Chester all clear!! Wooo! Thank you everyone xx

_Suzy_ · Last edited by _Suzy_ on Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:48 am; edited 10 times in total

Chester is booked in to have his plums off tomorrow...

I have always had dogs, but he is the first dog to be castrated...

My original plan was to arrange said snip snip when he was 18 months old...

He is now 15 months old, and booked early due to increased sexual behaviour, getting worse.

Have spent many hours reading up... but need my mind put at rest... (read various articles which have raised some alarm bells about age)

So, at what age did you have your boy snipped?

Was all well? Not under developed? Low muscle tone? Hair not fallen out? Weak bones? Weak muscles? You can see I have been reading lots of bad things about it lately!

Please put my mind at rest... I am a worryer, and have read too much lately!

P.S. Chester is already practising his position for tomorrow morning! Laughing

Also, did anyone feel 'bad' about doing it? As I have never castrated any of my dogs before, as never had the need to.. Laughing

Scubabe · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject:

I always castrate dogs which are not going to be used at stud - it is far kinder on THEM.... I am not doing it for myself, but for the dog. Remember that!! He'll never appreciate exactly how kind you are being to him, but he will be a much happier pooch when the scent of the bitch down the road in season isn't driving him mental any more.

Ozzie was about 22 months when we got him done - I wanted him to finish maturing first, and he was quite slow to fill out. If he had shown any unwanted sexual behaviours we would have had him done earlier, but he never did.

Good luck for tomorrow! I'm sure he'll be fine!!

Ness

_Suzy_ · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks Ness..

Thats why I wanted to do it at 18 months, so he was fully matured.. but, the behavour has got pretty bad now.

He hasn't filled out at all yet, and is a very 'scrawny' looking lab..

Topseyt · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject:

Charlie was 9 months old when he was done. He has grown up nicely, is muscular and toned, has strong bones as far as I know, and has not gone bald yet. Laughing

The only thing he doesn't have is a pair of furry plums. Laughing

Chester will be fine, although I remember feeling just as guilty as you in the run up to Charlie's castration. Sad

Helen.

Scubabe · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

Right, well if the behaviour is that bad then I'd do it now, no qualms.

There is absolutely nothing to say that if you have him castrated now, he won't finish maturing - he might just take longer Smile

What sort of "really bad sexual behaviours" are you referring to? A little bit of occassional play humping? Or something much, much more?

Ness

_Suzy_ · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks Helen.. I was fine when I rang up and booked him in!! but now its tomorrow, I am feeling pretty bad, and keep find reasons to wait, and then not to wait... He is relying on me to make the right decision, yet I am struggling to be 100% grrrrrrrrr

_Suzy_ · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject:

He has been bothering bitches, and doesn't take no for answer, and has come away with some nasty bites..

He has become very dominant with Missy (placid laid back rotty)..

He has become very agressive..

Seems over excited and aggitated when around females..

Constantly scent marking, even indoors..

When out and about, the dogs can clearly smell him, and try to put him in his place, but he comes away wounded!

Hairs on the back of his neck stand up, tail completly upright, and growls and snarls..

All of the above he has NEVER done before, and it is becoming worse...

So do you think the above warrents this done early (earlier than 18months) or would you persevere?

oscabosca · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

Sorry nothing to add just wanted to say how lovely it is to see him fast asleep with Missy.

And hope all goes well tomorrow.

new-lab-recruit · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

I have had three male dogs before and they were all done at 6 months which seems really young after reading your post. I worked for a vets surgery at the time and they suggested this was the earliest possible time to have them done (small breeds obviously mature faster than labs). All three were typical loopy terriers and I hoped it would calm them down - it only worked for one of them !
Thing is I never intended to breed from them so just wanted to get it over with as early as poss.
Loving the picture of Chesters plums, maybe you can keep it to show him when he is older and sans danglers Very Happy

Joal · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject:

Alfie was done at six months, and I have never regretted it for a second. It took him no time at all to recover and he has grown into a very handsome young lad who doesn't pester the ladies or scent mark.

Now if you asked my husband you would get a completely different response...why do they take it so personally?