Appropriate Age/Time To Neuter

[moondog]

Originally Posted by skigod377

I have not met a vet yet that wont neuter at 6 months.

I've not met a vet yet that wouldn't treat a dog with extraordinary methods for bone cancer either, many of which put a dog through immense and additional suffering........just because they'll do it doesn't mean it's the best thing for the dog.

Before I would accept a vet's position that early spay/neuter is not harmful to the dog, I would expect to have a lengthy discussion on the studies that have been done regarding this issue and the connection that has been found with increased risk of osteosarcoma and connective tissue development in dogs that undergo spay/neuter prior to maturity. If those issues were not respectfully STUDIED and considered in evaluating MY dog for spay/neuter, then I'd be finding another vet.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by pnkflyd77

"If you couldn't handle all the responsibilities of owning a male rott (and a LOT of the issues are training issues), then you shouldn't have bought a male rott."

Skip,"
No offense but where did you read that they couldn't handle/train a a male rott.

[/quote] 1. I see no joy in letting testosterone course through his veins.
2. I don't want to have to deal with any puberty type issues with him coming into his manhood.[/quote]

These are parts of what makes a male rottweiler A MALE ROTTWEILER. If you have to surgically alter a dog when it's too early just to make it easier for YOU to own one, then I stand by my statement. I'm totally against any unwanted, undeserving rotts being bred, but it didn't even bother the poster that early neutering has been shown to make a male rott LESS male looking ..(he might grow lanky/bitch-like but this has no issue for me). I'm not anti neuter/spay, but at least TRAIN FIRST and give a male rott a chance to GROW INTO and become a male rott before neutering. Else, you should have bought a female.

[Calin]

I spayed my girl at 8 months. I have read convincing arguments on both sides to wait or to not wait. Ultimately, I decided not to wait and to just get it done.

There. Now you guys can all pick on me and alice's mommy. :)

[skigod377]

I'll certainly not pick;) I much prefer people who spay and neuter to those who dont... despite the age. I was suprised to know that they neuter cats here at the stray facility as young as 12 weeks when they are born there....granted... that cat is a little weird...

[Shane]

I won't pick either, Calin. In fact, I appreciate that you're a responsible owner.

When I did rescue, we routinely had s/n done at 8 weeks of age on puppies and kittens. Medically it may not have been the very best option, but it's nearly impossible to enforce a s/n clause in an adoption contract.

[alice's mommy]

Well thank you to all who have respected my neutering at the age that my vet and myself agree is the right one.
Dear Skip, while I respect your views, the fact is that I don't believe Arthur will much care that he might look less "male" than his counterparts. I certainly don't. I love him regardless. And I don't think not neutering him before he's 18 months is diminishing his "maleness" in any way. lol
Also, before you throw out the whole "train him first" point: Arthur has been in training CONTINUOUSLY since I got him at 9 weeks....he's now 6.5 months old. Hmmmm....didn't know that neutering my dog equated him being untrained?

[damp]

Originally Posted by alice's mommy

Well thank you to all who have respected my neutering at the age that my vet and myself agree is the right one.
Dear Skip, while I respect your views, the fact is that I don't believe Arthur will much care that he might look less "male" than his counterparts. I certainly don't. I love him regardless. And I don't think not neutering him before he's 18 months is diminishing his "maleness" in any way. lol
Also, before you throw out the whole "train him first" point: Arthur has been in training CONTINUOUSLY since I got him at 9 weeks....he's now 6.5 months old. Hmmmm....didn't know that neutering my dog equated him being untrained?

So what is your point????
Why do you have to "speuter" at all???????????

Ps. My dog will die intact...

[Skip]

Originally Posted by alice's mommy

Well thank you to all who have respected my neutering at the age that my vet and myself agree is the right one.
Dear Skip, while I respect your views, the fact is that I don't believe Arthur will much care that he might look less "male" than his counterparts. I certainly don't. I love him regardless. And I don't think not neutering him before he's 18 months is diminishing his "maleness" in any way. lol
Also, before you throw out the whole "train him first" point: Arthur has been in training CONTINUOUSLY since I got him at 9 weeks....he's now 6.5 months old. Hmmmm....didn't know that neutering my dog equated him being untrained?

