My new dog

[Halfpass]

After posting about wanting a new dog I had a phone call from a friend who had a friend that new of a black lab for sale. Called the person and she bred him and sold him as a puppy but his new owners circumstances changed so had to give him back. He is 10 months old and is called Benji, i picked him up yesterday and he is just a darling.
Here he is

And a very muddy one after out first proper walk

We have quite a bit of training to do but the basics are there. He will sit and comes to call (unless there is another dog involved) Will be starting obedience training in a couple of weeks once he has settled in. He also is not castrated and i'm unsure about getting him done. What are peoples views on this?

 

[PiebaldHorse]

Please only get him done if you want to get it done, none of my dogs were done and lived to very old.

If you arent going to breed, there are a good few females around your area or your fence isnt overally secure, then yes get him done.

Ive an old german shepherd, hes never been fixed and he runs about like a puppy! I am very good friends with staff in our local pet shop and I know that one of them got their rottweiler fixed, but there was complications and the dog now has a disability.

Many people will say yes, get it done. However my mum and neighbour has kept dogs all their life, not one was ever fixed.

Lovely dog BTW, my friend has a chocolate lab, and is so lovely. Does it have its injections etc?

 

[alec]

He looks like a dog for life and he should remain a 'he' for life !

Don't be brow beaten into having him castrated because it will change him both physically and mentally.

You are obviously going to give him a secure , well balanced and sensible home so your dog isn't going to cause any problems for any other dog keeper.

I have four border terriers . I have a brother and sister, his mother and wife. I hope you can follow the relationship .

Instead of having the dog castrated I felt so strongly about the subject, that I paid for him to have a vascectomy.
He still has his normal male dog looks and personality and there has been no problems.
If I only kept a male dog , I wouldn't even have considered taking that step.

I know that there is probably going to be a whole load of pseudo experts trying to shoot my views down ( perhaps not ) but I speak without an axe to grind and with 40 odd years of practical dog keeping !

 

[prose]

It depends.

I live in NYC and we frequent the dog parks here. On average, my dog mingles and plays with 100-200 new dogs every week; the unfixed males are always starting fights or bearing the brunt of an unneutered male's aggression. So, if he's going to come into contact with a lot of dogs, it would be wise to have him done. Not adding to the dog population problem would be motivation enough for me.

My friend's Boxer developed serious prostate issues recently -- all of which could have been prevented had he been fixed earlier on in life. So, it's not like leaving his dangly bits on will guarantee good health.

And as for breeding, please, leave it to the experts who are willing to fork out for health tests, compete in trials/conformation, source a good bitch etc. etc.

 

[KJJ]

Aww he's gorgeous.. lucky you and lucky him

Sure you'll both have lots of fun... looks like he's already started!!

 

[Halfpass]

seems to be many mixed views about castration. Have just been talking to my Dad and I didn't realise that the dog I had as a child was never fixed and he never caused any problems and lived to the ripe old age of 14 (not bad for a lab). My boy has very good breeding and his breeder said that if I hadn't come along that she would have kept him for breeding purposes and that if I kept him entire that she could put me in touch with people that may want to use him (said she will also advise me as I have no idea on this subject!!) Def won't get him done for a while as I want him to settle in first.

 

[Cobnut1]

If you don't intend to breed then yes get him done... there is always a possibility, that an un-castrated dog will start a fight over a bitch with another male dog. They can also become dominant in the household, and getting him castrated will quieten him down.

Piebaldhorse who says none of her (his?) dogs have been done sounds like they have had dogs for many years and are experienced handlers.

It is rare that they're are complications during this proceedure, although all anasthesure carry a risk.

I have never known a dog to become disabled through this, but that's not to say it's impossible.

Also, there is a possibilty of prostate cancer in his later years, if you choose to leave them be.....

Please check out the pro's and con's before you decide....your vet should be able to help.

If you intend to show him at breed classes, I'm afraid you will have to keep him as an Entire...

He's a fine looking dog!!!