neutering or not?

[Beckysmom]

Just in case the readers here are different than on the other forums, and missed this discussion, does anyone have any opinions on neutering vs. not neutering for a dog where the training goal is to have a working dog? In this case, there is no desire to breed the dog.

[lblax]

it does not effect there working or training abilities to be nuetered, mine is neutered hasnt affected him at all. but you will find as many opinions on this as there are people to give them you'll just have to make the desicion yourself

[Ramon]

One of the hardest biting and hardest hitting dogs we ever had in our Schutzhund club was a rescued American Bulldog who was neutered. I don't know when he was neutered. He was 110 pounds, lean and muscular, had a big head, and lots of drive. Neutering obviously had no effect on this dog's working ability. It might have had a calming effect on his ability to socialize with other male dogs. His owner rescued other dogs, and this dog reportedly got along with another large male at home.

[lblax]

http://www.petsmart.com/articles/article_5768.shtml

[Mick Trainer]

How big an effect neutering a dog will have on his temperament will depend on the individual dog. It is not right to say it will have no effect, nor that it will have a massive effect. The true facts are that it depends on the dog and thus it is impossible to say what will happen to your boy and how it will effect his ability to do the work.

For me if you keep the dog confined and you have no free roaming entire bitches that he can get access too, if he is young and healthy, I see no reason to have him neutered until you see how he is going with the work. I cannot really see neutering him helping with his work and there is a risk that it may work against you. In the end no one really knows for sure how much influence the hormones play in the desire to bite. Chances are not much but no one really knows for sure.

Mick.

[DNeff]

I waited until my guy was 3 1/2 before I neutered him. I saw absolutely no drop in work ethic afterwards.

What I did see was an improvement in is ability to read other dog's signals and body cues. He was never very adept at reading these signals and I saw a very noticeable improvement in a very short time. I was shocked at how obvious the change was.

I consider neutering a real benifit to his training career. He is able to focus more on me and is less distracted and "keyed up" while we are working. His drive has not been diminished at all.

Hope that helps.

Dawn
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