Dog Neutering

[ecrozier]

Not all entire dogs are going to sire a litter if the owner is responsible and keeps the dog from roaming and under control.If I could not fulfill this I would neuter my dog. All my females have ,and will be spayed.
Thie male I do have is my first after decades of having females. Myboy ,now 17 m,has never lifted a leg indoors,humped or roamed.He is a sensitive character and I understand he needs his hormones to have his confidence and reach his physical maturity before I ever consider neutering. As he is ,I am happy to leave him entire.

a cat is not under your control...seasons are too frequent...unwanted .pregnancy is very likely thus I would spay a cat.
a horse is too big to control(entire stallion) so gelding is more practical to manage..
Every dog is different...temperaments differ,breeds differ,timing of maturity and growth rates will differ...so depending on all factors only the owner can decide whether neutering is best for the male.
re females,I believe at least one season,better two are recommended to allow the female to mature physically and mentally before she is spayed.I do not believe any female needs a litter before she is spayed.

.....,,,

f Burton's link is excellent..the vet says everything I am trying to say,only better...well worth a read.

Exactly this - my previous dog was neutered young by his original owner. He died of bone cancer. My current dog is now 18 months old and as yet I've had no cause to have him neutered. Like the poster above's dog he's a fairly sensitive soul and easily scared so needs all the testosterone he can get. I am unconvinced of the health benefits for neutering dogs (would absolutely spey a female tho due to the risk of pyometria), and won't be putting him through surgery when I feel there is little long term benefit. However if he started to stray or show interest in bitches, I would consider it. Interestingly I walked with a friend who only mentionned on arrival that she thought her lab was about to come on heat - he briefly showed that kind of interest but a sharp 'no' a couple of times sorted him out so he's obviously not that bothered!

 

[cyberhorse]

I have one neutered male and one entire. I kept my first dog entire as he lacks a little confidence around other dogs and our trainer at his class suggested he was better left entire. He does not show any form of frustration and can be around females without any issue, he will get excited if he picks up the scent of a female in season but he will accept being told no and then distracted. Our other dog is neutered, he was chemically castrated at first to check his behaviour. All was fine so when it wore off he was surgically castrated. Out of the two dogs it is the neutered dog that humps other dogs, cats, legs, doormats...

I guess I am just trying to say that there is actually no right way or wrong way it depends on the individual dog. I also think chemical castration if you can afford to go this route first is fantastic as it lets you see how the behaviour will change or not in the absence of the testosterone.