to castrate or not castrate?

[Bigeye74]

We ave a large male Ridgeback. He gets in the way but otherwise is pleasant round the house, doesn't hump, doesn't sent unnless released on a walk. He will have a pop at other dogs when out (male and female) if our female is about but otherwise is ok when he knows the other dogs. He doesn't to my eyes try to dominate the other dogs he integrates with daily (is in fact henpecked). Do I need to get him neutered?

[DTCwordfan]

thought you were talking about my husband.....

[Bigeye74]

next doors bitch has been in heat and I havent noticed any change in behaviour

[Purple_Popple]

Yes, agree with Helen's comments, definitely have his crown jewels off if you are not going to breed from him, this also prevents testicular cancer which male dogs can get in later life. How old is he ?

[anneasquith]

i think its kinder to the dog to remove his " bits" unless you are using him for breeding,

[jules77]

There are pros and cons health wise. I dont see that it is 'kinder' to remove his bits at all. I have always had entire males living with unspayed females and wouldnt neuter unless there was a medical reason to do so.

http://www.dogbreeder...fSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

[ladybirder]

He's going to be a very frustrated dog if he can't have sex and you don't neuter him!

[Bigeye74]

Jules, that paper was very interesting, do you anything relating to behavior modification and neutering?

[jules77]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2326799

A bit about behaviour changes on this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutering

http://ezinearticles....utered-Dog&id=1382034

I saw somewhere that bitches are calmer after spaying and less destructive......I have a seven year old bitch who was spayed a few years ago after a pyo, and she is still the same nutcase she was before she had it done, and just as destructive. Her coat has changed into that of a yhetti, not something you would have a problem with in a Ridgeback. Definitely a procedure I wouldnt have chosen for her had it not been necessary.

[lankeela]

I have three entire males living with three bitches, two of which are spayed. Provided you can manage them sensibly then there is no medical reason to have him done but I would say I believe it helps with domination issues with other males and certainly if they have a tendency to wander if there are bitches about. The old chestnut about testicular cancer has never been proven, although that can be a problem if a testicle is retained in the abdomen as they get warm up there (which is why they are on the 'outside' of the body)!

[crazyzoe08]

some castrated males dont stop wandering off even after as i found out, i had my yorkie castrated as he kept wondering of and it never stoped him and now i have a breeding bitch and when she in season he still trys to mount her so that doesnt always work.

[woofgang]

I think you have to consider the individual dog. I've had a male who was entire till age 12 with no problems. He ended up being neutered because of prostate trouble. My current two got really out of hand to the point of risk to themselves and others...not aggressive but no recall, would cross roads etcet to get to other dogs. Neutering chilled them down enough to listen and remember their previous excellent behaviour. We wanted to wait till they were 2 to decide but we honestly didn't think we could risk it so they were done at 18 months...end of the day its up to you. "having a pop" can be learned behaviour, neutering will probably not stop it but might help if he no longer feels so "manly protective" around the bitches, you will still need to train though.