When to neuter a "working dog" - Page 2

x.WOLFiE.x · 09-17-2012, 01:12 PM

Is there an age to do it so that the bad behavior is avoided, but they still get as large as they normally would without neutering? i.e. a perfect age.

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msvette2u · 09-17-2012, 01:15 PM

I haven't had working dogs but IMO 6-8 mos. is fine, genetics play as large of role in "looking feminine" as neutering (or not) does.

Shade · 09-17-2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msvette2u

No, not all of it but the part that becomes obsessed with the hind ends of females may

Yep!

OP - I agree it's their dog and I would personally rather see a neutered dog rather then unneutered in a novice owners hands.

Elaine · 09-17-2012, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x.WOLFiE.x

Is there an age to do it so that the bad behavior is avoided, but they still get as large as they normally would without neutering? i.e. a perfect age.

Good training and exercise is what is needed to avoid bad behavior. There is no perfect age for neutering, just pros and cons for early and late. You have to decide for yourself what works for you and your dog.

msvette2u · 09-17-2012, 01:28 PM

We just had intake of a Schnauzer x Poodle at about 7-8mos. of age, and upon meeting his new family's female (not spayed but had made an appointment, she was 12mos. or so) he became completely obsessed!

It is my belief, after working in rescue for some 10yrs., that boys at that age don't really 'know' what is going on, but have some inkling, a tiny clue, and are prone to, well, becoming obsessed and thus being a "butt head"!

Any girl not in standing heat is not going to appreciate the boy taking such an interest in her hindermost parts! My spayed girls get very testy when these "teenage boy" dogs start rooting around in their hineys!!

That's what I meant by "butthead" behavior

**Liesje** · 09-17-2012, 02:34 PM

Pros and cons any way you do it so I'd let the owners decide what's best. I've never had problems with my intact males and they train, play, compete, and show with intact females (yes even ones in standing heat, as that is allowed in conformation and certain performance events). My "butthead" happens to be my mix who was neutered around 3 months old. He's my humper too. Nikon, my adult intact male has never humped anything. If a female is in standing heat and he's got his snout in her you know what or is lingering where she marked or dripped then he will drool and chatter but I don't let him do this and it's not like he's trying to drag me out of the house or across a field to get to a female. Honestly it's just never been an issue, other than just having general control over a dog and training a dog manners in public and around other dogs.

CeCe · 09-17-2012, 02:45 PM

Traditionally dogs used for personal protection are not neutered. If I had a male puppy that I wanted to neuter the earliest I would do it is age 2 and a half.

**JakodaCD OA** · 09-17-2012, 02:48 PM

I don't think there is an "age" to do it, I do know i'd never do it at 18 weeks of age, to young in my opinion.

I have had intact dogs up until around 2-2.5 at times, and I didn't have any problems , of course I didn't have intact females around, tho I'm sure we may have come across some out in the big wide world.

In this case I would neuter, but I'd try to put it off until atleast 18months , I speuter when growth plates have closed.

Rerun · 09-17-2012, 06:24 PM

Have they already bought and paid for this dog and he's simply with you for training and evaluation? Is there a chance he may not work out for their needs? I wouldn't neuter until, at the very least, he's paid for 100% just in case things don't work out with these people. Most people will want him intact as a sport dog.

ristakrat · 09-17-2012, 07:00 PM

They have bought the dog and paid for training through 4 months of age. The next training program starts at 6 months of age and they seem very interested. I would like to work with the dog/puppy intact just in case the procedure does have any affect on him. I am sure that with training they will have no problems keeping this puppy/dog under control. It would just stink to put all this training into him and then for him to be neutered while with his owners between training and he come back to me... different :P I'll let them weigh the options but to protect myself I will recommend them make that choice after training is complete and he has finished growing. Funny story, the same puppy we are talking about killed a snake today! 5 weeks and one day old and he killed a snake. It was the size of a large worm... but still!!! A snake!

