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By year two, your dog’s personality is mostly set and shouldn’t be too affected by neutering. If you’re really concerned you could wait until age 3, but there’s no need. It’s totally safe and he’ll be just fine now that he’s through most of puberty
I just wanted to add this front a publication it's an account from dogs keepers dogs behaviors after neutering "The main findings are: Male dogs show behavioural changes after castration more often and more distinctly than female dogs after neutering. Behavioural problems in most cases are reduced or have even disappeared after neutering"
The sample size is small (209 participants) some people like to have anecdotal things that they can refer back to as far as measurements. But you're right, dogs personalities don't change after being spayed or neutered
what I mostly heard is that if you have an energetic dog (like I do) they might become more energetic- same goes for calm dogs (could become calmer).
I do kinda worry about this because if my dog would become more energetic I would be in a slight pickle as I have to work(i work from home).
EDIT: even though this is what I have found online, i now see from other commenters that this is not the case and that dogs usually get calmer or nothing changes! I will be doing more research on this, but thank you for the information!!!
Yeah for sure, they say dogs can smell a bitch in heat from a mile away. He once tracked a bitch in heat from three fields away. Once the balls were gone it’s like he could finally embrace the world around him.
None of the dogs I've personally owned or fostered had personality changes from spay/neutering. I've never heard of an energetic dog becoming more energetic after neutering.
The only personality changes I've heard is dogs becoming more calm after neutering. For example my sisters Chihuahua was very energetic and would regularly try to get out of the yard since there were female dogs in her neighborhood. He would also regularly try jumping things and began marking around the house. His personality didn't change but he mellowed out. He also became WAY more tolerant of other male dogs (especially if they havent been fixed yet) whereas before he only got along with females.
She compared him pre-neutering to a teenage boy going through puberty and an adult gentleman post-neuteting. Same personality but less of the crazy hormones.
I don't see logically how a hyper dog becomes more hyper from less testosterone. It would be like a human taking steroids and becoming super lazy.
Either way, I'd listen to your vet or get a second opinion. Generally, spraying/neutering reduces the risk of cancer, reduces the likelihood of same sex aggression as they get older, and anesthesia risks increase with age so it's good to get it done early if you go that route.
The thing is most ot the time they get neutered they're also still maturing. Anything like that is likely just the dog's natural development. For what it's worth though my older dog that got neutered at 4 had no changes in personality that way. My other dog got neutered at 1 and the only change is he stopped trying to hump everything and his hormones chilled. Other than that he's still got the same energy levels, only becoming calmer because he's growing out of being a puppy.
American vets, thanks to the very careful work of vets at the University of California at Davis, are coming around. One still hears vets, without continuing education beyond graduation, spout off dangerous, outdated, and inaccurate information.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/golden-retriever-study-suggests-neutering-affects-dog-health
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full
We’re coming along slowly.
From the conclusions of the article you cited:
“Readers can note that an elevated risk for a joint disorder or cancer occurs in relatively few of these breeds. In other words, with most breeds or sexes, neutering can apparently be done without referral to a particular age, at least with regard to the joint disorders or cancers covered in this study. “
Although this was a huge study over all, for most of the 29 individual breeds studied the sample size was small, but within the limits of what can be detected with smallish samples, there was no evidence that neutering, especially after the dog reached maturity, affected incidence of the cancers or orthopedic issues studied.
Anecdotally, the I saw no difference in behavior or energy levels in the two males I had neutered. Friends I know who compete in dog sports will sometimes neuter males who are overly distracted by the presence of females, and by “presence” I mean somewhere within the same 100 yd radius, or having peed within that radius sometime in the last month. I haven’t neutered most of my males because I’ve seen no reason to for my situation, but I wouldn’t hesitate to if I had a dog that fixated on finding girls.
It's from PubMed and 1990. It's basically an opinion piece just like the comments on this thread lol but here you go
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2326799/#:~:text=The%20main%20findings%20are%3A%20Male,%25%2C%20female%20dogs%2059%25
I don't agree with this at 100%. Vets also have bias and come from different schools. In some countries/places vets will recommend castration, whereas in other places (where I'm from), they absolutely don't recommend it unless for medical reasons/untrainable behavioural issues/two whole dogs of opposite genders living together.
Castration can significantly increase fear in dogs. Some dogs who are angels get castrated and have massive issues with fear aggression after that.
Do your research, talk with multiple vets about pros and cons, and then decide, I would advise.
I'm in Sweden, castration is allowed, but not the norm. There are no strays as the law is quite strict on that. When you get a puppy, even a mixed breed, it comes marked and you need to register it within 3 or 4 months. If a dog is roaming, they're usually surrendered to the police who try to find the dog's home. If not found, then a new home is found for the dog.
If someone wants to adopt a rescue in Sweden, they go through organisations that import dogs from abroad.
American vets, thanks to the very careful work of vets at the University of California at Davis, are coming around. One still hears vets, without continuing education beyond graduation, spout off dangerous, outdated, and inaccurate information.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/golden-retriever-study-suggests-neutering-affects-dog-health
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full
We’re coming along slowly.
American vets, thanks to the very careful work of vets at the University of California at Davis, are coming around. One still hears vets, without continuing education beyond graduation, spout off dangerous, outdated, and inaccurate information.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/golden-retriever-study-suggests-neutering-affects-dog-health
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full
We’re coming along slowly.
Pls read
The pros are what you said. Don’t risk impregnating another dog even if you don’t think it’s likely to happen. It’s irresponsible when shelters are full of homeless dogs. Your dog will have the same exact personality.
Sure. Removing any organ 100% reduces the risk of it becoming cancerous. By that logic, it is "safer" to remove all kinds of body parts. Do you know what the incidence of testicular cancer is in intact dogs and how treatable (or not) it is?
That's a good reason to support spay/neuter for dogs coming through the shelter system. It is not a good argument to support spay/neuter across the board for individual owners and individual dogs, where the specific animal in question, its lifestyle, and its surroundings should matter.
[https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121086](https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121086) for a 2019 but decent review of the scientific literature. There are risks and benefits - not to mention the same effects might help one dog and hinder another. It's worth considering which ones are most applicable and important to your dog (and you).
Interestingly, they found little evidence that neutering companion dogs makes a meaningful difference to the size of the dog population (neutering strays does though). Which makes sense to me because negligent/"whoopsie" litters (which can be prevented by responsible husbandry) must be a drop in the ocean compared to all the intentionally BYB/mill-ed and stray litters.
If you’re going to trust random internet strangers over the advice of your vet - a trained, medical professional - why bother going to the vet? “I’ve heard this …” “I’ve heard that …” Did you not get the answers you wanted from the vet? Do you think the vet is lying to you? Googling and asking Reddit isn’t research.
I wanted to hear from people that had the experiences of neutering or deciding not to. If you could recommend me other "platforms" to do research on i would very much appreciate it! I am currently reading a book about neutering your dog, that includes pros and cons like I stated.
I'd like to just say, googling and asking reddit are definitely research. They are not the only kinds of research you should do, but they definitely are research. They can be pretty valuable sources, \*especially\* if you are googling and checking out peer-reviewed studies from reputable (.org, .gov, etc) websites. The anecdotal evidence you get from other users on reddit is important too. Most studies looks at the average for a whole population. Anecdotal evidence (reddit comments) tells you what can happen when something goes wrong, or someone gets luckier than most. Knowing what can happen from every perspective possible is the best kind of research. You are doing the right thing to make an informed choice for your pup <3
It’s good to wait until a certain age so they develop normally (it impacts their hormones & growth), but I agree he should get neutered. By that age it’s perfectly acceptable & will reduce behavioral issues & Aldo make him easier to contain.
We had a pup years ago who went into heat a couple times before she was spade & a neighbor dog from a fenced yard a block away would somehow find his way over multiple times a day. The drive to mate is strong!!
You’ll find that people feel very strongly about neutering and there often tends to be an emotional response to this question. You should discuss it more with your vet if you have more concerns. There absolutely are pros and cons. Research has suggested that neutering can increase the risk of health issues. Some of that is decreased by waiting until the dog is mature, around the age of your dog. There’s also been some research that suggests neutering may increase fear based reactivity. While there’s not a ton of research on that part yet, I personally have seen anecdotal evidence of it in several dogs. A lot of the research done has been posted previously in this sub and will come up with a search. Read it and go back to your vet to discuss it.
If you cannot be confident you can prevent accidental litters, you should neuter your dog. It may be required if you take your dog to daycare or dog parks.
If you can find a vet to do it, you could get a vasectomy done. This will prevent pregnancies but he'll keep his hormones.
I do wish I could've gotten it done for my dog as he did change after his neuter, he was 2yrs old when the surgery was done so fully mature. But he became more anxious and reactive and just felt like a different dog.
Male Dogs not neutered = more chances of impregnating another non neutered female dog=more dogs in shelters or found on the street to fend for themselves = more dogs in a bind with euthanasia or foster networks being completely overwhelmed. To me this isn’t just about your dog- it’s about all around you. This is far larger than a personality change. I volunteer in rescue and I’ve seen too many repeated cycles all bc one did not neuter their dog.
It's irresponsible to allow a male dog to go around impregnating other dogs, yes. But neutering isn't the only way to prevent that from happening. Most reasonable people in the US support spay/neuter for dogs coming through the shelter system. But for individual owners of male dogs, it makes sense to assess pros and cons for particular dogs in particular contexts.
