Okay. Well I actually don't have my puppy yet, he's still with the breeder. I have already called my vet to make an appointment and asked when she recommend a dog get neutered and she said normally around 6 months. She hasn't actually seen my puppy yet though.Rescues routinely neuter at 12 weeks and even younger. If your vet is saying to wait until 6 months it's not a bad idea to go with their opinion as they know your dog and your dog's health better than we do.
IMO, it's best to wait until the dog is fully grown.
Because in a year or two I may get a female dog and frankly I don't want them having puppies.Best age: Never.
Why do you want to neuter him? There are some good reasons, but 'Everybody else does' or 'the Vet says so' are poor reasons.
Thanks for posting that link. I have always thought it was really easy neutering a male dog and didn't realize it could cause so many problems. I may be getting a female dog in a couple of years though. I am definitely now considering to not neuter Oliver, and if I get a female later on I may just get her spayed since it seems safer than the neuter.I like this blog and the article they are talking about
http://rufflyspeaking.wordpress.com...r-as-close-to-the-real-story-as-i-can-get-it/
Honestly, I'd fix them both. As I've said, the health risks are minimal either way and benefits (population control) are huge. Peppy will probably tell you not to get the female spayed either I would guess, but I'm not going to put words in his mouth. In any case, I don't have to worry about either of my neutered males smelling a female in heat somewhere in the tri-state area and doing everything in their power to get to her and possibly not having a clue how to get home once they do. It's just one less thing I have to worry about. I try to keep my life uncomplicated.Because in a year or two I may get a female dog and frankly I don't want them having puppies.
Thanks for posting that link. I have always thought it was really easy neutering a male dog and didn't realize it could cause so many problems. I may be getting a female dog in a couple of years though. I am definitely now considering to not neuter Oliver, and if I get a female later on I may just get her spayed since it seems safer than the neuter.
A vet is a medical professional, unlike myself and the majority of the posters. They should know about animal health but I wouldn't assume they know more about a specific dog's health in a situation like this. Most vets have a standard age at which they will alter. Your dog might have never been in their office for them to tell you this. Therefore they'd really know nothing about the dog's health. My vet, like the OP's vet, won't s/n until 6 months of age, of which the receptionist will actually inform people when they call to ask. 3 vets can have 3 different answers on it.Rescues routinely neuter at 12 weeks and even younger. If your vet is saying to wait until 6 months it's not a bad idea to go with their opinion as they know your dog and your dog's health better than we do.
IMO, it's best to wait until the dog is fully grown.
Ack, my grandpa's Lab (Grandpa WOULDN'T neuter him, you'd think it was his own we were talking about!), when he was about 13 1/2 years old, around 6 months before he died---couldn't walk well, was nearly deaf, had cataracts in both eyes---was let out to pee (doesn't need a leash if he can't walk.....right?) and took off. A few hours later they got a phone call from someone who lived 5 miles away, had a bitch in heat, and Boomer wouldn't go away. I guess even if they can't see or hear, their noses still work, huh? Poor dog. His life really would have been better if he had been neutered.In any case, I don't have to worry about either of my neutered males smelling a female in heat somewhere in the tri-state area and doing everything in their power to get to her and possibly not having a clue how to get home once they do.
) and with the male, well, Willowy's post says it all.
Well I will tell you right now, even if I don't end up getting him neutered he will not be getting the chance to procreate. Even his time in the back yard will be monitored since he is a smaller dog. I don't trust large birds or coyotes that could jump the fence... and every time he goes outside with me for walks he will be on collar and leash. It irks me that there are many people that don't care and just let their dogs run around town or they are silly enough to have a male and female dog in the same house that are both intact.I do recommend all pets be spayed or neutered, simply for population control. But it is not my decision and I don't think it should be forced. Education and weighing of the pros and cons and then looking at what does the GREATER good is key.
The ideal there is admirable. I think the majority of people don't get dogs thinking that they're just going to turn them loose to roam the neighborhood at will. There may be some dogs that go to farms where this is the plan, but in most cases, that's just not the case. The thing is that when you think about it, it's next to impossible (IMHO several people on here will disagree with me I'm sure) to control the movements of your dog 24/7/365 for 10-15 year period.Well I will tell you right now, even if I don't end up getting him neutered he will not be getting the chance to procreate. Even his time in the back yard will be monitored since he is a smaller dog. I don't trust large birds or coyotes that could jump the fence... and every time he goes outside with me for walks he will be on collar and leash. It irks me that there are many people that don't care and just let their dogs run around town or they are silly enough to have a male and female dog in the same house that are both intact.
