Floyd, you said your girlfriend convinced you to get the dog neutered. Good for her! I am guessing that the behavior changes you saw were related to you spending more time with the girlfriend and less time with the dog. Usually most owners make the same mistake when they blame neutering (I worked for a vet and saw this a lot). It might be the biggest change in your eyes, but to a dog it isn't a big deal and certainly doesn't matter as much as you not being home for some fun play time. My dog gets sad when I don't spend as much time with her as she would like.

A neutered dog will make a better guard dog, since he will still be in your yard when there is a female in heat down the street <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> .

thanx Lauren,
this info was very helpful.

Ed, I want you know I've been reading everithing on your webside and I agree with you 100%.

My girlfriend owns a wolf dog. She also takes a group of client-dogs to the dog park (between 8-12 dogs, 5 days a week)The money are good. I never take my personal dogs to off leash dog park, I tried going there with one of my Rotts in the past( before I knew your webside) He got overly stimulated and I didn't like the experiance. I am amazed with the accuracy you described the attitude of wolf-hybrids especialy their owners. There ate 2 ore 3 more that come to that same park my girlfriend goes to.
It was weird when we moved together about a year ago that wolf dog has been avoiding me since day one. He acts terrified by me for some reason, and that HAS NOT CHANGED AN INCH for the time being. In fact he does not act that scared with anybody else.
People walk up to him in the park pet him, the only way I can touch him is by cornening him in the house. The other bad thing is that my oldest Rott(5) got obsessed with the wolf-dog(3) from day one nad he was CONSTANTLY ON TOP OF HIM OR GUARDING HIM growling, I separeted my Rott two weeks ago(when discovered your site) and I can see behaviour improvement already.
Thank you.

Floyd

Studdies have shown that neutering effects the dog's growth plates and will cause dogs to become bigger in size perhaps quicker than their muscular-skelatle systems are ready for Officer Grubb, do you have any proof of this statement or links to studies that have been done? According to several vet's that I deal with regularly...it's never been actually proven that neutering affects growth.

If you go to this post a few months ago, you'll see the reference to the JAVMA research:

http://www.leerburg.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=000191

Thanks Lee! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Off to read that post...