I posted this question on the Working Dog forum and got some mixed comments so I thought I would post it here to see what you guys think.
I have a four month old pup and am debating whether or not I want to get him neutered. I don't see any reason to since I have no intentions of breeding him and he isn't showing any signs of dominance at all. He comes from a long line of mountain dogs and according to the breeder, all of the dogs had and have a very calm, easy going temperament. The pup's mom is a pure Bernese Mountain dog and his dad is a pure Great Pyrenees. The parents and other siblings were on property when I picked up my puppy and they were very gentle, never barked at me and greeted me nicely.
I watched the dogs interact with other breeds that were there and these big dogs were so gentle with them. Gordi is the same way. He loves other animals, loves everyone he meets, will lay on his back easily and just wants to slobber all over everyone.
The only thing I am concerned about and not sure if it IS a concern is with my neutered adult male. Koda lets the pup lick his mouth but snarls at Gordi when Gordi wants to play. Koda is pretty much grumpy towards all the dogs.
Do you think keeping Gordi intact will create any issues with Koda?
I'm not concerned about Gordi leaving the yard to find females in heat because my dogs don't go outside without my supervision.
Thanks in advance.

Sandra,
Here is an interesting article on the subject:
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

thank you for that link, it was very enlightening. I wish I had researched this prior to having one of my females spayed. Two of my dogs are rescues and were sterilized before I aquired them. I have decided not to have Gordi neutured. Since he is a large breed dog, I think leaving him intact would be more beneficial to his health overall.

Sandra, I replied to your other post also. I really liked the article posted by Karen. It's similar to the one I posted for you. I'd say, don't worry about it right now. Enjoy Gordi and see how things progress. Either way, I'd not neuter him till at least 3 yrs old. I think with a SUPER RESPONSIBLE owner, it's not a factor because there will be NO ooops litters and having to answer to the lives of 7-10 pups. If it were me, I'd wait till he's 3, look for a vet to do a vasectomy, and if it will help eliminate testicular cancer, neuter him at an older age.

Alex, if you know for certain that you aren't going to breed the dog, why wait till he's an adult to do the vasectomy? - surgery is much harder on a dog the older he is and vasectomizing as a pup won't change hormone levels at all, so he'll still grow up naturally. And if you wait till 3 anyway, why do the vasectomy at all, unless you can't be 100% sure that the dog won't breed for the rest of it's life?

I think if you're a truly responsible owner and you want to leave your dog intact, just leave the dog intact and don't bother with the vasectomy - it's an uneccessary surgery if you can prevent breeding through owner control. JMO

~Natalya

thanks everyone for your helpful advise. I think I will do the wait and see thing.
What about any issues with the other male dog that IS neutured? Do you think there will be any? Gordi is active submissive but Koda certainly isn't!

 Quote: sandra faye johnson

What about any issues with the other male dog that IS neutured? Do you think there will be any?

No, I don't think there will be any.

 Quote: sandra faye johnson

I have no intentions of breeding him

I have no idea about medical information on neutering but if you are not intending to breed there shouldent be any need for him to remain intact. Of course there always exceptions.


Just my humble opinion.

 Quote: sandra faye johnson

thanks everyone for your helpful advise. I think I will do the wait and see thing.
What about any issues with the other male dog that IS neutured? Do you think there will be any? Gordi is active submissive but Koda certainly isn't!

Wait and see is the perfect thing for right now - he's only a little guy still!!

As for your other dog - as long as the new pup is submissive, there shouldn't be a problem. If anything changes in adolescence and the pup begins to challenge Koda, you *might* encounter issues. Testosterone could fuel certain dominance behaviors in the pup (if he is inclined anyway, which it sounds like he isn't ) and if that happens, combined with the fact that Gordi SMELLS like an intact dog (I believe hormones effect the way dogs view each other through smell), Koda may well feel challenged. BUT this is all part of the wait and see, so let time tell how the newbie will mature, and how the two sort things out between them. Chances are, you'll be ok, but if not, you can always neuter later...

~Natalya

thanks for your advise. that's a good looking dog you have there Natalya!