Never had a boy dog before...

Purr · 03-08-2005, 07:50 AM

Hey, I've never had a male dog before, and was wondering if you could tell me when a male should be neutered??? Thankz!!!

elegy · 03-08-2005, 07:58 AM

6 months is what's usually recommended.

WingedFoal · 03-08-2005, 08:00 AM

I agree with Elegy. My vet would not neuter a dog any earlier than 6 months unless there was a really good reason for it.

Purr · 03-08-2005, 08:06 AM

Oh, thank you! I wasn't considering sooner, actually. I was thinking more along the lines of 9 months...thank you!

***Carrie*** · 03-08-2005, 08:57 AM

If you catch them before puberty sets in at around 6 or 7 months, you avoid or lessen some of the characteristics of puberty, both physically as well as behaviorally. There are also health ramifications to neutering, both positive and negative, but mostly positive. Some vets are spaying and neutering earlier than that these days. IMO, neutering and spaying is recommended.

Purr · 03-08-2005, 09:25 AM

Carrie, what do you mean "physically and behaviorally"? I know about the behavior aspect of a non-neutered male animal. But, physical?

I would also always reccomend spaying and neutering; all my animals (except three male kittens) are spayed or neutered...in fact, I just dropped off my girl kittie to be spayed today.

***Carrie*** · 03-08-2005, 09:59 AM

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_neuter.html

Purr · 03-08-2005, 10:07 AM

They get bigger if you neuter them before? That's weird; I thought they would be stunted...we had a male cat neutered at six months, and he ended up a lot smaller then even the vet expected. I thought it was because he was neutered early. So, in two - three months? They're four months right now...Thankz y'all. And thank you for the link Carrie!

***Carrie*** · 03-08-2005, 10:10 AM

The one thing I disagree with in that article is where it says that behavioral benefits can still be obtained regardless of the age of the dog when neutered.

What I understand is that when behaviors become ingrained in a dog due to hormones, the brain gets into the habit or nerve pathways are developed for certain behaviors. This is not easily reversible. Some behaviors may be reduced if neutered later, or modified, but some will be quite in place in fairly short order. It's better if you're going to neuter and want those behavioral benefits, to do it before puberty.

Some behaviors may not be decreased all together. For example, Lyric still lifts his leg...perhaps not as much as he would have if he wasn't neutered and I think he had just begun puberty when he was neutered at 7 months. He has just now becoming dog aggressive. He wasn't at all as a younger dog. He had no bad experiences with dogs and never developed any kind of habit. He liked all dogs before and was quite well socialized with them. This seems to be happening in spite of neutering, as he is maturing, although it is quite common with Dobermans to be dog aggressive.

Mounting: My girl Chi even does this. I think that has more to do with a dog trying to be cool than exclusively hormonal, although I suspect an intact dog may do it more, demonstrating dominance. That's my girl, all 5 LBS of her....she's going to be top dog and Lyric definitely pays attention. LOL.

***Carrie*** · 03-08-2005, 10:15 AM

Yes, they tend to get a tad taller, hardly perceptible. The hormones are responsible for closing the epiphyseal cartilage...or growth plates at the ends of the long bones. When the hormones are absent, the bones keep growing for a little longer than they would have.

Purr · 03-08-2005, 10:26 AM

Ugh...mounting! Beethoven does that already...it kinda grosses me out, to tell you the truth. But, there's nothing I can do about it...

But, thanks for your help, Carrie! I really appreciate it!

***Carrie*** · 03-08-2005, 10:36 AM

Does Beetoven do it to humans? That should be corrected by beefing up training whereby you're showing him who is the "top dog." LOL. But with other dogs, I don't personally worry too much. I'll try to change the subject when they do it....get them interested in something else. It is kind of embarrassing all right! LOL.

Purr · 03-08-2005, 10:38 AM

No, he doesn't do it to people, thank goodness...That would drive me nuts!! He does it to Bear, and to my blankets, stuffed animals, and stuff like that...I'm a stuffed animal freak!!!

WingedFoal · 03-08-2005, 11:18 AM

Oh dear, the stuffed animals...... Silly puppy!

Michelejc · 03-08-2005, 02:24 PM

I had my boy done when he was about 6 months old......

03-08-2005, 07:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Purr ~3 Mutts~ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the wild 'n' wonderful USA! Posts: 727 Rep Power: 87	Never had a boy dog before... Hey, I've never had a male dog before, and was wondering if you could tell me when a male should be neutered??? Thankz!!!
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03-08-2005, 07:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
elegy Pit Bull Junky Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,073 Rep Power: 112	6 months is what's usually recommended.
	__________________ thank you to everyone who supported me during blogathon. i was able to raise $453.60 for pit bull rescue central!