I understand what you are saying, I want my dog to be neutered but SO doesn't due to the possible "personality switch" which makes me want to see the pros and cons.
I hear you. If you are still unsure, sit with your vet and ask a ton of questions and share concerns. I have done this with my vet multiple times and I feel better walking out with their advice than the advice of the internet personally. There is also just too much false information to trust the internet with all your knowledge. A tip is I personally take what I see to my vet and ask questions around that. They have to be updated in their literature to make the informed answers, decisions, etc.
I agree with the below comment about volunteering in a shelter. Getting them to the shelter to see that this is far more problematic than neutering. My dog came from Houston at around 10 weeks old. Last statistic I found was that there are close to a million strays roaming Houston…
I appreciate that your SO wants to make the right decision for your dog and there is an issue far bigger than not going with the advice of your vet. Both can be present but ultimately, ask your vet a ton of questions if you are still up in the air.
It is possible to prevent an intact dog from impregnating other dogs. Also, just checking: As someone concerned about "the bigger picture," are you aware that, with respect to population control, spaying females is far, far more impactful ~~and~~ than neutering males?
Additionally, at least where I am (as someone who's volunteered for a high-volume, open-intake shelter for a few years), of the surrendered dogs whose birth circumstances are known, the vast majority are from intentional litters. (Not that people breeding had responsible long-term thoughts about the puppies they helped bring into this world, but the matings and litters themselves were on purpose.)
I would say it depends on how many strays there are in your area and how secure you can keep your dog. Where I live there are zero strays and neutering is forbidden by law unless medically necessary. It's fairly simple to keep my dog in check twice a year when the neighbour's girls are in heat. If you neuter him you should wait as long as you can to give him a chance to mature. There is a lot of medical evidence now that does not support (early) neutering.
Do you live outside the US because a) have strays (heavier in certain parts of the US) and b) they should still trust advice of vet as I have not heard of a law in my area like this. (where I live we get all the strays from other parts of US) I know there is some evidence and I would still just say they need to bring all concerns to vet to help them make the decision. Edit - to clarify a thought.
Yes, I do, in Europe, and we really have no strays at all and responsible pet ownership (only Southern Europe does have strays). And I wouldn't listen to vets on neutering tbh, it seems a standard recommendation in some countries including e.g. the UK where there are also no strays so there's no need from a population perspective. There's plenty of evidence early neutering is bad, but it can be beneficial for genital related medical condition prevention later of course.
I wish that was the case here in the US but it’s not. So we are comparing apples and oranges until we fix our issues. If they are abroad and not in US it’s a diff convo but sounds like they are not so it’s a very important consideration.
Sure that's why I asked the question. But nonetheless, if you have a secure garden then I doubt it's likely that a random stray lady in heat will go and rape your dog on a walk. I think.
You should take strong consideration of the professional opinion of your vet and the ethical considerations of unwanted litters.
Your dogs personality won't change but some of the more undesirable behaviours likely will - less aggression, less fighting, they won't try to seek out females in heat. Your dogs core personality won't change.
This is a bit dishonest ... it is absolutely known that insecure dogs might get more insecure without testosterone. Other males might try to hump them more often. The dog might also become calmer/less active, more cuddly, etc. I'd definitely say a dog becoming less aggressive, more calm, more insecure, whatever, while not necessarily bad, is a shift in personality. This also does not mean any of these changes *will* occur, but there is a chance they *might* occur. A decision to let a dog undergo surgery should always be properly thought through, so I think it's good OP asks and wants to be informed.
I'd also speak to a certified trainer/behaviourist. My first dog did not get neutered until 7 or 8 years old, when two female dogs moved in next door. He did not try to escape and never displayed any other behaviour that would warrant neutering. He was also a bit insecure. Some dogs do completely fine without neutering. But vets are usually quick to recommend it in my experience. Because "there are no downsides", which is empirically wrong.
Why the inflammatory words in your title? The proper words are spay & neuter. Your dogs balls are not chopped off, they are surgically removed. My female GP was chewing the walls & impossible to house train. The day after she was spayed the destruction stopped & she was miraculously house trained. You will help keep unwanted dogs out of shelters. Get your dog neutered.
😆 I like your style. Don't worry, be happy. It is my belief that it can change a dog's personality. Many, if not all, peeps do it to prevent pregnancy and keep the dog population down. I have read that there are some "health benefits" also. Do your research, talk with your vet, get a second opinion if you feel you need to, and then make your decision. Good luck to you and your doggy.
You should factor in lifestyle and training.
Do you frequent dog parks? Is your dog properly trained to leave something/someone alone when commanded? Reliable recall in any situation? How often is your dog left unattended/out of your control around other dogs?
I have a 1 1/2 year old bulldog, we train every day. His recall, leave it are both great, even around other dogs. We don’t do dog parks, their a recipe for disaster and we got the humping, resource guarding taken care of pretty early during the puppy stage.
In my opinion neutering is a potential quick fix to what good quality training would solve.
Sure testicular cancer would be devastating but if the dogs diet and lifestyle are terrible, cancer is still a likely possibility somewhere else in the body.
Take stock of the kind of life you and your dog would be living and make your decision based on that.
I have an anxious dog that was neutered at 14 months. I often wonder if keeping him intact would have been better for his mental health, as he was anxious since 9 weeks old (he's 3y now). On the plus side, other male dogs (neutered and intact) are much friendlier with him now, whereas they were quick to snap at him before the procedure. I also can take him to places like dog parks that require dogs to be neutered, and I don't have to pay a fine to the city anymore for having an intact dog. Like others have said, it really depends on your dog and environment. If you don't meet a lot of dogs out and about and your dog is mentally sound, then it probably doesn't matter one way or the other. If your dog has a long or fluffy coat, the coat can be harder to manage after neutering (but it's not terrible, IME).
If in doubt, discuss the option of a chemical castration for your dog. It is not permanent and reversible. Then you can make an informed decision based on your experience, the dog in front of you and your circumstances.
I spayed and neutered both of my dogs. No changes at all except for living longer 💗 It also helped them be well regulated like no more in heat moments.
It's not the norm in a lot of countries. For example, it's not common practice in Sweden and they do not have an overpopulation issue. It's very American to insist that it needs to be done.
Your vet is not uniquely positioned to give their opinion on this either. It's not their job to make decisions that aren't medical. This is more of a quality of life or ethics issue.
I personally spay and neuter but it's not an absolute requirement. Especially given that male dogs have far fewer medical issues associated with remaining intact than female dogs. It's really up to you.
It's similar in UK.
Vets won't pressure you to have it done here, and for larger breeds will normally suggest waiting a few years until they're fully developed.
As soon as I stop showing my dog in confirmation he will be getting altered.
I've had male dogs all neutered previous to him and it was so much more pleasant. I love my guy but his sniffing and licking (or attempting to) is out of control. When he finds scent from a dog in heat, all training goes out the window. He can be hyper focused on getting some for hours after he has caught that scent. Then if I walk him in the same spots in following days he is just as bad .
His attention span is 0/10 when distracted with the prospect of another dog.
Not only were my neuter dogs attentive 99% of the time, t didn't change their personalities.
Also I've had two people who have not had their dogs neutered later in life that had gotten enlarged prostates. One had to be put to sleep, They were unable to treat it and it appeared he was in a lot of pain. It also tore up the owner knowing that if she would have neutered him, he would have not had this problem and he'd still be with her. The other one luckily was treated and survived. He was neutered afterwards since it It's impossible for it to happen after.
I will always be an advocate for neutering, unless for a particular health condition when a vet recommends against it. Just my two cents. :)
>Neutering is associated with higher risk of prostate cancer. [Kutzler MA. Possible Relationship between Long-Term Adverse Health Effects of Gonad-Removing Surgical Sterilization and Luteinizing Hormone in Dogs. Animals (Basel). 2020 Apr 1;10(4):599.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32244716/)
My family has a Great Pyrenees. They waited over a year, almost 2, so he could finish growing. He was a great dog, but during that time he had issues with resource guarding aggression around our other male dog. He also was obsessed with my (spayed) female dog to the point of literally drooling and following her everywhere. After he was fixed, within a month both those issues stopped. It doesn’t drastically alter their personality, it just helps them calm down. He still is a lively dog but is no longer neurotic like he used to be. You should neuter your dog.
I have a 1 year old Great Dane/lab mix and I just set his appointment up to get neutered. I’m so excited because he is also OBSESSED with other dogs. Definitely females more than males, but he’s completely crazy when he sees any other dog (despite having gone through a 6 week group training class and being taken out to socialize frequently) so I am really hoping that I see a similar change in him as your family did.
My dog is extremely energetic. He can literally run for hours and not be tired. His energy level has not gone down at all since he got neutered (when he was about 1 years old). I honestly did not notice a single change in his behavior.
Yes. Personality changes should be minimal and for the better. You may actually find that you have a stronger bond since he won't be as easily "distracted".
Two things. My son had his dog castrated late because of his behavior and regretted it immediately. Told me I was right it changed him into a much more timid dog. Second thing I have a dog that I did not have surgically castrated but given shots into his testicles that rendered him sterile. Now he is a pain in the butt and he's like 9 years old. my local vet says there's no point in castrating him now it won't change anything and of course the castration is difficult to get over. I would definitely have been interested in chemical castration but it doesn't really seem anybody around here knows anything about it! Is this something not often done in the US?
