When did you nueter?

J

Jeff

Forums Regular
I'm curious when everyone here nurtered their boys and why? I know some vets and owners are ademenet at doing it around 5-6 months before a dog learns to mark and such but then there's the debate about lack of bone mass and other issues if it's done to early and I've also heard if you nueter you male sheltie to early he won't develop as nice a coat as he would if you waited until he was a year.
So I'm just trying to get the general consensus here on when and why you neutered when you did to help me in my decision. Thanks
 
Jeff, I have always had my guys done between 6 and 7 months old. I know this subject has a lot of different "takes", but my own experience is that my guys have grown up with no difference in bone structure/strength or coat from dogs who were not neutered until older or not at all.

Trini
 
Watson was done at 11.5 months. He does not mark and doesn't even lift his left to pee.... unless there's a polar vortex and lots of snow, but that tripod action is a different story. :winkgrin:
 
The only thing I can add is that my shepherd mix, Shay, was neutered by a shelter at 2-1/2 months. I got him at 12 weeks. While I did not allow early neuter to be a deal breaker to keep me from this wonderful soul, he is extremely long-legged. He's probably a good 1-2 inches taller than would be natural for his mix. Will this ever affect us? Don't know, he is only 3-1/2 years now. I do know that it makes me not do certain things with him in a long-term protective manner. Oh, he never lifted the leg until a year ago when my spayed female sheltie came. Now he has 3 pee points in the dog area. He has never marked in the house or another building.
 
I aim for a year and above. Ruutu has yet to be neutered, though he does mark (but we were able to fix it). He will probably get neutered either this summer (2015) or next. It helps that my husband is off in the summer time. His dad and brother just got neutered this week.
 
I had my only male sheltie done at just over 6 months. He came from champion agility lines and it showed, could he ever run and jump! I love my sweet little Hanna, but Blue was one in a million. I don't think there will ever be another dog like him for me, he's been gone 12 years now and I still miss him. He was incredibly sensitive ( knew if my kids were sick before I did), had the most amazing coat, and sweetest temperament. I free fed him and he was never overweight, and had beautiful teeth. So far as I can tell the early neuter had no impact on him. He never did lift a leg or try to hump anything.
 
I got Missy spayed at 6 months and I really regret it. There haven't been any consequences so far, but I wish I would have waited until she was a year old. I didn't realize at the time that most people with performance dogs prefer to wait until their dogs are a year old or so before spaying/neutering to allow growth plates to close. So I don't know if that will ever cause any issues with Missy in her flyball career.. it's possible she'll be fine. My next dog, regardless of male or female (I kinda want a male though), I will be waiting until they are at least a year old. But this is only because I'm hooked on flyball so my plan is to find another Sheltie who will do flyball.. or agility.. can I just clone Missy? Because that would work too.
 
Edan was 7 months old when I brought him home and he was neutered shortly thereafter; around 8 months. Given I do performance events, the next dog I get will be neutered after they are a year old to ensure proper development.
 
I have 2 males. Skyler who is 10 was neutered at 6 months old the other, Dusty, is 5 and is still intact. I do see a difference in the 2. Skyler is longer in leg (for his height) and has less coat, where Dusty, even though he is taller, his legs are more to proportion. He also has a much thicker coat, which I don't know if that is more due to genetics or not.

Both lift their legs to pee, Dusty does mark, outside only, but with training he doesn't mark while we are walking unless I give him permission.

And yes he is housed with intact females. Never had any accidental breedings!

I personally will never neuter a male again unless it is medically necessary
 
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