right thing to do and also because it's in my breeder contract. But I am more trying to figure out the WHEN. I plan on getting him neutered around 7-8 months old (which is September), but would love to wait until he is older. I am most worried about rules when it comes to boarding and dog parks needing dogs to be fixed before they will take them. Seeing as I will have to board him and want to take him places with these rules is why I am thinking of neutering earlier.

Thanks for some of the feedback so far!

Kristina, I'll definitely keep the "aggression" thing in mind. He's a little too young to show any major signs now, but he's already trying to do his "dominance dance" (humping) on me and other dogs.  I stopped him from doing that to me, but he still tries to do it on smaller dogs and children that he plays with.

Beth and Ashleigh, how do you feel about getting it done earlier than that? My vet wants me to get him neutered as soon as he finishes his puppy shots, which will be around 4-5 months old.

Just my opinion, but personally I think 4-5 months is a little too young. There are some people on here that have had their dogs neutered at around that same age. Maybe they can chime in and share their experience. I think in the end it just comes down to what feels right to you.

Rodeo was neutered at that age due to animal control adoption. I think it is far too early. He is so immature, both physically and mentally.

Honestly, I think a lot of it depends on the dog. Embry was neutered at 5 months and we've never had issues with him, he's very mature and grew just fine. Ares on the other hand was neutered at almsot 10 months, and he's VERY immature mentally. Size, he's just fine, but god he's still actually the way he did at 4 months and it's worse because of his size now that he's 18 months.

I got Lucian neutered around 5 months as well. I haven't noticed any adverse affects to doing it young. It didn't slow his growth at all. He's quite a bit bigger than an unaltered husky pup the same age. I wanted to get it done before there was even a chance of him starting to mark things, or cock his leg on stuff. He still squats to pee. Which is fine by me, I know he won't land up peeing on my neighbor's dogs head, lol.

I agree with Jennet, I believe it depends on the dog and how you personally feel about it. I've read a lot about how neutering at a later age (12-18 months) is more beneficial to them when it comes to hormones and growth, but sometimes you never really know.

I got Cato neutered between 8 - 9 months old. I don't regret it at all and I don't miss bed being constantly peed on. His growth is fine, he's in standard he healed up very quickly.

I had Balon neutered at about 6 months because its when my vet said to do it, and he had absolutely no problems at all.  It did not change his personality at all he is very sweet and somewhat shy! Balon is about 64 lbs so a little bigger than standard.

Loki I had neutered at 5 months at the recommendation of my vet because he was lifting his leg and peeing on my walls and doors, and I noticed his play was getting a bit aggressive.  I also noticed that Balon was somewhat agitated by him, I think because he smelled more male lol. I did not want to neuter him so young but the vet said if I didn't his marking would only get worse and become habit.  Loki did absolutely wonderful with his neutering, he hated the cone, and I mean hated it he finally did become used to it after a couple days.  I did notice that he stopped lifting his leg in the house about a week after he was neutered, and he seems to be a bit calmer too!  I will have to wait to see if it affects his height weight, he was about 45lbs at 5 months when he was neutered don't know if he has gained anything since.  He and Balon are brothers so I wouldn't be surprised to see him be Balon's size.

As a side note I had my female Lab spayed at not quite 6 months and she too did awesome!

I don't have any regrets doing it younger then some people do, I do listen to my vet as I trust them.  All of them did just fine!

Thor was neutered right before i adopted him at 3 months old. He was reported as being friendly with all dogs, but as he has gotten more comfortable with me i have started to notice his need to be dominant around males - both neutered and not. While he doesn't downright attack or start the fight he is definitely aggressive, and i think alot of that has to do with being neutered so late. I think once he stops growing would be a good time to neuter, but definitely continue to monitor for any dominance or aggressive type behaviors. If you see any of those manifesting, i would consider doing it a tad bit sooner.