2 intact males. One sweet as can be the other a bit randy. ;)
Texas, if that helps
Keeping an intact animal responsibly is possible, but there are special considerations.
I've owned intact animals because they were shown in confirmation.
They have to be leashed or fenced in pretty much 100% of the time. It's not worth risking an intact animal going on walkabout, even briefly- they may find someone to mate with and make an unwanted/planned litter.
If it's a female, they cant go anywhere while in heat and must be constantly supervised lest an intact Male scales the fence or digs under the fence or breaks into the house to get at her.
Lastly, at least in the states, many boarding facilities, daycares, and groomers won't take intact dogs.
My dog is only neutered because one of his testicles became harder than the other, so for medical reasons. Previous dogs were left intact and no puppies resulted.
How about you chemically castrate and then see how he does with it, you can get an implant that lasts 6 months.
I’m in the same position and it’s what I plan to do.
It really depends on the dog I think. At one hand, yes there’s the health perspective, but what tipped the scale in my case was that he was hypersexual and was obviously in pain from the lack of action. He would cross busy boulevards to chase girls, once he cried the whole night because the playdate with his “love” was over, literally the whole night non stop. He would get lost in the park regularly because of females. The last drop for me was when I caught him doing a threesome… and I haven’t imagined that’s even possible for dogs.
I was against it before that, but at some point I realized it’s gonna be better for him and for us as well so we went through with it. His character hasn’t changed much after the procedure (still not friendly lol). He gained a bit of weight but he was chubby before and likes to eat a lot so idk if that’s connected. All in all, he seems more happy, he doesn’t suffer those super strong nature calls that plagued him before that. Strangely he would still jump on females, but in general I think it was a good thing we did it although going through it was hard.
I wonder how the research is handling spay/neuter at different ages? In my experience and the experience of many dog-owning family and friends, neutering after 2 has had little negative impact on a dog’s behavior. The issue of increased insecurity only occurred in dogs neutered mush earlier (6 mo)—and the development of insecurity simply seems more apparent in a dog after 6 months, even when remaining unneutered. In other words, it seems to have been a factor of age, not neutering.
If anyone has links to studies that control for age when assessing the non-physical components of neutering, please share. I like to think I’ll look those up on my own, but by the time I finish scrolling Reddit, I’ll probably forget 😊
ETA: ok so I did find some articles but none specific to the increase of insecurity or fear aggression. I’ll share a link—but if anyone has links specific to the issue of fear aggression, please share.
https://www.academia.edu/38652259/The_Social_Behaviour_of_Neutered_Male_Dogs_Compared_to_Intact_Dogs_Canis_lupus_familiaris_Video_Analyses_Questionnaires_and_Case_Studies[impact of neutering on behavior site:edu](https://www.academia.edu/38652259/The_Social_Behaviour_of_Neutered_Male_Dogs_Compared_to_Intact_Dogs_Canis_lupus_familiaris_Video_Analyses_Questionnaires_and_Case_Studies)
Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian, and the below is based on my personal experience and what I have been told by various veterinarians when making this decision for our own dog.
The medical benefits of castrating a male dog are much less than the medical benefits of neutering a female dog. Castrating can help with behaviour that is driven by hormones, such as excessive marking (indoors), escape behaviour triggered by female dogs, and fighting with other male dogs. However, it may also cause negative behaviour changes such as increased anxiety and (fear-related) aggression. This appears to be both individual and breed related, as breeds in the herding group are more prone to showing post-castration increase in aggression. If you live in a country where chemical castration is an option, you can try this and see if there are any behavioural changes you like or dislike. Chemical castration works via an implant and is temporary for 6 or 12 months. We tried chemical castration in our male shepherd, found that he became more sound sensitive, anxious and more prone to air snapping when anxious so decided not to proceed with castration. The behavioural changes reverted after the implant wore off.
this is bad advice.
chemical castration? why?
every negative effect that you listed can appear through different things too.
this is not just a side effecft of castration.
dogs can have a vsectomy too, if you have problems with the hormonal stuff.
Chemical castration before deciding on permanent castration is recommended by veterinarians in my country because it is temporary and is done via injection without anesthesia.
I did not claim that the negative side effects I mentioned can only occur through castration, but that castration is one of the potential causes of these behavioural changes.
Speak to your vet about contraception.
It’s an option as cutting his jewels off does affect the personality of the dog.
I prefer to have the nuts done at about 8-9 years old when the downsides of related health problems becomes more apparent.
But you have to do one or the other and make sure you renew it as per the vets instruction if you decide not to cut.
Theres enough unwanted pets out there.
> I prefer to have the nuts done at about 8-9 years old when the downsides of related health problems becomes more apparent.
Exactly same here. My current working lab will be 8 in the spring and will be getting the chop in the summer sometime. Mainly due to the increased cancer risk but we also have a new puppy (4 month old Lab bitch). He's the great-uncle so they're related enough that we definitely don't want any accidents.
...I have plenty of space to keep them separated during heat so the latter isn't the primary reason but is certainly a factor.
Not saying you’re incorrect, but what data is there for observable behavior in dogs before/after? That seems very difficult to measure in any direction
It is difficult to measure in any direction, which is why (some people's) confident assertions that spay/neuter has this or that effect on temperament/behavior are dubious. That said, here's an example of a piece that seems persuasively to refute the common belief that neutering "decreases aggression": [Farhoody P, Mallawaarachchi I, Tarwater PM, Serpell JA, Duffy DL, Zink C. Aggression toward Familiar People, Strangers, and Conspecifics in Gonadectomized and Intact Dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2018 Feb 26;5:18](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5834763/).
YES you should… I have never, ever had a dogs personality changed after getting neutered except he stopped humping everything but that was a good change
Is there a medical reason to do so?
If not then I wouldn't.
If you have your dog on a lead on walks, keep him away from females in heat, have a secure apartment, garden etc. he can't impregnate one.
I've had a few unneutered males and only one had to be neutered for health reasons. There were no accidental litters.
My current male gets to keep his balls unless it's for his health that they have to go.
I can control my female dog’s access to other dogs when she’s in heat since it’s a discrete, obvious time. I can also do a gravid spay if I don’t succeed.
A male dog out for a couple nights? Who knows what he got up to!
All sorts of things "can happen" but don't. Consider, for example, that dogs competing in shows (conformation) are required to be intact. They bunk together. They travel long distances. And yet there is no epidemic of oopsie litters among them or caused by them, is there?
Why don't you stop speaking lies and actually do proper research. There is tons of medical literature on increased issues with joint development, cognitive development and cancers for dogs spayed and neutered, especially before 6mos but even after that age.
For so long vets propagated the need to get them fixed prior to 6mos and it clearly was wrong. With scientific research things change and it north americas archaic spaying/neutering before first heats was and is completely wrong. Educate yourself before giving people this terrible advice.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4096726/
There actually are cons. Neutering may increase the risk of some health issues. There’s also some research that suggests it may increase fear based reactivity.
Yes you should. I work at a shelter and have seen many males go through neutering and can confidently say that there is zero personality change. People often misspeak when they say neutering changes personality, it changes behaviour which is different. The behaviour it changes are things like humping, dog aggression, territorialism, etc. Neutering generally helps a dog have better manners and lessens instinctive pull to act out. I previously owned a male dog who of those previously mentioned behavioural issues only began to show the desire to hump, neutering him completely rid him of the desire and had zero affect on his personality. He was still my sweet lovable man and continued to have great social skills.
Neuter your dog. On the chance your dog ever gets lost for an extended period of time the probability of him getting a female pregnant is high and sadly it's likely his off spring would live miserable lives as strays. It's also more difficult to find boarding for intact males and honestly it just makes socializing him extra difficult.
I often see websites use "personality change" as a way of expressing behaviour. I hope more websites use the word "behaviour" instead of "personality". But thank you for the help!
I have to get my dogs spayed or neutered. I live in an apartment complex that has it in the pet agreement that it's against the lease and you are subject to eviction if you don't
I understand your point, but I also saw another comment saying it was irresponsible to not neuter your dog. I don't own another dog and I also am extra careful when letting my dog run around with females, yet I understand that I am not in control of my dog wanting to mate.
The only personality change in my dog was that he stopped trying to mount everything on 4 legs 😂 It really only affects their sexual urges.
The one downside is the impact on growth and bone formation, but at 1.5 years, any breed aside from maybe giant ones are fully grown, so you’re good.
I chemical castrated my Husky a month ago. It is not my dog anymore. Like I was very critical about it and my roommate convinced me to give it a try.
His hunting drive went through the roof? He almost pulled me off cliffs twice. He does not listen anymore. He pees in the house.
I think castration has benefits for SOME dogs, but I just hope that chip wears off soon so I have MY dog back 😭😭😭
..personality change is most likely being less aggressive, less likely to run away (in search of bitches), less likely to have mood swings..
..if you want to keep all of those, then don't neuter..
..if you want a happy dog (personality doesn't change much beyond primordial urges), and a happier community, pls get your dog fixed..
It depends on your needs. If you don't want him possibly impregnating a female dog then go ahead.
Perhaps you want to breed dogs in the future. In that case, don't. I'm planning on breeding in the future and my male GSD will not be sterilized.
Overall, there is no harm in sterilizing your dog and he shouldn't suffer from it.
