Visiting a new vet

[MightyThor]

If one of your larger areas of concern is the way other dogs respond to Thor being intact, you might opt for a traditional castration over zeutering. I think zeutering may leave enough testosterone behind that you will not see a change in the behavior of other dogs, if they are indeed going after Thor because he's intact. I have one neutered male and two intact male Labs, and my experience with my dogs parallels what I have heard from many long time breeders; intact males retain better muscle tone, better coats, and tend not to plump up the way neutered dogs do. Not that there are not perfectly good and legitimate reasons to neuter, but I think leaving boys intact is an equally valid option (if you are a responsible dog owner, and can manage your dog properly). Nowadays, I feel like social pressure to do so is the main reason many people neuter their dogs. Also, apparently some people (maybe it's just in my area) are grossed out by a dog having "something hanging back there" (actual comments made to me by a stranger while I was walking my chocolate male -- granted he's a lot of boy, but still, odd comment to make to a stranger).

Yeah, that's kind of how I feel. I hear so much about people wanting to neuter to change their own dog's behavior, but we don't have that with Thor. But when other dogs do respond to his friendly greetings negatively, it's almost always a neutered male. Thor is also, a little...well... socially challenged. Not in the traditional non-socialized sense. He grew up exposed to so many friendly situations and dogs that he's not very good at reading negative cues from other dogs. He'll stand there wagging his tail and play bowing when another dog is clearing saying "not interested". If neutering can save us potential headaches it's worth it. We spend so much time out in public with him that I don't want trouble.

And so funny about people being grossed out by intact males - just last night a friend of mine who is visiting Spain posted on Facebook with "BALLS. SO MANY DOG BALLS". Apparently neutering is not as common in Spain. And when you're not used to seeing them...I guest they stand out. Thor has so many 'butt feathers' as we call them (you can see in the photo of him staring at the vet door), he's not so obvious.

[zd262]

Yeah, that's kind of how I feel. I hear so much about people wanting to neuter to change their own dog's behavior, but we don't have that with Thor. But when other dogs do respond to his friendly greetings negatively, it's almost always a neutered male. Thor is also, a little...well... socially challenged. Not in the traditional non-socialized sense. He grew up exposed to so many friendly situations and dogs that he's not very good at reading negative cues from other dogs. He'll stand there wagging his tail and play bowing when another dog is clearing saying "not interested". If neutering can save us potential headaches it's worth it. We spend so much time out in public with him that I don't want trouble.

This was actually such a big problem for us that we ended up decided to neuter Bubba prior to the two years we wanted to wait. We got a few months over the 1 year mark and just decided we couldn't wait any longer. Every time we stepped out on the street or near any parks, on leash and off leash dogs were attacking Bubba. He was depressed because his quality of life was so decreased from not being able to spend time at parks, and we were just so nervous all the time. The change after the neuter was amazing for us and has really made our lives (ours and Bubba's) so much better. I think there are a lot of people who either their dogs just don't attract as much attention, or their life is a different situation than ours, but for our situation it was really hard to have a dog attracting so much unwanted attention.Once armed with all the right information, it's definitely important to take your personal situation into account.

I was so used to his balls, but now when I look back at pictures of him sitting spread eagle with them I'm pretty stunned haha.

[labsnewfy]

Thor looks like he is at ease at the new vet office.

Coming in late but yes finding out how they treat after hour emergencies is a plus and if your pet has to spend the night for some reason is someone there with them or are they alone.

Coleman was hit or miss with intact or altered males for him and his reaction to them, maybe because he wasn't altered until coming into rescue at 4/5 yrs. Bailey on the other hand was altered at 6 months and it didn't matter to him just as long as they would play nice with him. The only thing that I didn't like was after Coleman's neuter they left the skin while there was nothing left when Bailey was neutered. It was so gross feeling that loose skin swirl around in the palm of my hand as I helped Coleman up into the back of my explorer.

[SamsonsMom]

Thor is beautiful! Love that vet picture. Since neutering is being discussed I thought I'd jump in and ask --- I'm bringing a new baby boy home in December (due to be born 10/26). I've decided I am delaying his neuter based on what I've read on muscle and joint development. My Samson has mild dysplasia and just had TTA to repair a torn ACL. I had him neutered when my previous vet suggested it - I'm thinking 8 months? I didn't know any different. Since I do now, I want to give my new guy the best chance possible to develop and grow. Now - reading your posts on aggression, should I be worried about Samson showing aggression toward him once he gets older? Or will they be OK since I'm bringing the new guy in as an 8 week old puppy?