I got Cloud neutered at 8 months and Link neutered when I got him at 15 months. Personally to me, both ages worked fine. I wouldn't neuter before 6 months, but thats just me personally. Based on all the different studies the negative to getting them neutered early is that they can be immature both mentally and physically. Getting them neutered later may result is a more dominant male. Link was VERY dominant and marked everything when I got him, and as soon as he got neutered he stopped marking and only marks maybe a tree once every couple weeks. It was so bad he had to patrol the entire dog park and mark every fence post and bush he came across - now he plays with dogs just fine. So honestly I don't think waiting would do any harm, and I would wait until at least 8/9 months to do it.

I personally think when depends on the dog, Orion is 5 months at the moment and I don't think he is ready yet. Our vet supports neutering at an age that is right for the dog rather than a blanket age and luckily our breeder supports this also so I'm just keeping an eye on him. There are quite a few vets here who recommend neutering as soon all a pups shots are complete 4-5 months and it is also becoming more common here to receive a puppy from a registered breeder at 12 weeks already neutered. I disagree with it that young but I can understand it from a standpoint of trying to stop backyard breeding. For me neutering will always be the way to go, my parents decided not to neuter our gorgeous goldie girl I had growing up and it was because of that decision that we lost her at 4 years old to pymetra - it was heartbreaking.
At the end of the day he's your baby so you have to be completely happy and if that means waiting then do it - trust your vet and trust your gut you know Zeus better than anyone!

I met one well respected breeder who was about to neuter at around 8 weeks and then allow puppies to come home to their new homes at 10 weeks! Apparently this has practice is has been implemented by another well recognised breeder who has many national champions. Their reasoning is due to too many people breaking contracts and back-yard breeding. Suffice it to say I was not impressed with this practise.

I must say though, that the breeder I spoke to was not 100% that they would be adopting this policy and was more likely to stay with the 6 month deadline they currently have. I also think that 10 weeks as opposed to 8 week for puppy adoption means that 2 critical bonding and training weeks are missed out on.

I was much more comfortable with another registered breeder, who both shows and works her dogs in dryland mushing. The neutering and micro-chipping is included in the price and she recommends neutering at around 12 months for males. She seemed to be more conscious of allowing hormones to do their work and probably comes from her experience at the mushing clubs.

Completely dependent on the dog according to our vet! Jack is nine months and not neutered only because we haven't seen any behavior yet that would call for it, and he does not look like he is finished growing anytime soon. Our vet said neutering too soon can make a dog grow a lot faster (testosterone actually slows down the growth rate of bones) and Jack is already quite large and rather awkward looking currently... We will probably wait until 16-24 months before we actually do it because Huskies can be slow growers and we really want Jack to fill out in top form!

Our 4 year old dog, Storm, is getting neutered next week and he has no health problems from being left alone. He's not aggressive and doesn't go after female dogs or anything. You would never know unless you... well... looked, haha!

I would just talk to a vet you really respect and knows your dog and his growth rates. They would give you the best advice since they have seen/know the dog.

I agree go with what feels right for you. Stryker was neutered at almost 2 years old and he does have dominant issues but I don't know if that's from being neutered so late or the abuse from his prior home.

I don't know a single responsible breed who requires neutering before 6 months old.

When some talks about mental immaturity from neutering early, does it mean that they still act like a puppy all the time and aren't willing to listen?

mbarnard0429 wrote:

I don't know a single responsible breed who requires neutering before 6 months old.

I agree, it seems some breeders (fortunately few) think protecting their "assets" is more important than the wellbeing of the dogs.

My experience with breeder contracts requiring neutering say between 6-9 months.

darbear wrote:

When some talks about mental immaturity from neutering early, does it mean that they still act like a puppy all the time and aren't willing to listen?

Thanks so much everyone for all the feedback! Here's a good question that nobody answered, so could someone answer it please.

I'm curious about this too. There are factors other than testosterone involved in maturation, so I wouldn't think it would be as dramatic as thinking that neutering is like freezing time for a pup's development.

It'd be good to explore how relevant testosterone is to development in the bigger, overall scheme of things.

I neutered Pongo right when he turned 5 months old. He was starting to become spiteful and challenging at this age so I feel like that was the perfect time to do it for him. What's interesting is he never raised his leg because of doing it this early. He grew just fine (55-60lbs) and he is very smart and mature I really think it depends on the dog as well.