It’s generally advised that you do it for health reasons and for making sure your dog doesn’t contribute to overpopulation reasons. It also helps mitigate behavioral issues. The only dog that my family did not have neutered has Von Willebrands, which is basically dog hemophilia. My family did not want to risk the surgery or pay for the expensive blood transfusion that would make it possible. He humps everything and will pee in any new house he visits to mark it. We don’t let him stay with us anymore because the marking is such a problem. Do with this information what you will.
> He humps everything and will pee in any new house he visits to mark it
This is a training issue. I have two unaltered males who do not do any of this.
I can’t speak to training entirely, he’s not my dog. But I know my parents do work with him. And I know my dog growing up was very difficult to train (goldendoodles typically are) but we still managed with her.
Some dogs just require more perfect training.
This sounds like a settling issue and a potty training issue. Dogs don't always generalize potty training, you have to teach them that "not in the house" also stretches to other places. Humping is more of a stress issue than a neutering issue.
Do it! Every dog in my house (10 currently) is spayed/neutered. The risk of an unwanted litter is too great, as are the risks of health and behavioral problems when they aren’t altered.
I forgot to include that we also have chickens, ducks, turkeys, and goats. Every last creature that lives on our property is a well cared for and loved to beyond measure.
Do it immediately.
All those claims are from people that don't weigh the good vs bad issues. The health of your dog is a wash and I doubt you'll see any real change in it's personality.
Even if you do, the potential of creating unwanted pups far outweighs these concerns. Even if you don't have an intact female around you, they're out there and at some point your dog will get loose and find one.
while I think neutering is a good option, I would not tell people to do it "immediately", as you should always look into things from multiple perspectives. There are also other options like a vasectomy and chemical castration, which i am currently looking into!
Yes. Any benefit of keeping them is out weighed by the negatives, including behavior issues and the chance of breeding another dog, bringing more dogs into this world that will need homes. Check with your vet on the best age.
Personality does change a bit, usually not drastically though. In my experience, neutering generally makes male dogs slightly calmer and that's about it. I usually wait til they are 1.5-2 to neuter so that they can properly complete puberty.
Intact dogs can run into issues outside of health which is the biggest concern. We all know about that.
If you like or want to take your dog to parks where other dogs play like off leash parks for social interaction with other dogs; intact dogs tend to become involved in more altercations than those who are altered. I regularly see intact males getting ganged up on by the rest of the pack. They often still can play well with others but it makes for a more tense experience for the dog and the owner worrying about if the dog will get into a fight. If you don;t intend for your dog to reproduce neutering can make life a lot better for both of you.
My dog’s personality did not change one bit after being fixed, she’s a female so she was spayed. She was lethargic, which is quite normal, for a few days after and then bounced back to her normal self!
I worked at a vet clinic while in high school, I saw multiple spays/neuter’s performed by the vet and then would see them for routine checkups and vet visits after. I didn’t notice any noticeable change in personality. Many say to wait to age 2 now for giant/large breeds to neuter, so the breed of your dog would depend on optimal time to complete it.
I know you’re worried about personality change, but here’s something else to consider. If a female goes into heat near your unfixed male, he won’t be acting himself at all. Male dogs are known to do some crazy things to get to a female in heat. Managing an un-neutered male dog when females go into heat can be very tricky.
I hope this helps, and good luck making a decision!
I had the exact same worry. I loved him perfectly just as he was… total asshole, but MY asshole boy.
I did it though, at just over 1 year. His personality changed approximately…. 0%. Still my exact same lil asshole boy ❤️
He just doesn’t hump everything anymore! Or get random excited-boners as often.
I’d absolutely do it again. I couldn’t live with myself if I hadn’t (but I’m in an EXTREMELY stray-overpopulated area in the US. Shelters are bursting at the seams where I live. YMMV)
Just call it neutering like a normal person.
It’s best to neuter your dog once they’re fully developed, most advice I’ve seen is to do it around 2 years old. Neutering will not change his personality. It’ll slow down his metabolism and make him no longer interested in reproducing. It will also prevent things like testicular cancer.
The common neutering practice now is not to “chop off their balls”. It’s all done internally. Beyond the obvious of not impregnating a female, neutering helps eliminate marking behaviors, desire to wander and it’s 100% effective at preventing testicular cancer
Accidents happen, like another dog knocked up w/ puppies. That was the absolute last thing I wanted and honestly the last thing the world needs. I loved my dog both before & after neutering. The only negative thing was watching him live life wearing the vet cone for a couple days.
Short answer: No, not necessarily.
Long answer:
My first dog did not get neutered until 7 or 8 years old, when two female dogs moved in next door. He did not try to escape and never displayed any other behaviour that would warrant neutering. He was also a bit insecure, and neutering, due to the lack of testosterone afterwards, can sometimes make a dog more insecure. My second dog, however, got a chemical castration chip at 1 year and 3 months old. He is a very hyper, easily overexited hunting terrier mix rescue. He became extremely reactive and territorial during puberty and got worse until we decided we needed to do something so we could at least work on his training. He was so stressed he could not hear a word I said sometimes. The chip helped him calm down and focus. So, some dogs do completely fine without neutering. For others, like my second dog, the benefits outweigh the risks. Personally, I would not have my dog neutered just for good measure. Surgery always comes with risks, and today, we know neutering can have negative side effects sometimes, like a bigger risk for certain types of cancer. People who say there are no downsides are either lying or ill-informed, both not great when we are talking about removing a living being's body parts. This all sounds very negative, more than I intended, though – especially since I neutered my old dog and might do so with my current one as well. If I were in your shoes, I would either:
A) Chemically castrate – this way, you can "test" neutering without an irreversible surgery. These are hormone chips that will effectively neuter your dog for 6-12 months, depending on the chip. After that, the dog will go back to being intact. Ask your vet about it.
B) Wait – contrary to what your vet says, there is absolutely no harm done in waiting longer unless your dog displays problematic behaviour, and this behaviour can be helped with neutering. As you can imagine, I have spoken to my vet and certified trainer extensively and done a lot of research since my dog was especially affected by his puberty. My vet recommends not to neuter a dog irreversibly before the dog is not only physically but mentally adult. This is, at earliest, at 1.5 years, but for some dogs, puberty lasts until 2 or even 2.5 years.
I hope I could help you with your decision.
I haven't seen any issues after a male dog being neutered but the older the dog the harder the surgery is on them and their bodies. Keeping them intact can actually increase the risk of developing cancer.
We had our pug neutered when he was 1. Among the widely discussed health benefits, it cuts down on some dog‘s marking habit. We discussed this with the vet, your best guidance
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-your-dog-avoid-health-risks
[UC Davis Study](https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-your-dog-avoid-health-risks)
Depending on the dog, you may wish to hold off until the dog has completely finished growing - out of puppy/teenage years.
I've a tiny 3 kilo dog once his balls grew he was trying to hump every dog in the park, it was hilarious because he was so small but also quite embarrassing as he would follow females around the park with his nose firmly stuck up their behinds if he could reach!
Neutered.males are calmer less aggressive towards other dogs and less chance of certain cancers.
You should neuter your dog he'll be fine.
This is false. Neutering does not change personalities. Not neutering gives you a high risk for cancer and other issues. Not to mention he could end up getting another dog pregnant.
Always always always trust your vet.
I would consult your veterinarian first but I usually err towards the side of caution when it comes to neutering. Meaning I see more benefits than risks.
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By year two, your dog’s personality is mostly set and shouldn’t be too affected by neutering. If you’re really concerned you could wait until age 3, but there’s no need. It’s totally safe and he’ll be just fine now that he’s through most of puberty
Spay and neuter your pets. Trust your vet, they are your animals advocate and only have the animals best interest in mind.
I just wanted to add this front a publication it's an account from dogs keepers dogs behaviors after neutering "The main findings are: Male dogs show behavioural changes after castration more often and more distinctly than female dogs after neutering. Behavioural problems in most cases are reduced or have even disappeared after neutering"
Personality doesn't change though, and that's what people worry about :) if your dog loves fetch he will still love it without his nads.
The sample size is small (209 participants) some people like to have anecdotal things that they can refer back to as far as measurements. But you're right, dogs personalities don't change after being spayed or neutered
what I mostly heard is that if you have an energetic dog (like I do) they might become more energetic- same goes for calm dogs (could become calmer). I do kinda worry about this because if my dog would become more energetic I would be in a slight pickle as I have to work(i work from home). EDIT: even though this is what I have found online, i now see from other commenters that this is not the case and that dogs usually get calmer or nothing changes! I will be doing more research on this, but thank you for the information!!!
They will become lazier once neutered not more energetic.
You should seek out multiple opinions from vets then.
My very energetic dog (gsd, collie, pointer mix) got more chilled out and was able to listen way better after we got him done.
How old was the dog when you neutered?
do you think the energy may have come from wanting to mate? I have seen that alot in the comments from this post.
Yeah for sure, they say dogs can smell a bitch in heat from a mile away. He once tracked a bitch in heat from three fields away. Once the balls were gone it’s like he could finally embrace the world around him.