03-08-2005, 08:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
WingedFoal Bostons Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL, USA Posts: 1,035 Rep Power: 98	I agree with Elegy. My vet would not neuter a dog any earlier than 6 months unless there was a really good reason for it.
	__________________

03-08-2005, 08:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
Purr ~3 Mutts~ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the wild 'n' wonderful USA! Posts: 727 Rep Power: 87	Oh, thank you! I wasn't considering sooner, actually. I was thinking more along the lines of 9 months...thank you!
	__________________

03-08-2005, 09:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
Purr ~3 Mutts~ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the wild 'n' wonderful USA! Posts: 727 Rep Power: 87	Carrie, what do you mean "physically and behaviorally"? I know about the behavior aspect of a non-neutered male animal. But, physical? I would also always reccomend spaying and neutering; all my animals (except three male kittens) are spayed or neutered...in fact, I just dropped off my girl kittie to be spayed today.
	__________________

03-08-2005, 08:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,538 Rep Power: 291	If you catch them before puberty sets in at around 6 or 7 months, you avoid or lessen some of the characteristics of puberty, both physically as well as behaviorally. There are also health ramifications to neutering, both positive and negative, but mostly positive. Some vets are spaying and neutering earlier than that these days. IMO, neutering and spaying is recommended.

03-08-2005, 09:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,538 Rep Power: 291	http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_neuter.html

03-08-2005, 10:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Purr ~3 Mutts~ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the wild 'n' wonderful USA! Posts: 727 Rep Power: 87	They get bigger if you neuter them before? That's weird; I thought they would be stunted...we had a male cat neutered at six months, and he ended up a lot smaller then even the vet expected. I thought it was because he was neutered early. So, in two - three months? They're four months right now...Thankz y'all. And thank you for the link Carrie!
	__________________

03-08-2005, 10:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,538 Rep Power: 291	The one thing I disagree with in that article is where it says that behavioral benefits can still be obtained regardless of the age of the dog when neutered. What I understand is that when behaviors become ingrained in a dog due to hormones, the brain gets into the habit or nerve pathways are developed for certain behaviors. This is not easily reversible. Some behaviors may be reduced if neutered later, or modified, but some will be quite in place in fairly short order. It's better if you're going to neuter and want those behavioral benefits, to do it before puberty. Some behaviors may not be decreased all together. For example, Lyric still lifts his leg...perhaps not as much as he would have if he wasn't neutered and I think he had just begun puberty when he was neutered at 7 months. He has just now becoming dog aggressive. He wasn't at all as a younger dog. He had no bad experiences with dogs and never developed any kind of habit. He liked all dogs before and was quite well socialized with them. This seems to be happening in spite of neutering, as he is maturing, although it is quite common with Dobermans to be dog aggressive. Mounting: My girl Chi even does this. I think that has more to do with a dog trying to be cool than exclusively hormonal, although I suspect an intact dog may do it more, demonstrating dominance. That's my girl, all 5 LBS of her....she's going to be top dog and Lyric definitely pays attention. LOL.

03-08-2005, 10:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,538 Rep Power: 291	Yes, they tend to get a tad taller, hardly perceptible. The hormones are responsible for closing the epiphyseal cartilage...or growth plates at the ends of the long bones. When the hormones are absent, the bones keep growing for a little longer than they would have.

03-08-2005, 10:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
Purr ~3 Mutts~ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the wild 'n' wonderful USA! Posts: 727 Rep Power: 87	Ugh...mounting! Beethoven does that already...it kinda grosses me out, to tell you the truth. But, there's nothing I can do about it... But, thanks for your help, Carrie! I really appreciate it!
	__________________

03-08-2005, 10:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,538 Rep Power: 291	Does Beetoven do it to humans? That should be corrected by beefing up training whereby you're showing him who is the "top dog." LOL. But with other dogs, I don't personally worry too much. I'll try to change the subject when they do it....get them interested in something else. It is kind of embarrassing all right! LOL.

03-08-2005, 10:38 AM	#13 (permalink)
Purr ~3 Mutts~ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the wild 'n' wonderful USA! Posts: 727 Rep Power: 87	No, he doesn't do it to people, thank goodness...That would drive me nuts!! He does it to Bear, and to my blankets, stuffed animals, and stuff like that...I'm a stuffed animal freak!!!
	__________________

03-08-2005, 11:18 AM	#14 (permalink)
WingedFoal Bostons Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL, USA Posts: 1,035 Rep Power: 98	Oh dear, the stuffed animals...... Silly puppy!
	__________________

03-08-2005, 02:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
Michelejc JCDOG Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York Posts: 83 Rep Power: 73	I had my boy done when he was about 6 months old......
	__________________ Michelejc

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