Quote: Brian Berry

I always go with Castration (Neuter) on dogs I own, but after 18 months.

That makes sense to me to wait (with a working dog).

http://leerburg.com/neuter.htm

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Brian Berry

From what I've read and spoken with folks about, castration does not slow or restrict bone growth(Height and such). .....

I think that it's pretty commonly known now that puberty-related sex hormones are part of the signal for growth plates to close, so with lower sex hormone levels, the bones can continue to grow later into adolescence. So no, I don't think it inhibits bone growth.

Right, a lot of people think that early neutering of males will result in a shorter dog, but instead there's a possibility of a taller, thinner dog with a narrow head than a dog allowed to stay intact.

Also, the reasons for waiting on a neuter (to me, anyway) are also a matter of letting the dog develop mentally as well as physically.

Since some working lines can mature more slowly, I would personally wait until 2-3 years old before neutering.

With all this talk about castrating v. sterilization, I thought some of you might find this article interesting. It's about the health benefits and risks that come from spaying/neutering. I grew up hearing the old line about how much neutering and spaying at an early age benefits the dog...now I may be rethinking that stance.

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

I am a new member, but have worked in the veterinary medicine field for over 30 years and have done obedience training for about nine years now. If it is okay, I would like to weigh in on this conversation.

There has been a lot of medical investigation done on this topic. Research has demonstrated that the only behaviors that will be affected by castration are those that are under the influence of male hormones. A dog’s temperament, personality and ability to do “work” are a result of genetics, upbringing, and training not its male hormones.

Early spay/neuter is done by neccessity at many animal shelters and rescues so that they can comply with state laws about animals adopted out.

Medically, it has always been accepted that castration eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and greatly reduces the chance of prostate disease, two extremely common and serious problems of older male dogs. Current studies could show that these claims, although accurate, over-state the risk from the disease to the dog's life. However, castration does reduce the risk of perianal tumors and perineal hernias and, of course elminate any possibility of reproduction. Each case should be evaluated on an individual basis.

I think it would be difficult to do a study of this as it applies to working dogs because the pool of castrated working dogs would be too small for any type of accurate conclusions to be drawn. Most seriously trained working dogs are being considered for future breeding, thus they will be intact. This is just my opinion and not meant to be disrespectful to anyone who feels differently.

Thanks for allowing me to participate in this discussion.

 Quote: Linda Campbell

A dog's temperament, personality and ability to do work are a result of genetics, upbringing, and training not its male hormones.

So are you saying that a dog's drives are either a.) not influenced by hormonal maturity or b.) drives are irrelevant?

I wouldn't agree with a or b, personally.

Also, as to the health issue, take a look at the link that Kameron posted, just for the sake of arguement.

There will always be a debate on issues like these, with studies coming and going and that's fine. As to the early neutering having an effect on working ability, I would hands down trust people who have been working and breeding hundreds of them over a study. JMO.

 Quote: Amber Morgan

 Quote: Linda Campbell

A dog's temperament, personality and ability to do work are a result of genetics, upbringing, and training not its male hormones.

So are you saying that a dog's drives are either a.) not influenced by hormonal maturity or b.) drives are irrelevant?

I wouldn't agree with a or b, personally.

Also, as to the health issue, take a look at the link that Kameron posted, just for the sake of arguement.

There will always be a debate on issues like these, with studies coming and going and that's fine. As to the early neutering having an effect on working ability, I would hands down trust people who have been working and breeding hundreds of them over a study. JMO.

There are almost two discussions on the subject, I think. I have shelter experience, and I am strongly in favor of neutering pets, shelter dogs, dogs who might not be kept from oops breeding -- a broad range of dogs.

But in recent years I have read a lot of serious research that has convinced me that early neutering can have effects on working dogs that are undesirable. I think there is an influence of male hormones on certain characteristics that are important in protection dogs. And it seems to be pretty clear that there is an effect on the timing of growth plate closing if neutering is done before puberty is over; the research comes from several authoritative sources.

But as I say, it's pretty recent research, so the stances adopted in the 70s and 80s (and even early 90s) about a supposed lack of effect of early neutering, while still prevalent in much of the veterinary community, are being revised.

I lean towards neutering dogs who are not going to be bred, but I've learned a lot in recent years that has made me look again at the arguments against early neutering, finding them more compelling as more research is done.

 Quote: Linda Campbell

Each case should be evaluated on an individual basis.

Excellent point.

My intention was not to question the knowledge of other, more experienced people. As I have said, I am new to this board and new to working dogs themselves. You are quite correct when you say this is an issue that can be discussed forever.

I was actually in the midst of modifying my post to clarify things when Kameron's post came through.

I was trying to explain that early castration is done by shelters and rescues as a way to comply with the laws of their states. Over the years we have found that many people who adopt animals do not return them for spay/neuter, even if they have already pre-paid for the surgery. Early spay/neuter was one way to ensure this was done.

As for myself, I believe that castration, unless medically necessary, should not be done until a dog is mature. The information I cited was based upon a fully mature adult dog where the impact of hormones is not necessary for proper physical development.

I also responded to an earlier post where the person said that they would like to see a contrast between intact and castrated working dogs. I just thought that it would be difficult to find enough dogs for both catagories.

Given my limited experience with working dogs I probably should not have paricipated in the discussion.

 Quote: Linda Campbell

My intention was not to question the knowledge of other, more experienced people.

And you didn't come across that way, either.