Neutering a performance dog

[Labradorks]

Has anyone with a performance dog (male, specifically) found that their willingness to work or general behavior, specific to performance (not as a pet) changed at all after a neuter has taken place?

[Annette47]

We kept Mulder intact, but I know several people who have neutered their performance dogs at various ages along the way. No one has complained of less drive or work ethic; some have noticed no difference and some have noticed better focus from the dog.

[fidgetyknees]

I know plenty of intact males who are great performance dogs .... so I guess it will boil down to training and genetics as to whether they have good focus. My guess is neutering will take the hormones out of the picture and I will neuter my male when he is old enough.

[Jeff]

Actually I am going on 1 year now after neutering. Basically before neutering all focus was lost. We were great up until last summer then his nose took over and he couldn't focus on anything, running agility he would just stop mid run and have to smell where another dog was. He got neutered last year.

So we are coming into summer this year. His focus is still solid and he he is still a busy guy. However I have noticed he gets tired faster, this might be age or might be maturity as he is going to be 4 this summer. Also sometimes I catch him taking a nap when he normally would be playing.

However he still goes and goes, as far as drive, this was a couple nights ago. He has plenty of drive.
https://youtu.be/Bw_-u7EnsUc

[Labradorks]

Actually I am going on 1 year now after neutering. Basically before neutering all focus was lost. We were great up until last summer then his nose took over and he couldn't focus on anything, running agility he would just stop mid run and have to smell where another dog was. He got neutered last year.

So we are coming into summer this year. His focus is still solid and he he is still a busy guy. However I have noticed he gets tired faster, this might be age or might be maturity as he is going to be 4 this summer. Also sometimes I catch him taking a nap when he normally would be playing.

However he still goes and goes, as far as drive, this was a couple nights ago. He has plenty of drive.
https://youtu.be/Bw_-u7EnsUc

That's interesting that it would start at the age of three.

[TuMicks]

Plenty of MH's are neutered. They actually work better.

[LabraGal]

I had issues with Remi's focus in agility and obedience when he was intact. It took neutering him (at age 3) and more intensive obedience training before we returned to agility, quite successfully.

[Snowshoe]

My trainer found the same thing as LabraGal, same age for neuter too. Not a Lab.

[BaconsMom]

We have talked with several hunting friends about this. People have said that it is dependent on the dog, some dogs need neutering to concentrate, others can stay intact. We have not had any issues with Bacon being intact yet, so I cant speak from first hand experience.

[JenC]

Good question!!! Jed works pretty well with me and he's intact (and 7) but we aren't doing anything super hard other than training for his RE and hoping he'll do OK with his CD. I have no intentions of fixing him. On the other hand, Grizz, who's 4, will finish his RN next month and then I plan to bite the bullet and fix him. I want to do more obedience with him and I am hoping that losing his nuts will make him a little more focused. I'll let you know what I find out!