At 6.5 months, he has a lot of growing and maturing to do. ALL the research points to neutering early WILL "diminishing his "maleness". If you are a responsible owner, and train even half as much as "continuously", then any of his maleness shouldn't be an issue at all until at least 18 months when he has been given more of a chance to develop into a male. Why did you buy a male when you don't want him to be a male? Once again, IF you are continuing to train him and you SAY he is in training constantly, he shouldn't be a problem you can't handle...so why the rush to de-sex him?

[Zumie05]

I understand your intentions alice's mommy, and am sorry to have asked this question now I didn't mean for it to cause you any trouble.

Skip: The main reasons people tell you to wait on neutering your male rott is to give them the chance to develop structurally and to reduce the chances of developing bone cancer. I don't think I have read anyone saying to wait on neutering your male rott until 18 months to allow them to develop their manly way of thinking...no.

If alice's mommy wants to neuter Arthur at 6.5 months and doesn't care about what her dog will look like all grown up, the only thing everyone should be bashing her about is the cancer thing not anything about "diminishing his maleness".

[petes67bird]

Hi Rocky is almost 10 months old and is intact. My previous rottie spent all 10 of his years intact, never had aggression issues, never marked anything but stuff outdoors, and never humped. I think if you have a fenced in yard, if you proactively watch over your companion, there is no reason to have a dog neutered. It basically boils down to responsibility. Rocky will not be neutered, unless there is some medical issue requiring to do so. Neutering is not a cure-all for aggression, training is. There are studies out proving neutering a male is harmful, please read the following. Castration of Male Dogs
Good luck to all Pete

[skigod377]

There is a risk of testicular cancer in dogs as they get older, isnt there? Thats what my vet told me.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Zumie05

Skip: The main reasons people tell you to wait on neutering your male rott is to give them the chance to develop structurally and to reduce the chances of developing bone cancer. I don't think I have read anyone saying to wait on neutering your male rott until 18 months to allow them to develop their manly way of thinking...no.

If alice's mommy wants to neuter Arthur at 6.5 months and doesn't care about what her dog will look like all grown up, the only thing everyone should be bashing her about is the cancer thing not anything about "diminishing his maleness".

I didn't say "manly way of thinking", you did. I believe, as a responsible owner (and unless you can't train and keep your dog from mating, or if it is from a lousy breeding itself), it is good to let a MALE develop BOTH structurally and mentally into a male before neutering. Once again I ask, why do you buy a male rottweiler if you don't want all the qualities of a male? The 3 biggest reasons to me to have a male neutered would be if it was a rescue, or from a lousy breeding, or if you weren't a responsible owner.

[jazzking1971]

I agree with Skip.

I would neuter if the dog is not breedable. If my dog doesn't get a schH title and pass his BST then off they go.

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by skigod377

There is a risk of testicular cancer in dogs as they get older, isnt there? Thats what my vet told me.

Yes, there is, precisely why I neutered, but i waited until 12 months to do so. I can see why people might want to neuter early, if they are having behavioral issues, or if the dog is getting aggressive, so toning down the testosterone is a good thing. However, if these things don't apply, I don't see why people neuter would neuter so early if there are studies that show a link between early neutering and bone cancer...

[skigod377]

Originally Posted by Shelby427

Yes, there is, precisely why I neutered, but i waited until 12 months to do so. I can see why people might want to neuter early, if they are having behavioral issues, or if the dog is getting aggressive, so toning down the testosterone is a good thing. However, if these things don't apply, I don't see why people neuter would neuter so early if there are studies that show a link between early neutering and bone cancer...

Maybe because they didnt know. None of the vets I talked to ever mentioned it. They all neutered at six months. They may just be desperate to limit the number of strays, etc, and are probably just glad that the owners are neutering.