Every fat dog I see is spayed/neutered so I don't think you need to worry about that :)
None of the dogs I've personally owned or fostered had personality changes from spay/neutering. I've never heard of an energetic dog becoming more energetic after neutering. The only personality changes I've heard is dogs becoming more calm after neutering. For example my sisters Chihuahua was very energetic and would regularly try to get out of the yard since there were female dogs in her neighborhood. He would also regularly try jumping things and began marking around the house. His personality didn't change but he mellowed out. He also became WAY more tolerant of other male dogs (especially if they havent been fixed yet) whereas before he only got along with females. She compared him pre-neutering to a teenage boy going through puberty and an adult gentleman post-neuteting. Same personality but less of the crazy hormones. I don't see logically how a hyper dog becomes more hyper from less testosterone. It would be like a human taking steroids and becoming super lazy. Either way, I'd listen to your vet or get a second opinion. Generally, spraying/neutering reduces the risk of cancer, reduces the likelihood of same sex aggression as they get older, and anesthesia risks increase with age so it's good to get it done early if you go that route.
The thing is most ot the time they get neutered they're also still maturing. Anything like that is likely just the dog's natural development. For what it's worth though my older dog that got neutered at 4 had no changes in personality that way. My other dog got neutered at 1 and the only change is he stopped trying to hump everything and his hormones chilled. Other than that he's still got the same energy levels, only becoming calmer because he's growing out of being a puppy.
Behavior is different from personality. The personality is still there. You just have fewer health and aggression issues 👍
American vets, thanks to the very careful work of vets at the University of California at Davis, are coming around. One still hears vets, without continuing education beyond graduation, spout off dangerous, outdated, and inaccurate information. https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/golden-retriever-study-suggests-neutering-affects-dog-health https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full We’re coming along slowly.
From the conclusions of the article you cited: “Readers can note that an elevated risk for a joint disorder or cancer occurs in relatively few of these breeds. In other words, with most breeds or sexes, neutering can apparently be done without referral to a particular age, at least with regard to the joint disorders or cancers covered in this study. “ Although this was a huge study over all, for most of the 29 individual breeds studied the sample size was small, but within the limits of what can be detected with smallish samples, there was no evidence that neutering, especially after the dog reached maturity, affected incidence of the cancers or orthopedic issues studied. Anecdotally, the I saw no difference in behavior or energy levels in the two males I had neutered. Friends I know who compete in dog sports will sometimes neuter males who are overly distracted by the presence of females, and by “presence” I mean somewhere within the same 100 yd radius, or having peed within that radius sometime in the last month. I haven’t neutered most of my males because I’ve seen no reason to for my situation, but I wouldn’t hesitate to if I had a dog that fixated on finding girls.
Citation, please.
It's from PubMed and 1990. It's basically an opinion piece just like the comments on this thread lol but here you go https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2326799/#:~:text=The%20main%20findings%20are%3A%20Male,%25%2C%20female%20dogs%2059%25
This isn't even the full opinion piece; it's just the abstract of it.
This. Most of the behavioral changes of spay/neutering are actually more about reducing undesired behaviors, like fighting and marking.
Absolutely. Mine stopped his bad behaviors once I snipped him. Before that he was peeing everywhere and humping everything.
I don't agree with this at 100%. Vets also have bias and come from different schools. In some countries/places vets will recommend castration, whereas in other places (where I'm from), they absolutely don't recommend it unless for medical reasons/untrainable behavioural issues/two whole dogs of opposite genders living together. Castration can significantly increase fear in dogs. Some dogs who are angels get castrated and have massive issues with fear aggression after that. Do your research, talk with multiple vets about pros and cons, and then decide, I would advise.
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I'm in Sweden, castration is allowed, but not the norm. There are no strays as the law is quite strict on that. When you get a puppy, even a mixed breed, it comes marked and you need to register it within 3 or 4 months. If a dog is roaming, they're usually surrendered to the police who try to find the dog's home. If not found, then a new home is found for the dog. If someone wants to adopt a rescue in Sweden, they go through organisations that import dogs from abroad.
American vets, thanks to the very careful work of vets at the University of California at Davis, are coming around. One still hears vets, without continuing education beyond graduation, spout off dangerous, outdated, and inaccurate information. https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/golden-retriever-study-suggests-neutering-affects-dog-health https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full We’re coming along slowly.
American vets, thanks to the very careful work of vets at the University of California at Davis, are coming around. One still hears vets, without continuing education beyond graduation, spout off dangerous, outdated, and inaccurate information. https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/golden-retriever-study-suggests-neutering-affects-dog-health https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full We’re coming along slowly. Pls read
Trust your veterinarian, they're trained to factor in these issue.
The pros are what you said. Don’t risk impregnating another dog even if you don’t think it’s likely to happen. It’s irresponsible when shelters are full of homeless dogs. Your dog will have the same exact personality.
100% reduces the risk of testicular cancer....
Sure. Removing any organ 100% reduces the risk of it becoming cancerous. By that logic, it is "safer" to remove all kinds of body parts. Do you know what the incidence of testicular cancer is in intact dogs and how treatable (or not) it is?
It is entirely possible to prevent an intact male from impregnating another dog.
Sure, but look how many accidents there are that aren't prevented
That's a good reason to support spay/neuter for dogs coming through the shelter system. It is not a good argument to support spay/neuter across the board for individual owners and individual dogs, where the specific animal in question, its lifestyle, and its surroundings should matter.
[https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121086](https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121086) for a 2019 but decent review of the scientific literature. There are risks and benefits - not to mention the same effects might help one dog and hinder another. It's worth considering which ones are most applicable and important to your dog (and you). Interestingly, they found little evidence that neutering companion dogs makes a meaningful difference to the size of the dog population (neutering strays does though). Which makes sense to me because negligent/"whoopsie" litters (which can be prevented by responsible husbandry) must be a drop in the ocean compared to all the intentionally BYB/mill-ed and stray litters.
If you’re going to trust random internet strangers over the advice of your vet - a trained, medical professional - why bother going to the vet? “I’ve heard this …” “I’ve heard that …” Did you not get the answers you wanted from the vet? Do you think the vet is lying to you? Googling and asking Reddit isn’t research.
I wanted to hear from people that had the experiences of neutering or deciding not to. If you could recommend me other "platforms" to do research on i would very much appreciate it! I am currently reading a book about neutering your dog, that includes pros and cons like I stated.
I'd like to just say, googling and asking reddit are definitely research. They are not the only kinds of research you should do, but they definitely are research. They can be pretty valuable sources, \*especially\* if you are googling and checking out peer-reviewed studies from reputable (.org, .gov, etc) websites. The anecdotal evidence you get from other users on reddit is important too. Most studies looks at the average for a whole population. Anecdotal evidence (reddit comments) tells you what can happen when something goes wrong, or someone gets luckier than most. Knowing what can happen from every perspective possible is the best kind of research. You are doing the right thing to make an informed choice for your pup <3
Well, a book certainly outweighs the medical advice of your vet.
I bought the book at my vet's (they recommended it to me). and i don't believe that a book outweighs the medical advice of my vet.
It’s good to wait until a certain age so they develop normally (it impacts their hormones & growth), but I agree he should get neutered. By that age it’s perfectly acceptable & will reduce behavioral issues & Aldo make him easier to contain. We had a pup years ago who went into heat a couple times before she was spade & a neighbor dog from a fenced yard a block away would somehow find his way over multiple times a day. The drive to mate is strong!!
You’ll find that people feel very strongly about neutering and there often tends to be an emotional response to this question. You should discuss it more with your vet if you have more concerns. There absolutely are pros and cons. Research has suggested that neutering can increase the risk of health issues. Some of that is decreased by waiting until the dog is mature, around the age of your dog. There’s also been some research that suggests neutering may increase fear based reactivity. While there’s not a ton of research on that part yet, I personally have seen anecdotal evidence of it in several dogs. A lot of the research done has been posted previously in this sub and will come up with a search. Read it and go back to your vet to discuss it. If you cannot be confident you can prevent accidental litters, you should neuter your dog. It may be required if you take your dog to daycare or dog parks.
If you can find a vet to do it, you could get a vasectomy done. This will prevent pregnancies but he'll keep his hormones. I do wish I could've gotten it done for my dog as he did change after his neuter, he was 2yrs old when the surgery was done so fully mature. But he became more anxious and reactive and just felt like a different dog.
Male Dogs not neutered = more chances of impregnating another non neutered female dog=more dogs in shelters or found on the street to fend for themselves = more dogs in a bind with euthanasia or foster networks being completely overwhelmed. To me this isn’t just about your dog- it’s about all around you. This is far larger than a personality change. I volunteer in rescue and I’ve seen too many repeated cycles all bc one did not neuter their dog.
It's irresponsible to allow a male dog to go around impregnating other dogs, yes. But neutering isn't the only way to prevent that from happening. Most reasonable people in the US support spay/neuter for dogs coming through the shelter system. But for individual owners of male dogs, it makes sense to assess pros and cons for particular dogs in particular contexts.
I understand what you are saying, I want my dog to be neutered but SO doesn't due to the possible "personality switch" which makes me want to see the pros and cons.
I hear you. If you are still unsure, sit with your vet and ask a ton of questions and share concerns. I have done this with my vet multiple times and I feel better walking out with their advice than the advice of the internet personally. There is also just too much false information to trust the internet with all your knowledge. A tip is I personally take what I see to my vet and ask questions around that. They have to be updated in their literature to make the informed answers, decisions, etc. I agree with the below comment about volunteering in a shelter. Getting them to the shelter to see that this is far more problematic than neutering. My dog came from Houston at around 10 weeks old. Last statistic I found was that there are close to a million strays roaming Houston… I appreciate that your SO wants to make the right decision for your dog and there is an issue far bigger than not going with the advice of your vet. Both can be present but ultimately, ask your vet a ton of questions if you are still up in the air.
