Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject: to castrate or not. help please
george is the most wonderful laid back choc lab ever. everyone comments how laid back he is, he isnt manic or mad nor does he hump everything in sight. he is 9 months old. vet in london says to get him done but the vet in country says dont worry until he is a nuisance. he has started becoming remarkably deaf when i call him if there is a bitch around so am now thinking about getting him done. he hasnt started to **** his leg yet. i really could do with advice on what to do for the best.
can anyone help thanks NIna n George
If Gorge doesn`t hump everything that moves then I`d wait a little while longer, at 9 months he`s not quite mature yet and to wait another few months shouldn`t do any harm, unless at the vet says he becomes a nuisance, I was told by a breeder that the best time to neuter was around 18 months.
As for the going deaf in the vicinity of females I think this could be more testing you out, if you call him once and he doesn`t come, go to him, put him on lead and take him away, this should hopefully get the message thru that what you say goes, it may take a while though
He is starting to get deaf because he is 9 months old! Castrating him won't make this behaviour any better! You need to re-affirm all your training and make sure he understand that recall means recall. He has reached the age where he is taking the P!
Castration will only (maybe!) help reduce unwanted sexual behaviour. It won't necessarily stop him lifting his leg either.
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Mary and Fee have it right. There is no good reason for castrating a dog who is no problem, if you dont want to. (And it's your choice, not your vets!) So saying, I've always had my males nutered when I had males, but prefered to leave it to nearer 18 months old to give them time to grow up.
thanks for your answers. i met someone in the park in london today who said it was irresponsible not to have him done as he could run off after a bitch. i did understand where he was coming from as there isnt that much danger in the country where we walk. so dilemma do i get him done or not. i couldnt bear to lose him through my inaction or indecision.
I had Hudson intact till he was 20 months. Never once did he run after a bitch so far I couldn't get him back! On both side of our house... 2 house down and 2 houses up, 2 bitches in each house!!!! Both of the boys stand outside and waft the air, but have never been compelled to leg it after the lovely ladies!
It is highly unlikely you would let that happen - seriously the dog is more likely to run away if he wasn't being watched by you. So if you are in the habit of leaving him where he can get out on his own for any period of time and he legs it, then THATS irresponsible. Having an intact dog is not an irresponsible thing! Taking and in season bitch out to public places... now THAT is irresponsible!
Some people are just full of it! Tell the person to mind there own business!!! Work on recall in lots of different situations and have confidence that you are in control of him!
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I waited until Jet was 20 months before I "had him done" it gave him time to grow up and at 3 he's a very well balanced dog and I thoroughly enjoy his company.
Castration won't make or solve behavioural problems, ( that's what training is for ) Castration will prevent accidental matings, not your problem a the dog owner but thoughtful of you for all the bitch owners out there
we decided to get Max neutered at 13 months,he was not aggressive or humping anyone ,but he did start to ignore our commands around a bitch,he was neutered 9 weeks ago ,and it is the best decision we made ,he is a pleasure to walk ,and his recall has improved,he still c**ks his leg as well. His post op recovery was only 2 days as well, his stitches healed well ,but he had to be walked on a lead for 2 weeks which was a nightmare.I think sometimes the hormones overide the training commands.
good luck with your decision
thank you so much for your advice. i think i have decided to be firmer with training and recall issues and not give in so easily. i really dont want to get him done just yet anyway as other than ignorning me (occassionally) he is just lovely.
thanks all for your advice.
just to add,
Ben came to me at 14 months totally out of control with humping,
& i still didnt get him castrated till he was 18months just did lots of training with him
as others & u have agreed its best to wait till they mature,
& to be honest Bitch owners of bitches in heat should not be walking their dogs in busy dog walking parks,
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) Castration will prevent accidental matings, not your problem a the dog owner but thoughtful of you for all the bitch owners out there
