I feel for you. I was ready to have Caue neutered at 12 months but ended up waiting to 15 months only cause his vet couldn't fit him in. Though Caue is not aggressive he talks a very tough story. : He is known as my "Mean Golden" by the people who walk past my house because of his big deep bark.

 

It really won't hurt him. Jenny was spayed at 4 months and while she's a bit hyperactive, I don't think it has to do with her early spay. TBH i really don't believe that dogs shouldn't be spayed before 15 months, etc etc. It's fine but I don't think it's detrimental.

 

Well you will get ALL kinds of responses. In my opinion it will vary from dog to dog.
Some dogs seem to get very leggy (tall) when nuetered but at 10 months his growth plates are probably closed. It will probably effect how he matures (ribs, head etc) and his coat texture may change. As far as changing foods you will need to observe him and then decide. Some dogs do put on weight due to a decrease in metabolism but not all do. Just watch his body, feel his ribs and keep looking from above for that slight "hour glass" shape.
As for behavior you may notice no change and this is very common or you may see him change. My son's GSD behavior got worse after nuetering. But it had nothing to do with that, it was because he spent less time working (training) his dog that I believe caused this. I believe the "nueter him so he calms down" theory was/is used by vets to get people to nueter their dogs.
The only definite things it will do is prevent your dog from sireing a litter and getting testicular cancer at some point. This is my opinion and I am sure there will be many who do not agree.

 

I had Tinkerbell spayed at 6 months because it was the right choice for us. Next time I will probably wait until about 10 months old because of all I have read.

If I had a male I would wait as long as I could and that could easily be 10 months. A 10 month old male intent on mounting a female would most likely be too much for me to handle. (I swear where they want to they can double their weight) And I would hate to add to the dog population because I wasn't strong enough to stop him from being a dog.

 

My girls were all done between 5-6 months and all my males have been done between 8-12 months. Didn't notice any changes in the females at all. No major changes in my boys, other than they were a little less obnoxious. I waited the longest on my husky, he was over a year. And he was starting to mount and be pushy. Neutering him stopped all that behavior, so his was the most noticeable change. Other than that, they have all grown and matured just fine, and there were no personality changes even with the early spay/neuter.

Sorry, I am no help on the food issue. I would suspect you will have to wait and see on that one.

 

Thanks everyone for your input - I feel relieved and reassured, and of course would be horrified if Chase accidentally impregnated a dog -- so I'm sure this is for the best - every dog is unique and our boy is quite strong-willed when he wants to be, so hopefully it might help with the occasion aggressiveness toward other dogs (and Geordie, especially - he still goes after him like he's covered in liver -- but he doesn't mean to hurt him).

Diane

 

Quinn was due to be done next week at 10 months old, but now we have lost Holly I have chickened out and cancelled. Illogical i know, but i could not bear being in the house at the moment without a dog there.

 

Samson was neutered at 10 months. I was also going to wait till he was older, but didn't want to put him through another surgery. He had one at 7 months and a second at 10 months....so we just had it done at the same time.

He had already matured nicely. I'm sure his head and chest would have grown more, but he wasn't scrawny. (see pic in sig line)

Delilah on the other hand is almost a year and we have not spayed yet. She is leggy and scrawny and we are waiting for her to have a more mature look to her.

 

My breeder was very emphatic about waiting for a year, but then she said once a male starts lifting his leg he has enough male hormones and could be neutered.

 

Okay, is it me or is that just a nutty way to decide when to neuter a dog?!? Rookie started lifting his leg at something like 12 weeks. I understood that lifting the leg is a learned behavior, not a marker of their hormone level. Some dogs never lift their leg to pee. She may have been talking about dog's marking their territory, but that's just not the same thing as lifting their leg to pee.

 

I am having the same problem deciding when to neuter my Oscar. A new study (attached) published in March says it increased the risk for certain cancers.

"For male dogs, castration decreases incidence of disorders with little health significance and may increase incidence of disorders of much greater health significance. For non-breeding animals, evaluation of breed and subsequent predispositions to disorders by gonadectomy should guide when and if castration is recommended."

 

My breeder was very emphatic about waiting for a year, but then she said once a male starts lifting his leg he has enough male hormones and could be neutered.

Hmmm. Chase doesn't lift his leg (although he marks a LOT but squatting)

I am having the same problem deciding when to neuter my Oscar. A new study (attached) published in March says it increased the risk for certain cancers.

"For male dogs, castration decreases incidence of disorders with little health significance and may increase incidence of disorders of much greater health significance. For non-breeding animals, evaluation of breed and subsequent predispositions to disorders by gonadectomy should guide when and if castration is recommended."

It was for that very reason that we tried to wait. Esp. having lost Jake at only 4 yrs to cancer.

Samson was neutered at 10 months. I was also going to wait till he was older, but didn't want to put him through another surgery. He had one at 7 months and a second at 10 months....so we just had it done at the same time.

He had already matured nicely. I'm sure his head and chest would have grown more, but he wasn't scrawny. (see pic in sig line)

Samson is gorgeous -- and certainly looks mature. I'm not sure Chase would ever have a blocky head or build no matter what, cause he just seems to take after his mother (One Ash Darrowby Talking Head) more than his father appearance-wise (slender head/muzzle). Below are pics of his momma (in the grass) and his dad Cessna. Chase is as light as mom too!

Diane

 

I neutered my German Shepherd at 10 months. He had an undescended testicle and as he needed to x-rays at that time on his legs I decided to do both at the same time. I know he is a different breed but he had no changes in coat or weight, in fact he lost a bit. He is a big Shepherd, 27 inches at the shoulder, but no taller than others in his litter.

I don't regret having it done early although it wasn't an ideal situation. He is 2yrs old now and in great shape.

 

I have Jack he is 3 years old and not neutered yet, don't ask me why he has not been done yet, I can't explain why..LOL I want to get him done and then chicken out.
Rusty was neutered before he came to live with us. He was 7 month when we got him and there is a big difference between them. Jack has a big chest, mastiff look to him, Rusty is still very leggy and straggly looking, don't lift his leg ever. He prances when he walks, he just looks funny compared to Jack. Well he's only 1 years old maybe he will change a little.

 

I don't know if it is true (lifting the leg to pee is hormone dependent) but that is what my breeder said. What do you mean about it being a learned behavior? Do they learn by watching another male dog?

 

My opinion is that lifting the leg can be learned, but being motivated to mark which mostly involves lifting the leg is hormonal.

Lucky first lifted his leg at about 9months...he was trying to cover up another dog's scent. Prior to that he just squated any where with no really motivation to mark.

 

Wiggs learned to lift his leg from the chihuahua cross that lived next door to us and probably started just before he was a year old. He alternates still between lifting and squatting as it depends if he needs to "mark" or pee for a really long time.

If you can tolerate male behaviours for 18-24 months before neutering and can make sure he is supervised so that he doesn't roam for a female in heat, wait it out.

If you have a female and can wait at least one heat without letting males have access to her, wait it out.

My dog is still intact and he doesn't mark inside the house and he doesn't hump people or other dogs. I also don't let him roam the neighbourhood unlike what some people let their dogs do in my neighbourhood!