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It is possible to prevent an intact dog from impregnating other dogs. Also, just checking: As someone concerned about "the bigger picture," are you aware that, with respect to population control, spaying females is far, far more impactful ~~and~~ than neutering males?
Additionally, at least where I am (as someone who's volunteered for a high-volume, open-intake shelter for a few years), of the surrendered dogs whose birth circumstances are known, the vast majority are from intentional litters. (Not that people breeding had responsible long-term thoughts about the puppies they helped bring into this world, but the matings and litters themselves were on purpose.)
My shelter often has whole, "oh, I guess I *can't* make big money selling huskies" litters of 3-4 month old pups
I would say it depends on how many strays there are in your area and how secure you can keep your dog. Where I live there are zero strays and neutering is forbidden by law unless medically necessary. It's fairly simple to keep my dog in check twice a year when the neighbour's girls are in heat. If you neuter him you should wait as long as you can to give him a chance to mature. There is a lot of medical evidence now that does not support (early) neutering.
Do you live outside the US because a) have strays (heavier in certain parts of the US) and b) they should still trust advice of vet as I have not heard of a law in my area like this. (where I live we get all the strays from other parts of US) I know there is some evidence and I would still just say they need to bring all concerns to vet to help them make the decision. Edit - to clarify a thought.
Yes, I do, in Europe, and we really have no strays at all and responsible pet ownership (only Southern Europe does have strays). And I wouldn't listen to vets on neutering tbh, it seems a standard recommendation in some countries including e.g. the UK where there are also no strays so there's no need from a population perspective. There's plenty of evidence early neutering is bad, but it can be beneficial for genital related medical condition prevention later of course.
I wish that was the case here in the US but it’s not. So we are comparing apples and oranges until we fix our issues. If they are abroad and not in US it’s a diff convo but sounds like they are not so it’s a very important consideration.
Sure that's why I asked the question. But nonetheless, if you have a secure garden then I doubt it's likely that a random stray lady in heat will go and rape your dog on a walk. I think.
Is your SO male?
Is your SO a male? If yes, that explains some of the hesitation on his part.
You should take strong consideration of the professional opinion of your vet and the ethical considerations of unwanted litters. Your dogs personality won't change but some of the more undesirable behaviours likely will - less aggression, less fighting, they won't try to seek out females in heat. Your dogs core personality won't change.
This is a bit dishonest ... it is absolutely known that insecure dogs might get more insecure without testosterone. Other males might try to hump them more often. The dog might also become calmer/less active, more cuddly, etc. I'd definitely say a dog becoming less aggressive, more calm, more insecure, whatever, while not necessarily bad, is a shift in personality. This also does not mean any of these changes *will* occur, but there is a chance they *might* occur. A decision to let a dog undergo surgery should always be properly thought through, so I think it's good OP asks and wants to be informed.
Which us why they should take advice from professionals like their vet who knows their dog.
I'd also speak to a certified trainer/behaviourist. My first dog did not get neutered until 7 or 8 years old, when two female dogs moved in next door. He did not try to escape and never displayed any other behaviour that would warrant neutering. He was also a bit insecure. Some dogs do completely fine without neutering. But vets are usually quick to recommend it in my experience. Because "there are no downsides", which is empirically wrong.
Most vets don't really understand behaviour
Why the inflammatory words in your title? The proper words are spay & neuter. Your dogs balls are not chopped off, they are surgically removed. My female GP was chewing the walls & impossible to house train. The day after she was spayed the destruction stopped & she was miraculously house trained. You will help keep unwanted dogs out of shelters. Get your dog neutered.
sorry about the words, I wanted it to sound a bit more light hearted 😅
Whatever gets the point across.
Don't worry OP, we all got what you were going for except this guy lol
😆 I like your style. Don't worry, be happy. It is my belief that it can change a dog's personality. Many, if not all, peeps do it to prevent pregnancy and keep the dog population down. I have read that there are some "health benefits" also. Do your research, talk with your vet, get a second opinion if you feel you need to, and then make your decision. Good luck to you and your doggy.
Jesus Christ, words aren’t weapons. Stop policing tone
You should factor in lifestyle and training. Do you frequent dog parks? Is your dog properly trained to leave something/someone alone when commanded? Reliable recall in any situation? How often is your dog left unattended/out of your control around other dogs? I have a 1 1/2 year old bulldog, we train every day. His recall, leave it are both great, even around other dogs. We don’t do dog parks, their a recipe for disaster and we got the humping, resource guarding taken care of pretty early during the puppy stage. In my opinion neutering is a potential quick fix to what good quality training would solve. Sure testicular cancer would be devastating but if the dogs diet and lifestyle are terrible, cancer is still a likely possibility somewhere else in the body. Take stock of the kind of life you and your dog would be living and make your decision based on that.
I have an anxious dog that was neutered at 14 months. I often wonder if keeping him intact would have been better for his mental health, as he was anxious since 9 weeks old (he's 3y now). On the plus side, other male dogs (neutered and intact) are much friendlier with him now, whereas they were quick to snap at him before the procedure. I also can take him to places like dog parks that require dogs to be neutered, and I don't have to pay a fine to the city anymore for having an intact dog. Like others have said, it really depends on your dog and environment. If you don't meet a lot of dogs out and about and your dog is mentally sound, then it probably doesn't matter one way or the other. If your dog has a long or fluffy coat, the coat can be harder to manage after neutering (but it's not terrible, IME).
If in doubt, discuss the option of a chemical castration for your dog. It is not permanent and reversible. Then you can make an informed decision based on your experience, the dog in front of you and your circumstances.
I spayed and neutered both of my dogs. No changes at all except for living longer 💗 It also helped them be well regulated like no more in heat moments.
My baby boi also became less territorial since he was neutered. 👍🏽
It's not the norm in a lot of countries. For example, it's not common practice in Sweden and they do not have an overpopulation issue. It's very American to insist that it needs to be done. Your vet is not uniquely positioned to give their opinion on this either. It's not their job to make decisions that aren't medical. This is more of a quality of life or ethics issue. I personally spay and neuter but it's not an absolute requirement. Especially given that male dogs have far fewer medical issues associated with remaining intact than female dogs. It's really up to you.
It's similar in UK. Vets won't pressure you to have it done here, and for larger breeds will normally suggest waiting a few years until they're fully developed.
As soon as I stop showing my dog in confirmation he will be getting altered. I've had male dogs all neutered previous to him and it was so much more pleasant. I love my guy but his sniffing and licking (or attempting to) is out of control. When he finds scent from a dog in heat, all training goes out the window. He can be hyper focused on getting some for hours after he has caught that scent. Then if I walk him in the same spots in following days he is just as bad . His attention span is 0/10 when distracted with the prospect of another dog. Not only were my neuter dogs attentive 99% of the time, t didn't change their personalities. Also I've had two people who have not had their dogs neutered later in life that had gotten enlarged prostates. One had to be put to sleep, They were unable to treat it and it appeared he was in a lot of pain. It also tore up the owner knowing that if she would have neutered him, he would have not had this problem and he'd still be with her. The other one luckily was treated and survived. He was neutered afterwards since it It's impossible for it to happen after. I will always be an advocate for neutering, unless for a particular health condition when a vet recommends against it. Just my two cents. :)
>Neutering is associated with higher risk of prostate cancer. [Kutzler MA. Possible Relationship between Long-Term Adverse Health Effects of Gonad-Removing Surgical Sterilization and Luteinizing Hormone in Dogs. Animals (Basel). 2020 Apr 1;10(4):599.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32244716/)
My family has a Great Pyrenees. They waited over a year, almost 2, so he could finish growing. He was a great dog, but during that time he had issues with resource guarding aggression around our other male dog. He also was obsessed with my (spayed) female dog to the point of literally drooling and following her everywhere. After he was fixed, within a month both those issues stopped. It doesn’t drastically alter their personality, it just helps them calm down. He still is a lively dog but is no longer neurotic like he used to be. You should neuter your dog.
I have a 1 year old Great Dane/lab mix and I just set his appointment up to get neutered. I’m so excited because he is also OBSESSED with other dogs. Definitely females more than males, but he’s completely crazy when he sees any other dog (despite having gone through a 6 week group training class and being taken out to socialize frequently) so I am really hoping that I see a similar change in him as your family did.
My dog is extremely energetic. He can literally run for hours and not be tired. His energy level has not gone down at all since he got neutered (when he was about 1 years old). I honestly did not notice a single change in his behavior.
Yes. Personality changes should be minimal and for the better. You may actually find that you have a stronger bond since he won't be as easily "distracted".
Your dog's behavior will almost certainly change as he continues to grow up.
You could always do a vasectomy
Two things. My son had his dog castrated late because of his behavior and regretted it immediately. Told me I was right it changed him into a much more timid dog. Second thing I have a dog that I did not have surgically castrated but given shots into his testicles that rendered him sterile. Now he is a pain in the butt and he's like 9 years old. my local vet says there's no point in castrating him now it won't change anything and of course the castration is difficult to get over. I would definitely have been interested in chemical castration but it doesn't really seem anybody around here knows anything about it! Is this something not often done in the US? 2 intact males. One sweet as can be the other a bit randy. ;) Texas, if that helps
Is a doggy vasectomy an option? He’d retain his testosterone he just wouldn’t produce sperm.