09-17-2012, 02:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
Liesje Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 16,257	Pros and cons any way you do it so I'd let the owners decide what's best. I've never had problems with my intact males and they train, play, compete, and show with intact females (yes even ones in standing heat, as that is allowed in conformation and certain performance events). My "butthead" happens to be my mix who was neutered around 3 months old. He's my humper too. Nikon, my adult intact male has never humped anything. If a female is in standing heat and he's got his snout in her you know what or is lingering where she marked or dripped then he will drool and chatter but I don't let him do this and it's not like he's trying to drag me out of the house or across a field to get to a female. Honestly it's just never been an issue, other than just having general control over a dog and training a dog manners in public and around other dogs. __________________ Liesje & the K9s Nikon (GSD) U-CH SG Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 KKL T1 FO PA TF-III FDCh-S CL1-R UJJ U-CA HIT TT CGC Coke (All-American) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC, couch warmer extraordinaire Indy (All-American) Blue Horizon's Indigo Girl, flyball star in training Rainbow Bridge Kenya (GSD) U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop CL1-R CL1-F RA HIT TDI TT CGC vom Blauen Horizont / Blue Horizon GSDs

09-17-2012, 02:48 PM	#18 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 17,545	I don't think there is an "age" to do it, I do know i'd never do it at 18 weeks of age, to young in my opinion. I have had intact dogs up until around 2-2.5 at times, and I didn't have any problems , of course I didn't have intact females around, tho I'm sure we may have come across some out in the big wide world. In this case I would neuter, but I'd try to put it off until atleast 18months , I speuter when growth plates have closed. __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

09-17-2012, 01:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
x.WOLFiE.x Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 46	Is there an age to do it so that the bad behavior is avoided, but they still get as large as they normally would without neutering? i.e. a perfect age. Sent from my iPhone using PG Free

09-17-2012, 01:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
msvette2u Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 11,005	I haven't had working dogs but IMO 6-8 mos. is fine, genetics play as large of role in "looking feminine" as neutering (or not) does.

09-17-2012, 01:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
msvette2u Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 11,005	We just had intake of a Schnauzer x Poodle at about 7-8mos. of age, and upon meeting his new family's female (not spayed but had made an appointment, she was 12mos. or so) he became completely obsessed! It is my belief, after working in rescue for some 10yrs., that boys at that age don't really 'know' what is going on, but have some inkling, a tiny clue, and are prone to, well, becoming obsessed and thus being a "butt head"! Any girl not in standing heat is not going to appreciate the boy taking such an interest in her hindermost parts! My spayed girls get very testy when these "teenage boy" dogs start rooting around in their hineys!! That's what I meant by "butthead" behavior

09-17-2012, 02:45 PM	#17 (permalink)
CeCe Master Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 505	Traditionally dogs used for personal protection are not neutered. If I had a male puppy that I wanted to neuter the earliest I would do it is age 2 and a half.

09-17-2012, 06:24 PM	#19 (permalink)
Rerun Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,988	Have they already bought and paid for this dog and he's simply with you for training and evaluation? Is there a chance he may not work out for their needs? I wouldn't neuter until, at the very least, he's paid for 100% just in case things don't work out with these people. Most people will want him intact as a sport dog.

09-17-2012, 07:00 PM	#20 (permalink)
ristakrat Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 103	They have bought the dog and paid for training through 4 months of age. The next training program starts at 6 months of age and they seem very interested. I would like to work with the dog/puppy intact just in case the procedure does have any affect on him. I am sure that with training they will have no problems keeping this puppy/dog under control. It would just stink to put all this training into him and then for him to be neutered while with his owners between training and he come back to me... different :P I'll let them weigh the options but to protect myself I will recommend them make that choice after training is complete and he has finished growing. Funny story, the same puppy we are talking about killed a snake today! 5 weeks and one day old and he killed a snake. It was the size of a large worm... but still!!! A snake!

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