Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:53 pm Post subject: Early castration - your views?
Indy is just over 6 months old now and I'm thinking about getting him 'done' at 7 months old. I've not completely decided yet and would really like to hear from anyone that has any views on getting him done so early.
Does anyone think it is too early, and if so why?
Is it likely to have an adverse effect on his growth at all?
I met another choc lab owner out the other day and I asked how long it was until their lab stopped jumping up at people. He said that most of the jumping stopped after 'the chop'.
Has anyone else experienced their dog calming down a few months after castration or is it the case that the dog is growing up and calming down anyway?
I wouldn't like to comment on whether it will have a calming effect and stop any jumping up, as I can't see how removing the testosterone can do that. I will say though, that if I had a male dog I would get him castrated before the hormones have a chance to get hold, so around 7-8 months old. All Guide dog pups are castrated at that age and I can't see them doing that if there was any problems with growth, maturity etc.
We had Danny castrated at 6 months - we always intended to have him 'done' and basically took the view - "why wait"... he had no adverse reaction to the sugery and was as bouncy when we picked him up that evening as he was the in the morning when I dropped him off
All dogs are different however, and some dogs will be slightly groggy for a day or so as the aneasthetic wears off...
Danny is very boisterous (he is 13 months old) and unfortunately ( ) we hasn't changed one little bit since being castrated... it certainly hasn't calmed him down any - he is still extremely excitable and still jumping up on people and dogs (although we are trying to remedy this through training ), so don't pin any hopes on castration calming any silly behaviour, the only thing it may do is calm him in relation to any sexual behaviour i.e. humping etc.
everybody has ther eown veiws on the so called *right age* for a spay/castration
even vets are different some will do it early some will do it late
its up to you
the calming down afterwards may just be the bullish antics the male dog shows.. i dont think it would affect jumping i know rosze is female but she was spayed and on tehodd occasion she will still jump up..
charlei he has had teh chop years ago he jumps up..lol.. he is a looney..
with age yes they may calm down im saying may because charlie is 8 and well he a nut pmsl...
Charlie was castrated at nine months old, and that was about a year and a half ago now. If I could have my time again then I would probably do it a month or two earlier
It certainly hasn't stopped him jumping up. He did stop humping the kids and me, but he will still hump other dogs, both male and female. For me it has given me peace of mind because I now know he cannot sire any unwanted litters.
It had no effect at all on his growth. He grew beautifully.
I had Bailey castrated at 11 months old, the only change i saw was he stopped humping everything and he did calm down a bit, this could be just conincidence, but he never cocked his leg before and he still doesn't now. I honestly don't now whether this is due to the castration or he is a dog that just doesn't **** his leg
We had Charlie done at 9 months and he has suffered no affects from it - he is another lazy boy who doesnt **** his leg
Paddy is 7 months now and we are starting to think about getting him done - he has never been a humper so we dont have to consider stopping that, but he does go off on a scent and hopefully (fingers tightly crossed) that might stop
Maxi was castrated at 8 months old and it was the best thing I ever did(apart from getting him) there was none of the hormonal problems
Harley will be booked in, in a couple of months at the same age for his "chop" I'd highly recomend it
Rolo was done at 9 months.He doesnt jump up at anyone well only people he knows but he always has to greet everyone and pull me off my feet,this has never changed.What I will say is he is a lovely calm dog in the house so laid back.
Firstly, Castration will not make one iota of difference to any behaviour not linked to sex. It cannot. All it will do is reduce the sex hormone. Yes he may calm a little, but ONLY BECAUSE HE IS GETTING OLDER! The thoughts of castration as a calming influance is so far out of date, it simply does not happen like that.
Saying this, dont get me wrong, I am not against neutering, all of my dogs have been at some time during their life. But for the reasons above, unless you are looking at something like sexual agression, there is no rush. And with that In mind, I would not be thinking about it until he is a minimum of 18 months old.
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) we hasn't changed one little bit since being castrated... it certainly hasn't calmed him down any - he is still extremely excitable and still jumping up on people and dogs (although we are trying to remedy this through training 
), so don't pin any hopes on castration calming any silly behaviour, the only thing it may do is calm him in relation to any sexual behaviour i.e. humping etc.
