Question: Should I neuter my healthy intact 13 month old Belgian Malinois?

We've a healthy male Belgian Malinois 13 mths old intact. He did pup classes & then advance classes (conformation). 1 hr sessions was a bit much for him & he was getting bored. We chose to work on his reactivity(kids on skateboards in our street, balls & walks) & do 1 on 1 training, with great results.

We don't let him off leash; his recall now is zero. He's on a retractable leash for the 'free' moments. We train him at home or take him on training walks (short leash). He is crated & not allowed on furniture anywhere. He's not to meet other dogs unless we know them; not easy with other off leash dogs.

We switched to a raw diet as his stools never firmed on kibble. He is an incredibly loving & clever dog.

Neutering - we're undecided , & if we do, when is the right age. He has rear dew (loose) claws that need removing. Vet is not pushing, but brings up future health issues & other dog aggression towards him.

We'd like him to have freedom with us & maybe do tracking or S&R on day.

Leerburg's Answer:

Have you owned working breeds like a german shepherd or a malinois before? When working with trainers and obedience classes, I would look for a trainer or sport club that regularly works with this breed.

I'd recommend checking out our Leash Reactivity bundle: Leash Reactivity and Loose Leash Walking Bundle and Training Your Dog to Come When Called course to build a better recall.

As far as neutering goes we don't recommend spaying/neutering unless medically necessary. If you do neuter, we would recommend waiting until full maturity. Check out this article on our website about the effects of neutering.