[Bunwalla]

We have a 7-year old intact Great Pyrenees/Lab male. It is my understanding with large/giant breeds that, if possible, you should wait until the dog matures (around 2 years old) before neutering to make sure his bones develop properly with the necessary hormones. By the time our dog matured, we didn't think we needed to put him through the surgery as he is a house dog with a very secure backyard. We also have a 6-year-old spayed female mixed breed. They get along great and neither has shown any aggression other than barking at dogs walking down the street. Now we are wanting to add a Great Pyrenees puppy to our family and my question is - do we get a male or a female? Also, do we get the puppy spayed or neutered right away? I don't want to harm its development - but I also don't want a pregnancy or dog fights. I'd appreciate advice. Thanks!

 

[parus]

I'd get the 7 year old neutered so you don't need to worry about the pup, male or female. Intact senior male dogs can have some health problems that are preventable by neutering, so there's a benefit to neutering the older guy, while there's a benefit to leaving the pup intact at least until full grown.

 

[JohnnyBandit]

I'd get the 7 year old neutered so you don't need to worry about the pup, male or female. Intact senior male dogs can have some health problems that are preventable by neutering, so there's a benefit to neutering the older guy, while there's a benefit to leaving the pup intact at least until full grown.

I disagree...... The OP knows what they have temperament wise right now..... Neutering might cause his behavior to change.... Especially if you end up adding an intact male pup....

Old age health issues related to intact males.... Testicular cancer..... But not common and if an owner is paying attention to their dogs, it is caught early and EASILY handled.

 

[sydneynicole]

I think this largely is a decision only you can make based on the temperament of your dogs. I have a couple thoughts for you to consider

-There's a saying that males fight for breeding rights, bitches fight for breathing rights

-You don't necessarily have to make any decisions immediately. You could see how things go and then go from there. Intact males can live together, depending on the individual dogs.

-Most people will spay their females once they are done developing as there are some health concerns for intact females (pyometra being a scary one of them). So you would only have to manage having an intact male and female for a short time.

-From owning a Great Pyrenees who read the book about how to be a Pyr, it's true that females can have issues with other female dogs. My Pyr was spayed and she was starting fights with our other female up until we had to put her down, often drawing blood. Our other dog never instigated and never fought back. But our female Pyr was super dominant towards her - if she cried because someone stepped on her tail or paw, our Pyr would race over and pick a fight. Conversely, she never had a problem with our small, intact male dog, who often times was outright rude to her.

Do with that what you will - you know your dogs best.

 

[JohnnyBandit]

There is really no magic formula.....

And anytime you add a dog to a home that already has a dog in it, there is a chance they will not get along....

 

[lad20050620]

To OP I have two male dogs both are intact. I prefer not to have my dogs neutered. I don't like how it affects their health. (just my opinion) I have never had any dog fights EVER. I have even had an intact female and never ended up with any accidental pregnancies. I don't really think you would need to have either or spayed/neutered. Now again this is my opinion and what I do and have done since owning dogs. About the sex of the dog. It doesn't really matter. I have introduced females and males before and they didn't get along and vice versa. It really just depends on your dogs and also the sex of the dog you are wanting. I have seen aggressive males with females, aggressive females with males. I have seen male vs male aggression and female vs female aggression. It would really just depend on the dogs.

 

[3GSD4IPO]

If you already have a female add a male. Females can decide to hate each other and then must be separated. There is a saying: Males fight for breeding rights. Females fight for breathing rights.

 

[lad20050620]

@3GSD4IPO Well said... I would say male but I have had both situations. Sometimes my females hate each other and sometimes the males hate each other. Like I said it just depends on the dog. But I would still get a male.