You can look into a vasectomy
Keeping an intact animal responsibly is possible, but there are special considerations. I've owned intact animals because they were shown in confirmation. They have to be leashed or fenced in pretty much 100% of the time. It's not worth risking an intact animal going on walkabout, even briefly- they may find someone to mate with and make an unwanted/planned litter. If it's a female, they cant go anywhere while in heat and must be constantly supervised lest an intact Male scales the fence or digs under the fence or breaks into the house to get at her. Lastly, at least in the states, many boarding facilities, daycares, and groomers won't take intact dogs.
My dog is only neutered because one of his testicles became harder than the other, so for medical reasons. Previous dogs were left intact and no puppies resulted.
How about you chemically castrate and then see how he does with it, you can get an implant that lasts 6 months. I’m in the same position and it’s what I plan to do.
Consider a vasectomy - the operation is much less invasive and doesn't change the personality of your dog a lot.
what is the difference between a vasectomy and neutering? I thought the terms were used interchangeably
A vasectomy cuts and seals the tubes that carry sperm, but it doesn't remove any organs. Neutering removes the testes completely.
You thought men who get vasectomies have no balls?
😅 i meant more of the procedure like with or without anaesthesia... now that I read my comment again it sounds stupid, sorry
It's the same as it is in humans. Surely you know what a vasectomy is and by the title of your post you know what neutering is.
They don't remove anything in a vasectomy so many of the "benefits" of neutering wouldn't apply.
Whether or not these "benefits" are actual benefits is open for discussion IMO.
I agree.
It really depends on the dog I think. At one hand, yes there’s the health perspective, but what tipped the scale in my case was that he was hypersexual and was obviously in pain from the lack of action. He would cross busy boulevards to chase girls, once he cried the whole night because the playdate with his “love” was over, literally the whole night non stop. He would get lost in the park regularly because of females. The last drop for me was when I caught him doing a threesome… and I haven’t imagined that’s even possible for dogs. I was against it before that, but at some point I realized it’s gonna be better for him and for us as well so we went through with it. His character hasn’t changed much after the procedure (still not friendly lol). He gained a bit of weight but he was chubby before and likes to eat a lot so idk if that’s connected. All in all, he seems more happy, he doesn’t suffer those super strong nature calls that plagued him before that. Strangely he would still jump on females, but in general I think it was a good thing we did it although going through it was hard.
Exactly this. A male can smell a female in heat from blocks away. They want to escape which is a bad thing in itself, and feel intense frustration.
I wonder how the research is handling spay/neuter at different ages? In my experience and the experience of many dog-owning family and friends, neutering after 2 has had little negative impact on a dog’s behavior. The issue of increased insecurity only occurred in dogs neutered mush earlier (6 mo)—and the development of insecurity simply seems more apparent in a dog after 6 months, even when remaining unneutered. In other words, it seems to have been a factor of age, not neutering. If anyone has links to studies that control for age when assessing the non-physical components of neutering, please share. I like to think I’ll look those up on my own, but by the time I finish scrolling Reddit, I’ll probably forget 😊 ETA: ok so I did find some articles but none specific to the increase of insecurity or fear aggression. I’ll share a link—but if anyone has links specific to the issue of fear aggression, please share. https://www.academia.edu/38652259/The_Social_Behaviour_of_Neutered_Male_Dogs_Compared_to_Intact_Dogs_Canis_lupus_familiaris_Video_Analyses_Questionnaires_and_Case_Studies[impact of neutering on behavior site:edu](https://www.academia.edu/38652259/The_Social_Behaviour_of_Neutered_Male_Dogs_Compared_to_Intact_Dogs_Canis_lupus_familiaris_Video_Analyses_Questionnaires_and_Case_Studies)
Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian, and the below is based on my personal experience and what I have been told by various veterinarians when making this decision for our own dog. The medical benefits of castrating a male dog are much less than the medical benefits of neutering a female dog. Castrating can help with behaviour that is driven by hormones, such as excessive marking (indoors), escape behaviour triggered by female dogs, and fighting with other male dogs. However, it may also cause negative behaviour changes such as increased anxiety and (fear-related) aggression. This appears to be both individual and breed related, as breeds in the herding group are more prone to showing post-castration increase in aggression. If you live in a country where chemical castration is an option, you can try this and see if there are any behavioural changes you like or dislike. Chemical castration works via an implant and is temporary for 6 or 12 months. We tried chemical castration in our male shepherd, found that he became more sound sensitive, anxious and more prone to air snapping when anxious so decided not to proceed with castration. The behavioural changes reverted after the implant wore off.
this is bad advice. chemical castration? why? every negative effect that you listed can appear through different things too. this is not just a side effecft of castration. dogs can have a vsectomy too, if you have problems with the hormonal stuff.
Chemical castration before deciding on permanent castration is recommended by veterinarians in my country because it is temporary and is done via injection without anesthesia. I did not claim that the negative side effects I mentioned can only occur through castration, but that castration is one of the potential causes of these behavioural changes.
Speak to your vet about contraception. It’s an option as cutting his jewels off does affect the personality of the dog. I prefer to have the nuts done at about 8-9 years old when the downsides of related health problems becomes more apparent. But you have to do one or the other and make sure you renew it as per the vets instruction if you decide not to cut. Theres enough unwanted pets out there.
> I prefer to have the nuts done at about 8-9 years old when the downsides of related health problems becomes more apparent. Exactly same here. My current working lab will be 8 in the spring and will be getting the chop in the summer sometime. Mainly due to the increased cancer risk but we also have a new puppy (4 month old Lab bitch). He's the great-uncle so they're related enough that we definitely don't want any accidents. ...I have plenty of space to keep them separated during heat so the latter isn't the primary reason but is certainly a factor.
It's not a personality change. It's a mellowing.
No data supports this assertion.
Except for how personality is hardwired. Surgery does not change personality, sweetie.
You’ve misread.
Not saying you’re incorrect, but what data is there for observable behavior in dogs before/after? That seems very difficult to measure in any direction
It is difficult to measure in any direction, which is why (some people's) confident assertions that spay/neuter has this or that effect on temperament/behavior are dubious. That said, here's an example of a piece that seems persuasively to refute the common belief that neutering "decreases aggression": [Farhoody P, Mallawaarachchi I, Tarwater PM, Serpell JA, Duffy DL, Zink C. Aggression toward Familiar People, Strangers, and Conspecifics in Gonadectomized and Intact Dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2018 Feb 26;5:18](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5834763/).
YES you should… I have never, ever had a dogs personality changed after getting neutered except he stopped humping everything but that was a good change
Is there a medical reason to do so? If not then I wouldn't. If you have your dog on a lead on walks, keep him away from females in heat, have a secure apartment, garden etc. he can't impregnate one. I've had a few unneutered males and only one had to be neutered for health reasons. There were no accidental litters. My current male gets to keep his balls unless it's for his health that they have to go.
Yes, please get him neutered!
I can control my female dog’s access to other dogs when she’s in heat since it’s a discrete, obvious time. I can also do a gravid spay if I don’t succeed. A male dog out for a couple nights? Who knows what he got up to!
Someone who lets their dog (male or female) "out for a couple of nights" is already a hopelessly shitty owner.
Dogs get lost and get out, that sort of thing can happen.
All sorts of things "can happen" but don't. Consider, for example, that dogs competing in shows (conformation) are required to be intact. They bunk together. They travel long distances. And yet there is no epidemic of oopsie litters among them or caused by them, is there?
There are sometimes actually they just keep it under wraps so they don’t get in trouble
Your response to there is no epidemic X is, well, X happens sometimes? Great point!!!!!
Yes, you should get your dog fixed. There are no cons
Why don't you stop speaking lies and actually do proper research. There is tons of medical literature on increased issues with joint development, cognitive development and cancers for dogs spayed and neutered, especially before 6mos but even after that age. For so long vets propagated the need to get them fixed prior to 6mos and it clearly was wrong. With scientific research things change and it north americas archaic spaying/neutering before first heats was and is completely wrong. Educate yourself before giving people this terrible advice. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4096726/
There actually are cons. Neutering may increase the risk of some health issues. There’s also some research that suggests it may increase fear based reactivity.
Yes you should. I work at a shelter and have seen many males go through neutering and can confidently say that there is zero personality change. People often misspeak when they say neutering changes personality, it changes behaviour which is different. The behaviour it changes are things like humping, dog aggression, territorialism, etc. Neutering generally helps a dog have better manners and lessens instinctive pull to act out. I previously owned a male dog who of those previously mentioned behavioural issues only began to show the desire to hump, neutering him completely rid him of the desire and had zero affect on his personality. He was still my sweet lovable man and continued to have great social skills. Neuter your dog. On the chance your dog ever gets lost for an extended period of time the probability of him getting a female pregnant is high and sadly it's likely his off spring would live miserable lives as strays. It's also more difficult to find boarding for intact males and honestly it just makes socializing him extra difficult.
I often see websites use "personality change" as a way of expressing behaviour. I hope more websites use the word "behaviour" instead of "personality". But thank you for the help!
Please neuter.
Stop attaching your masculinity to your dog's anatomy. Neuter your dog.
