Help reassure me? Afraid my dog’s personality will change after neutering

[Anonymous]

Is your dog a large breed? (Sorry if you already said and I missed that.) DVM here. It’s smart to wait until age 2 years or later to neuter any medium, large, or giant breed dog, because their bodies release certain growth hormone until age 2 years. Neutering before is not fatal of course, but can lead to dysplasia and some cancers. We see this mostly in all classes of retrievers and retriever mixes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will add that neutered males can be pretty nasty to unneutered males. We've had to stop taking our sweet boy to the dog park because the male dogs keep trying to dominate him by mounting him and forcing him to the ground. I've read it's a common problem, that why so many doggy daycares require it done by 6 or 7 months.

I think you have it backwards. Unneutered male can be nasty to neutered males.

To answer the original poster, I have the sweetest dog ever and his personality did not changed one iota after being neutered. He is a small dog and we had him neutered under the age of one

Ours was exactly the same, too. One thing just to be aware of is that at that age sometimes dogs' personalities can change a bit because they are heading into their rebellious adolescence. It's not the neutering, it's the age - they can test boundaries, get a little wild. Ours have always still been the most awesome, perfect dogs even when they get a bit teenagery, so I wouldn't get worried really - just be prepared that 1-3 can be years when your dog decides to see what the world is all about.

Also <3

[Anonymous]

OP here. Our dog is 45 pounds. So maybe medium? He’s stocky and short.

[Anonymous]

As far as boarding and doggy daycare options for an unneutered dog, have you looked into Rover? We recently had to go out of town for a night and family couldn't watch our pup. We found someone on Rover with amazing reviews who accepted unneutered dogs. She was awesome, she sent multiple videos and pictures and was extremely flexible with pickup and dropoff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Our dog is 45 pounds. So maybe medium? He’s stocky and short.

If he has a short nose (like a Bulldog)…the sooner the better because those dogs do better if they are smaller when they have to be put under.

[Anonymous]

Our dog's personality did not change at all. We did notice a bit less marking. Also, he stopped getting erections every time some one hugged him, which reduced everyone's embarrassment considerably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our dog's personality did not change at all. We did notice a bit less marking. Also, he stopped getting erections every time some one hugged him, which reduced everyone's embarrassment considerably.

What age did you get him neutered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please neuter your dog, but regardless of what you choose, don't take him to school pick up/drop off

Mind your own business. If I am away from school property I will do as I wish.

[Anonymous]

One issue may be what your dog’s preferred pronouns will be after neutering…..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One issue may be what your dog’s preferred pronouns will be after neutering…..

wow u r such an Edgelord

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your dog a large breed? (Sorry if you already said and I missed that.) DVM here. It’s smart to wait until age 2 years or later to neuter any medium, large, or giant breed dog, because their bodies release certain growth hormone until age 2 years. Neutering before is not fatal of course, but can lead to dysplasia and some cancers. We see this mostly in all classes of retrievers and retriever mixes.

+1. NP. This is why we have been looking into a vasectomy for our med-large breed. Idk if Zeutering is still an available thing but there are options beyond the traditional neuter. It has been very difficult to find a vet willing to do anything beyond a traditional neuter, though. I don't understand why there is so much vitriol directed at non-traditional options to full castration, esp. for a larger breed puppy. We don't have behavioral issues and don't want structural issues since we are hoping to do agility. Vasectomy makes sense for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your dog a large breed? (Sorry if you already said and I missed that.) DVM here. It’s smart to wait until age 2 years or later to neuter any medium, large, or giant breed dog, because their bodies release certain growth hormone until age 2 years. Neutering before is not fatal of course, but can lead to dysplasia and some cancers. We see this mostly in all classes of retrievers and retriever mixes.

+1. NP. This is why we have been looking into a vasectomy for our med-large breed. Idk if Zeutering is still an available thing but there are options beyond the traditional neuter. It has been very difficult to find a vet willing to do anything beyond a traditional neuter, though. I don't understand why there is so much vitriol directed at non-traditional options to full castration, esp. for a larger breed puppy. We don't have behavioral issues and don't want structural issues since we are hoping to do agility. Vasectomy makes sense for us.

Yes, neutered dogs can compete in agility. In fact, in AKC agility it is a requirement that non-purebred dogs are neutered or spayed in order to enter an event. In other venues such as USDAA, competitors are allowed to show intact dogs of any breed or mix. We had my male dog neutered a week ago. Still healing but, still very sweet!

[Anonymous]

It did not change my dog’s personality. He is safer now, I think. Intact males are more likely to be aggressive and get into fights. He’s still the darling boy he was before the surgery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our dog's personality did not change at all. We did notice a bit less marking. Also, he stopped getting erections every time some one hugged him, which reduced everyone's embarrassment considerably.

np Stop hugging your dog. They really don't like it. They love you but, not the hugs.

https://www.treehugger.com/why-dogs-dont-like-to-be-hugged-4863898

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your dog a large breed? (Sorry if you already said and I missed that.) DVM here. It’s smart to wait until age 2 years or later to neuter any medium, large, or giant breed dog, because their bodies release certain growth hormone until age 2 years. Neutering before is not fatal of course, but can lead to dysplasia and some cancers. We see this mostly in all classes of retrievers and retriever mixes.

+1. NP. This is why we have been looking into a vasectomy for our med-large breed. Idk if Zeutering is still an available thing but there are options beyond the traditional neuter. It has been very difficult to find a vet willing to do anything beyond a traditional neuter, though. I don't understand why there is so much vitriol directed at non-traditional options to full castration, esp. for a larger breed puppy. We don't have behavioral issues and don't want structural issues since we are hoping to do agility. Vasectomy makes sense for us.

Just neuter. It isn't a big deal.