Appropriate Age/Time To Neuter

[seanb]

I am new to rottweilers and new to this forum. We have wanted to et a rottweiler for about 4 years or so. We got Sebastian from a breeder who has stopped breeding and now only does rescue. She rescued a litter and we got him from her at 10 weeks this past November. He's 6 months now and about close to 60lbs. When should he be neutered?

Thanks In Advance

[alice's mommy]

I know that a lot of members believe that you should wait until around 12-18 months old. I have a six and a half month old who will be neutered on Monday. :)

[Shelby427]

There have been studies that show early neutering can cause or be linked to bone cancer. I'd personally wait until 12 months to neuter. I like to wait until a majority of the growing is done, as I have heard that early neutering can cause dogs to look bitchy.

Hudson my greyhound/mastiff puppy was just neutered and he's about 1 year old.

[brunie's mom]

Give him a chance to grow and mature a little. Wait till he is 12 months old at least. If you are having major dog aggression problems, or marking problems, then get it done a bit earlier. If he's an easy keeper wait.

Gina

[skigod377]

Every vet I talked to said you can neuter at 6 months. I am not sure if it affects growth or maturity, but it may. I knew a couple pups neutered at that age that grew up tall and lanky instead of thick. It may be unrelated, though. I have seen several other breeds of dog neutered that young that look normal for their breed.

[Zumie05]

Originally Posted by alice's mommy

I know that a lot of members believe that you should wait until around 12-18 months old. I have a six and a half month old who will be neutered on Monday. :)

I am curious as to why you are going to have Arthur done earlier than recommended? Before coming to this website I too had planned to have Gary done at around 6 months.

[kjd2121]

Sam was neutered at 18 months. I waited that long after reading that the dogs growth plates weren't mature until 18 monts or so. He quit lifting his leg on the pillars and the plants since being neutered.

[alice's mommy]

Zumie05: I know this will probably get everyone all riled up, but here're my old-fashioned, backwards reasons for wanting Arthur fixed at 6.5 months. :)

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.
3. I realize that he might grow lanky/bitch-like but this has no issue for me. I didn't fall for this breed for the sizeable look of them, but for the intelligence and past experiences I've had with "good" rotties. Heck, I tried to get the runt of a litter (BYB - turned it down). She was a tiny little thing I was going to name Alice (hence my moniker) but when the breeder told me to get her at 5 weeks I passed and lost my deposit.
4. My vet says there is no correlation to neutering and bone cancer (I know what you all say...I'm not disagreeing with you, just relaying her words).
5. I've had the date circled on my calendar since I brought him home. :)

So, Arthur is becoming my little castrati on Monday and I'm very happy with my decision. We all talk about stopping BYB's and neutering dogs....well, Arthur (turned out) was definitely from a BYB and I have never had any intentions of breeding him. While there are varying opinions on WHEN to neuter, there is little disagreement that one SHOULD neuter to stop the continuations of BYBs. As to when I neuter MY animal, you may all respect my decision or not....but it is mine alone to make. :)

[Skip]

Originally Posted by alice's mommy

Zumie05: I know this will probably get everyone all riled up, but here're my old-fashioned, backwards reasons for wanting Arthur fixed at 6.5 months. :)

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.
3. I realize that he might grow lanky/bitch-like but this has no issue for me. I didn't fall for this breed for the sizeable look of them, but for the intelligence and past experiences I've had with "good" rotties. Heck, I tried to get the runt of a litter (BYB - turned it down). She was a tiny little thing I was going to name Alice (hence my moniker) but when the breeder told me to get her at 5 weeks I passed and lost my deposit.
4. My vet says there is no correlation to neutering and bone cancer (I know what you all say...I'm not disagreeing with you, just relaying her words).
5. I've had the date circled on my calendar since I brought him home. :)
.....
:)

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.

[alice's mommy]

Aw Skip, I guess you'll be my first: I said nothing in there about not being able to handle my rott...nor being unable to handle a MALE specifically.
I was asked a question from Zumie, I answered honestly, and there you have it. I consider this a medical decision that only I have the authority to make and will not feel badly about the choice I have made for my animal. I did say that those were my "old fashioned and backwards" reasons as well.

[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.

[seanb]

Oops, looks like I started a holy war on neutering. Sorry. Thank you all for your help it is greatly appreciated. My goal is to do the right things to make sure I have a well balanced, well behaved dog that changes people's negative attitude towards rottweilers.

Thanks again.

[skigod377]

Mos def, Skip, you were a bit out of line. Seems that no matter how responsible an owner is, someone will manage to find fault with them. Makes me wonder if people will continue to bother when faced with attitudes like that. If there was any proven, undeniable bad effects of neutering at six months, you would not be able to find many vets to do it. I have not met a vet yet that wont neuter at 6 months.

[Shane]

I think anywhere between 6 months and 18 months is great, but I'm undecided at which point in that spectrum is the best. Sorry if that's not a definitive answer. If I get a boy, I'll probably split the difference and neuter at 12 months.

[jazzking1971]

I would wait for 18 month so he fills out. This is what my breeder told me.