Neutering question

Hi

We have recently welcomed a nearly 5 mo staffy pup into our home and was wondering if anyone can advise when is the best time to have him neutered.

Ive been told by our vet from about 6 mo, but he has just started puppy training classes and the lady (who is also a dog behaviouralist) has said no way.... wait until he's about 10 mo to a year.. wait until he's cocking his leg, she said...

hhmm he is already doing that (with a little help from the garden wall lol)

any advice greatly appreciated

thanks

speak to your vet but its recommended around aged 2 or depending when your dog fully matures

thank you

Ive just been browsing the forum and saw other posts regarding this.... seems 18 months is the general consensus..... that seems like a good idea.

my previous staffies (dog and bitch) I had the bitch done, purely because they were brother and sister.

ah bless no easy with male and female in the same house

most vets recommend from 5 or 6 months, but tgey don't tell you the drawbacks!

it's better to wait for full physical & mental maturity so that your dog benefits from the hormones that give him self confidence.

I would personally wait until his body is more mature, 18 months/2yrs

thank you all for your replies.

I shall definately wait until he's at least 18 months old then

This is a good question, I have been asking the same for my 5 month Frenchie. My vet has said can do anytime from now. I asked my dog trainer and she said she doesn't agree with it until they are fully matured. When I asked the reasons she said that if they are neutered too early it can confuse them as to what sex they are and this can cause problems with other dogs. Don't know how true that is but it was interesting to hear a different opinion. I too am going to leave it as long as possible.

You have to be prepared for the fact that people can and do let bitches in heat into parks off lead.

I also lost count of how many times I got asked if I wanted to breed Gizmo when they saw he was still intact.
Plus, given where I live I was dead scared someone would steal him as a fighting dog and thought (wrongly or rightly) that a neutered dog would be less of a target.

I had the same problem with young lads coming up and asking if I would be interested in breeding him that I could make a nice bit of money. I told them not interested he getting neutered. Also I adopted him from the ispca and signed a form to say I would get him done at 6mths and he's grand well adjusted social able puppy I've no problem with him,

Hi, I got bruno neutered at 6 months and he's been fine, mind he does sometimes still squat or cock his leg depends on his mood. My sister left her dog until after 2, and he still has to mark every where. This isn't an issue with bruno. I'm getting a 12 weeks Staffy cross bitch and will b getting her spayed at 7 months old. Hope this helps x

it's all down to personal choice, but everyone should be aware of the cons as well as the pros.

early neutering can and does affect growth, making a dog taller and narrower than it would otherwise have been (and with the stafford that can make for problems if the dog gets identified as a possible pitbull 'type'). it can also stunt the growth of the female genitals which can lead to problems as an adult as the vulva isn't big enough to cope with an adult volume of urine.

a slightly nervous or fearful dog shouldn't be neutered unless absolutely necessary as the lack of hormones can make matters worse.

the likelihood of certain cancers are increased in neutered dogs, and the chances urinary incontinence in later life are greatly increased. coat can be ruined by neutering, although it isn't usually a problem with staffords.

We had Misty spayed after her second season ( just after we got her). My parents had our lab spayed after her first season and she lived until sixteen with no health issues whatsoever. I agree with Goblin, I have seen in heat bitches off lead in the park and also feel a neutered dog is less desirable for thieves.

I do agree re: thieves, although you can't tell whether a bitch has been neutered or not.

after the first season is the earliest I would personally be comfortable with .

I'm not against neutering as such, just neutering too early. I also feel that people are not given the FULL facts by vets - the cons as well as the pros - so that an informed decision can be made.

My vets are of the opinion of as soon as possible, and no they never tell you any drawbacks. It's only speaking to others that I have learned about these drawbacks.

I am gonna leave my boy until he is older unless he becomes a sex pest with Daisy and it causes probs, but so far he is ok.

We have been recommended 6months by the vet (maybe 5mthsdue to his umbilical hernia). But I don't know what is right or wrong.

an umbilical hernia can be repaired without neutering, but vets like to kill two birds with one stone.

however, everyone must make their own decision from available facts & then stick to it. vets will usually advise early neutering because it's 'easier' and stops some health disorders. however they don't tell you that it contributes towards other health disorders. it's a hard decision, whichever choice you make.

I know with my mums dogs her male was neutered at 6mths ish and no problems, however her bitch who was done at the same age has now developed bladder control issues. Is it linked I don't know, but maybe a difference for male and female???

Personal choice our vet advised us to let Harley have his hormones to help with growth Harley nearly 2 and I think thats a good ages as they dont develop muscle until after 1.

My dog's the result of his mum's owner waiting until she'd had her first season and the bitch getting caught. The litter was 13 pups, so if the same thing happened with all of them, that'd be 169 pups in total...

I completely appreciate the health and behavioural risks involved in early neutering, but I can totally see why vets emphasise the benefits.
For me, Gizzy's such a mix I wasn't sure when he'd stop growing, if I'd hnad the option I would have waited until he was one or two, but there are so many un-neutered dogs where I live I just didn't want to take the chance.

The trouble is, I don't really believe that most 'accidental' matings are accidental!