[dxboon]

Thor is beautiful! Love that vet picture. Since neutering is being discussed I thought I'd jump in and ask --- I'm bringing a new baby boy home in December (due to be born 10/26). I've decided I am delaying his neuter based on what I've read on muscle and joint development. My Samson has mild dysplasia and just had TTA to repair a torn ACL. I had him neutered when my previous vet suggested it - I'm thinking 8 months? I didn't know any different. Since I do now, I want to give my new guy the best chance possible to develop and grow. Now - reading your posts on aggression, should I be worried about Samson showing aggression toward him once he gets older? Or will they be OK since I'm bringing the new guy in as an 8 week old puppy?

I don't know your adult dog's background, but I'm sure if he was inappropriate toward your puppy you would manage his behavior. Plenty of intact dogs live with neutered dogs without issue. A Labrador with proper temperament shouldn't be aggressive with a housemate of any type. My neutered Labrador is not in any way aggressive toward his intact housemates (one adult male, one male puppy). In a dog park or day care situation, you cannot control how other people's dogs are raised or how they act, so that could be an issue, but you can control how your own dogs are trained and how they behave. I don't do dog parks with my guys, and think they have way more down sides than they do positive ones. If your current adult is well-mannered, and you monitor his interactions with your new dog, I'm sure it will be fine if you wait to neuter the youngster when he's fully matured.

[SamsonsMom]

I don't know your adult dog's background, but I'm sure if he was inappropriate toward your puppy you would manage his behavior. Plenty of intact dogs live with neutered dogs without issue. A Labrador with proper temperament shouldn't be aggressive with a housemate of any type. My neutered Labrador is not in any way aggressive toward his intact housemates (one adult male, one male puppy). In a dog park or day care situation, you cannot control how other people's dogs are raised or how they act, so that could be an issue, but you can control how your own dogs are trained and how they behave. I don't do dog parks with my guys, and think they have way more down sides than they do positive ones. If your current adult is well-mannered, and you monitor his interactions with your new dog, I'm sure it will be fine if you wait to neuter the youngster when he's fully matured.

Samson is a love bug. Loves people and all other animals. I'm not concerned with the puppy stages -- it's when the pup gets up to 12-14 months. Sounds like we should be fine. The comments on neutered dogs showing a different attitude to fully intact dogs just made me think of Samson and the soon to be new pup. I really would like to wait until he is over 12 months to neuter. Thanks!

[Bernie]

Samson is a love bug. Loves people and all other animals. I'm not concerned with the puppy stages -- it's when the pup gets up to 12-14 months. Sounds like we should be fine. The comments on neutered dogs showing a different attitude to fully intact dogs just made me think of Samson and the soon to be new pup. I really would like to wait until he is over 12 months to neuter. Thanks!

12 months is good, 18-24 might be better. You have plenty of time to decide, talk to your vet when you're there for other reasons, mine just told me they're getting new studies that show waiting is better and the old neuter at 6 months recommendation is on the way out.

[Shelley]

Samson is a love bug. Loves people and all other animals. I'm not concerned with the puppy stages -- it's when the pup gets up to 12-14 months. Sounds like we should be fine. The comments on neutered dogs showing a different attitude to fully intact dogs just made me think of Samson and the soon to be new pup. I really would like to wait until he is over 12 months to neuter. Thanks!

Not that I can speak for her, but I think what DXBoon meant was if you train and manage their relationship as the puppy matures, you won't have issues with an intact dog, and a neutered dog living together as adults and beyond. It's the other dogs that you don't know, and can't control/train that may be an issue. I would wait as long as possible, that second year with their hormones intact is really important for the development of the males.

[dxboon]

Samson is a love bug. Loves people and all other animals. I'm not concerned with the puppy stages -- it's when the pup gets up to 12-14 months. Sounds like we should be fine. The comments on neutered dogs showing a different attitude to fully intact dogs just made me think of Samson and the soon to be new pup. I really would like to wait until he is over 12 months to neuter. Thanks!

I do not think you'll have an issue. If Samson starts becoming inappropriate to your teenage/older intact male, you will presumably step in and teach him appropriate behavior. My experience with well-bred Labradors with proper temperaments is that they will correct their younger housemates appropriate to that other dog's age. I allow my older dog to correct his younger housemates. There's never any aggression.

For orthopedic benefits, I'd suggest you wait until 2 years to neuter. The best way to stack the deck in your puppy's favor with regard to joint health is to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder with documented multiple generations (through OFA, for example) of passing hip/elbow clearances in the puppy's pedigree, wait until full maturity and growth plates have closed before neutering, and perhaps most importantly, follow a suitable protocol for age appropriate exercise. All the hip/elbow clearances in the world mean nothing if a puppy goes to a home where they engage in age-inappropriate activities for their joints. I'm sure you know all of this. :-)

[dxboon]

Not that I can speak for her, but I think what DXBoon meant was if you train and manage their relationship as the puppy matures, you won't have issues with an intact dog, and a neutered dog living together as adults and beyond. It's the other dogs that you don't know, and can't control/train that may be an issue. I would wait as long as possible, that second year with their hormones intact is really important for the development of the males.

Yes, this is what I meant.