My husband and I are debating whether to have our male dog neutered. We rescued him two months ago and he is now about 11 months. I know general practice indicates we should get him fixed, but I just don't know. It's not that we ever want to breed him, there are just other things I'm concerned about.

Reasons not to:
1. Is he too old for it to make a difference? If this is the case, why put him through it?
2. Will it change his personality?
3. He currently doesn't display any dominant characteristics - no mounting, no aggression. He's a great dog (our only dog, and that's the way it's going to stay).

Reasons to do it (things I've heard, not sure if true):
1. If he ever manages to run away and breed a female, he'll continue searching for that experience even if we neuter him then.
2. He might roam if he smells a female in heat (though we don't let him out by himself as we have no fence).
3. He might learn dominant characteristics down the road?

I don't want to be stupid or selfish. I've just read Ed saying that vets will always tell you to neuter your male dog, even if you don't need to. So, do we need to? Again, to reiterate - we are not planning on ever using him as a stud (though I must say, he's a fantastic and handsome guy).

This may help - Ed's article on neutering.

http://leerburg.com/neuter.htm

He recommends (and I wholeheartedly agree) that all rescue dogs should be neutered. Ed has also stated in his videos that he neuters his retired dogs.

Things you've heard are rumours, mostly. The main reason to neuter is so that you will never be responsible for populating your local shelter. Us rescuers will appreciate that!

To answer your question, behavioural changes in neutering an adult male dog (over 7-8 months old) are still debated, but generally, after puppyhood is over, neutering will not change his behaviour. If done while the dog is a puppy there are growth issues to be concerned about, as well as the dog tends to stay in puppyhood behaviourally. I have had adult dogs neutered and have never noticed a difference. He will still be the same great dog after he is neutered.

It largely depends on your ability to keep him from breeding accidentally. I feel there are way more health risks to neutering than leaving as nature intended, but if you cannot prevent unwanted litters, then neutering AFTER MATURITY is better than allowing unwanted puppies to be born (although I would go so far as to say someone who cannot or will not make 100% effort to keep control of their dog needn't have one...not a popular opinion, but how I honestly feel).

The roaming stuff, IMO, is a bit of a scare tactic. I have 6 dogs; 5 are intact. One was neutered at age 5.5yrs b/c he was cryptorchid. I have never had anyone go off roaming b/c he smelled a bitch in heat. I have 2 intact females, and when they're in heat, the boys are annoying, but honestly that's it. Not uncontrollable, just annoying. I posted a link a few times on here that brought up "devil's advocate" type points on neutering; I will find it and post it if someone else doesn't first.

While it certainly prevents unplanned litters, I think the people in charge of the dog are what makes the biggest difference. Irresponsible people will always exist; unwanted litters will also, therefore, always exist. It's a sad truth, but one that needs to be acknowledged, and I resent the vets who try to push neutering on every animal without thought as to what is right for THAT animal in THAT particular situation. There ARE health risks associated with removing an entire body system; how could there not be? IMHO, people who care enough to research what the best thing to do for the dog (like the OP) are probably not the kind of people who are going to allow a dog to roam and spread his mixed-breed seed. JMO. Neutering is certainly easier than 100% supervision, but not necessarily healthier. I have to be super careful b/c while I have a few dogs who would be just fine if they had an "oops" litter (all bloodlines cross well), I have a female GSD and a male Pit Bull...and I really don't want to have to find homes for Pit/Shep crosses...especially from those two! LOL. But it can definitely be done. If you have only one dog, it's even easier.

Do your homework, and get ALL the info from UNBIASED sources. Then make the best decision you feel you can based on the factual information in front of you.

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
While the title implies it's about early neutering only, there is info. pertaining to neutering at any age.

I forgot to touch on behavior. From the above article: A recent report of the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation reported significantly more behavioral problems in spayed and neutered bitches and dogs. The most commonly observed behavioral problem in spayed females was fearful behavior and the most common problem in males was aggression.(12)

 Quote: Jenni Williams

I think the people in charge of the dog are what makes the biggest difference

I think this cannot be emphasized enough. And you need to be honest about your situation. I opted to have my boy neutered because I was raising him with children and as closely as I watched and supervised; the chance that a door was left ajar or the gate left open was always there.

My dog's line did not have more health issues after neutering, as far as I could determine from the info his breeder gave me so I was comfortable with the decision.

 Quote: Jenni Williams

The most commonly observed behavioral problem in spayed females was fearful behavior and the most common problem in males was aggression.

Interesting; when one of the reasons(pet peeve of mine)I hear people give for neutering was to stop aggression. What a let down; if I ever have an aggressive dog.....no quick fix....I'm actually going to have to work on it.

from http://leerburg.com/pdf/neutering.pdf

Scroll to the section on dogs who probably should be neutered.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

... I think this cannot be emphasized enough. And you need to be honest about your situation. I opted to have my boy neutered because I was raising him with children and as closely as I watched and supervised; the chance that a door was left ajar or the gate left open was always there.

I couldn't agree more. Especially people whose dogs have gotten out but who are still leaving them intact ... well, this is the height of irresponsibility and denial. I'm so glad you posted this, Sheila.

If there is any chance of less-than-perfect containment, then neutering is crucial. JMHO.