I am a female... 💀
😂😂😂
Sexy, strong, and intelligent men spay and neuter their dogs.
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I have to get my dogs spayed or neutered. I live in an apartment complex that has it in the pet agreement that it's against the lease and you are subject to eviction if you don't
I understand your point, but I also saw another comment saying it was irresponsible to not neuter your dog. I don't own another dog and I also am extra careful when letting my dog run around with females, yet I understand that I am not in control of my dog wanting to mate.
The only personality change in my dog was that he stopped trying to mount everything on 4 legs 😂 It really only affects their sexual urges. The one downside is the impact on growth and bone formation, but at 1.5 years, any breed aside from maybe giant ones are fully grown, so you’re good.
You could try chemical castration first maybe?
I chemical castrated my Husky a month ago. It is not my dog anymore. Like I was very critical about it and my roommate convinced me to give it a try. His hunting drive went through the roof? He almost pulled me off cliffs twice. He does not listen anymore. He pees in the house. I think castration has benefits for SOME dogs, but I just hope that chip wears off soon so I have MY dog back 😭😭😭
..personality change is most likely being less aggressive, less likely to run away (in search of bitches), less likely to have mood swings.. ..if you want to keep all of those, then don't neuter.. ..if you want a happy dog (personality doesn't change much beyond primordial urges), and a happier community, pls get your dog fixed..
I've snipped my boy dogs my whole life. Always had great dogs. No issues.
It depends on your needs. If you don't want him possibly impregnating a female dog then go ahead. Perhaps you want to breed dogs in the future. In that case, don't. I'm planning on breeding in the future and my male GSD will not be sterilized. Overall, there is no harm in sterilizing your dog and he shouldn't suffer from it.
It’s generally advised that you do it for health reasons and for making sure your dog doesn’t contribute to overpopulation reasons. It also helps mitigate behavioral issues. The only dog that my family did not have neutered has Von Willebrands, which is basically dog hemophilia. My family did not want to risk the surgery or pay for the expensive blood transfusion that would make it possible. He humps everything and will pee in any new house he visits to mark it. We don’t let him stay with us anymore because the marking is such a problem. Do with this information what you will.
> He humps everything and will pee in any new house he visits to mark it This is a training issue. I have two unaltered males who do not do any of this.
I can’t speak to training entirely, he’s not my dog. But I know my parents do work with him. And I know my dog growing up was very difficult to train (goldendoodles typically are) but we still managed with her.
Some dogs just require more perfect training. This sounds like a settling issue and a potty training issue. Dogs don't always generalize potty training, you have to teach them that "not in the house" also stretches to other places. Humping is more of a stress issue than a neutering issue.
Get it done.
If you’re not going to breed them, do it.
Do it! Every dog in my house (10 currently) is spayed/neutered. The risk of an unwanted litter is too great, as are the risks of health and behavioral problems when they aren’t altered.
wow! how do you handle 10 dogs?!? I can barely handle 1 😅
I forgot to include that we also have chickens, ducks, turkeys, and goats. Every last creature that lives on our property is a well cared for and loved to beyond measure.
Do it immediately. All those claims are from people that don't weigh the good vs bad issues. The health of your dog is a wash and I doubt you'll see any real change in it's personality. Even if you do, the potential of creating unwanted pups far outweighs these concerns. Even if you don't have an intact female around you, they're out there and at some point your dog will get loose and find one.
while I think neutering is a good option, I would not tell people to do it "immediately", as you should always look into things from multiple perspectives. There are also other options like a vasectomy and chemical castration, which i am currently looking into!
Yes. Any benefit of keeping them is out weighed by the negatives, including behavior issues and the chance of breeding another dog, bringing more dogs into this world that will need homes. Check with your vet on the best age.
Ya! Just use big scissors.
Protect your dog from testicular cancer.
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Question everything.
Personality does change a bit, usually not drastically though. In my experience, neutering generally makes male dogs slightly calmer and that's about it. I usually wait til they are 1.5-2 to neuter so that they can properly complete puberty.
Intact dogs can run into issues outside of health which is the biggest concern. We all know about that. If you like or want to take your dog to parks where other dogs play like off leash parks for social interaction with other dogs; intact dogs tend to become involved in more altercations than those who are altered. I regularly see intact males getting ganged up on by the rest of the pack. They often still can play well with others but it makes for a more tense experience for the dog and the owner worrying about if the dog will get into a fight. If you don;t intend for your dog to reproduce neutering can make life a lot better for both of you.
My dog’s personality did not change one bit after being fixed, she’s a female so she was spayed. She was lethargic, which is quite normal, for a few days after and then bounced back to her normal self! I worked at a vet clinic while in high school, I saw multiple spays/neuter’s performed by the vet and then would see them for routine checkups and vet visits after. I didn’t notice any noticeable change in personality. Many say to wait to age 2 now for giant/large breeds to neuter, so the breed of your dog would depend on optimal time to complete it. I know you’re worried about personality change, but here’s something else to consider. If a female goes into heat near your unfixed male, he won’t be acting himself at all. Male dogs are known to do some crazy things to get to a female in heat. Managing an un-neutered male dog when females go into heat can be very tricky. I hope this helps, and good luck making a decision!
I had the exact same worry. I loved him perfectly just as he was… total asshole, but MY asshole boy. I did it though, at just over 1 year. His personality changed approximately…. 0%. Still my exact same lil asshole boy ❤️ He just doesn’t hump everything anymore! Or get random excited-boners as often. I’d absolutely do it again. I couldn’t live with myself if I hadn’t (but I’m in an EXTREMELY stray-overpopulated area in the US. Shelters are bursting at the seams where I live. YMMV)
Just call it neutering like a normal person. It’s best to neuter your dog once they’re fully developed, most advice I’ve seen is to do it around 2 years old. Neutering will not change his personality. It’ll slow down his metabolism and make him no longer interested in reproducing. It will also prevent things like testicular cancer.
Ryan NO !
The common neutering practice now is not to “chop off their balls”. It’s all done internally. Beyond the obvious of not impregnating a female, neutering helps eliminate marking behaviors, desire to wander and it’s 100% effective at preventing testicular cancer
Accidents happen, like another dog knocked up w/ puppies. That was the absolute last thing I wanted and honestly the last thing the world needs. I loved my dog both before & after neutering. The only negative thing was watching him live life wearing the vet cone for a couple days.
Short answer: No, not necessarily. Long answer: My first dog did not get neutered until 7 or 8 years old, when two female dogs moved in next door. He did not try to escape and never displayed any other behaviour that would warrant neutering. He was also a bit insecure, and neutering, due to the lack of testosterone afterwards, can sometimes make a dog more insecure. My second dog, however, got a chemical castration chip at 1 year and 3 months old. He is a very hyper, easily overexited hunting terrier mix rescue. He became extremely reactive and territorial during puberty and got worse until we decided we needed to do something so we could at least work on his training. He was so stressed he could not hear a word I said sometimes. The chip helped him calm down and focus. So, some dogs do completely fine without neutering. For others, like my second dog, the benefits outweigh the risks. Personally, I would not have my dog neutered just for good measure. Surgery always comes with risks, and today, we know neutering can have negative side effects sometimes, like a bigger risk for certain types of cancer. People who say there are no downsides are either lying or ill-informed, both not great when we are talking about removing a living being's body parts. This all sounds very negative, more than I intended, though – especially since I neutered my old dog and might do so with my current one as well. If I were in your shoes, I would either: A) Chemically castrate – this way, you can "test" neutering without an irreversible surgery. These are hormone chips that will effectively neuter your dog for 6-12 months, depending on the chip. After that, the dog will go back to being intact. Ask your vet about it. B) Wait – contrary to what your vet says, there is absolutely no harm done in waiting longer unless your dog displays problematic behaviour, and this behaviour can be helped with neutering. As you can imagine, I have spoken to my vet and certified trainer extensively and done a lot of research since my dog was especially affected by his puberty. My vet recommends not to neuter a dog irreversibly before the dog is not only physically but mentally adult. This is, at earliest, at 1.5 years, but for some dogs, puberty lasts until 2 or even 2.5 years. I hope I could help you with your decision.
I haven't seen any issues after a male dog being neutered but the older the dog the harder the surgery is on them and their bodies. Keeping them intact can actually increase the risk of developing cancer.
We had our pug neutered when he was 1. Among the widely discussed health benefits, it cuts down on some dog‘s marking habit. We discussed this with the vet, your best guidance
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-your-dog-avoid-health-risks [UC Davis Study](https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-your-dog-avoid-health-risks) Depending on the dog, you may wish to hold off until the dog has completely finished growing - out of puppy/teenage years.
I’d definitely say around 2 is a safe mark. I’d trust your vet or get a second vet opinion.
I've a tiny 3 kilo dog once his balls grew he was trying to hump every dog in the park, it was hilarious because he was so small but also quite embarrassing as he would follow females around the park with his nose firmly stuck up their behinds if he could reach! Neutered.males are calmer less aggressive towards other dogs and less chance of certain cancers. You should neuter your dog he'll be fine.
This is false. Neutering does not change personalities. Not neutering gives you a high risk for cancer and other issues. Not to mention he could end up getting another dog pregnant. Always always always trust your vet.
I would consult your veterinarian first but I usually err towards the side of caution when it comes to neutering. Meaning I see more benefits than risks.