Neutering Question

[DMarie]

Hi all. Hondo went to vet yesterday for a checkup. The vet absolutely LOVES him and can't believe what a great dog he is. He jokes that maybe he has some lab in him as he is so good natured and loves everybody. Will neutering change his personality very much? Also, the whole size debate has many pros and cons. I don't care about how big he gets, I just want a healthy, good natured dog. Any info on the pros and cons you all have experienced with neutering and at what ages would be very helpful Thank you!

[tla0126]

I got my Beau neutered at 6 months. He is the same eloving sweet dog he was before!

Chances are, if it did anything, it would remove some of his desire to roam (if he has any) and maybe calm him down a little bit if he is really hyper. And I say maybe. Beau doesn't roam, but he is hyper as ever!!!

About the size thing, Beau is 113lbs at 2 1/2 yrs. Which is right in the middle of the range I believe? He is healthy and happy.

[brunie's mom]

How old is Hondo now? How much does he weigh?
It usually good to allow the hormones to kick in and wait till most of the growth is done. Anytime after 12 months is fine to neuter.

He will be the same personality....but may not start the marking habit as well as dog aggression if you have him neutered earlier. Dogs neutered before a year, often are taller, and may not have the large chest and head. But as I've seen in many older, male foster dogs....even though they were intact for years...never got the large head or chest..because of genetics.

What age does he have to be neutered in your contract?

Gina

[Zumie05]

Don't forget about removing the desire to follow around intact females like crazy! I had my first experience with that the other day.

Gary is 7 months and not neutered yet and I swear he just started his little doggy puberty because he was acting in ways I had never seen him before! At Petsmart there was this little girl bull dog that he was "in love" with, so to speak. It made me want to get him neutered earlier...but I really want to wait until 12 months.

[BonnieBlue]

I read this on rottweilerhealth.org, hope this helps.

Early Spay/Neuter Linked to Osteosarcoma

Research has linked early neutering and spaying before first cycle to significant increases in the risk of osteosarcoma in Rottweilers.

"The researchers found that 14.8% of the Rottweilers studied developed appendicular bone cancer. The relative risk was 1.65 castrated males, 1.34 in spayed females and 1.03 in intact females. The risk of developing bone cancer was significantly higher in animals that were neutered at less than 1 year of age compared with intact animals. Dr. B. C. Beranek, Purdue University"

[DMarie]

Hi again, Thanks for the replys! Hondo is 8 months old and weighs 84 lbs. I want to wait till he's around 12 months old, but I don't want him to develop any bad habits that he may keep. ie marking inside, dog agressiveness etc. He is such a love now, it would break my heart!

[fillcee85]

I neutered my male at 12 months. I only neutered him at this age because he started to mark excessivley and pee on people at the dog park, certainly not acceptable!! Well its been 3 weeks since hes been neutered, I have no noticed any changes really. I have heard it takes up to 8 weeks to see changes. I know changes are not for certain. Although one plus is he doesnt pee on people anymore, or at least hasnt yet. (Keeping fingers crossed!!). He doesnt mark every single 3 feet when i walk him now which is great. Other than that hes the same ol goofy gentle giant.

I heard neutering helps decrease "roaming"? What does that mean?

[SABELLESMOM]

"Roaming" should never happen as owners should have their dogs leashed or under control. Roaming refers to an intact male getting the scent of a bitch in heat and searching for her and any others in like state. A bitch in heat is inticing!

Most will a male should reach full height and begin to fill out before neutering. Years ago, it was done at 6 months. Now the trend is more towards 12-18 months. Do what's good for you.

Egad! I can't believe with all that has been written and reitterated, over and over, that folks still go to dog parks.

Speaking for myself, one problem is this: Not everyone innoculates their dogs adequately. If you have a younger dog, parvo is still a great risk. Did you know that the virus is still there up to a year later in dog poo left on the ground? You wouldn't even recognize it anymore! It would have been beaten and weathered into dirt.

Another: While you may have well controlled, well behaved dogs who understand "play," the person next to you may not! They may be a complete idiot who thinks it's macho to have his male hump every female in the park! It's RUDE behavior. It's an attempt at dominant behavior...as probably not females there are actually in heat.

I've seen dogs who bully others, steal toys, run others down...people included. The owner does nothing.

Dog parks are a lazy man's way of exercising a dog. I enjoy seeing my dogs run and play. We went to my firends house in the country. I knew her, I knew her dogs from classes. They were innoculated. They understood play. In recent years, I've afforded myself a semi private fence. Within it I still have my exercise kennel.

Before that it was clases, hiking, boating, exercise parks for humans...dogs allowed. There are soooo many ways to exercise your dog with out resorting to a exercise park...at least for me!

[Andy Larrimore]

The surgery only alters the reproductive ability. The temperament is genetic. it will not be affected.

[fillcee85]

i know most are against dog parks. although i enjoy dog parks, the dog park i got there are about 6-7 rottweilers i see on the regular. all which are very well tempered. I am not lazy and thus resort to dog parks, i walk my dog daily and have hikes on the weekend but the main reason why i bring him to dog parks is to socialize him. He is already well socialized but i think theres nothing more important but to socialize these types of breeds. my dog plays with poodles that are 6 lbs. but i do see the reasons people often have from staying away from dog parks., Alot can happen there, especially with bad owners and unsocialized dogs.

[stefnee]

I understand exactly what you are going through. We had Nico for almost 12 years before he past from bloat. We were always getting comments about how well behaved he was. he was not neutered. We did not have any plans on breeding him and the reasons for neutering him were not strong enough for us. It will calm him down.. he was not hyper. He will not mark his territory. He never did. It will cut the risk of cancer.....My question was how many dogs that have been neutured still get cancer. It is the responsible thing to do. Why.

We now have two 14week old male Rotties. And we are still on the fence about neutering. Have not read all the responses, will be interesting to see what the forum has to say.

Stefnee