Neutering When?

[Winslow 151]

Hi,

Well Winslow is geting to that age when we have to think about Neutering  He weighed in at 72 pounds Monday night and will be 6 months on 12/28. Price goes up when he hits 90 pounds by $25.00, oh well cost of big bones 

We are pretty sure we won't be showing or breeding the boy so we think it is best to Neuter him.  What is the conventional Wisdom on age to take care of this.

[jules]

Are you sure their looking at the size of his bones and not the size of his...never mind.HAHA

[Winslow 151]

Hi,

I think they are looking at the size of my wallet  . 
Rich

[GR8DAME]

Opinions on the age to neuter are as varied as the many experiences people have had here.
The youngest I've had mine done was 6 months, the oldest was 4 years. I will say that there was a shorter recovery period and less complications for my 6 month old. That would be my preference, anyway.
Stella

[BabsT]

I personally feel 1.5 is good for large breed dogs.  I remember Angie of ovcharka rescue had a female spayed young and her growth plates never fully closed.

it all boils down to what you are comfortable with.  I am keeping my zero intact but if i was to neuter it wouldnt be until he was 2

[brandon]

I've read on newf.net and the newf-l mailing list,  for male newfs to wait as long as you can stand it, until they become too obnoxious, or 1.5-2 years.

[Icerotti]

Puck was around 1.5 years when he was neutered.
I was going to do Farley at 6 months but we have decided to wait for several reasons.

[newflvr]

Chester's breeder wants me to wait until he's 24 months;  in other words full grown.  He's 97 pounds (last Friday and is 9 months...almos t 10).  I'd like to do it sooner because I think it's safer to do it younger and I've heard that Newfs are VERY senstive to being 'put under'.   I keep debating, back and forth and really don't have a good answer.  (How's THAT for waffling...!)

[Winslow 151]

Hi,

Our Vet (a large breed specialist, shows his own Mastifs) says 6 months to 1.5 years.

My wife, now this is funny!!   wants to wait until he lifts his leg, instead of squating.... to releive himself (why neutering would have anything to do with that I don't know).

The growth plates makes sense. Our Vet says earlier is better for other health reasons. So we'll wait a while but probably before 1.5 years old.

Then I saw the humping and hips thread  Now I'm totally confused 


Rich

[Anky]

Your pup might never lift his leg.  Nee is almost 16 months old and still has never done it.  A friend of mine has a CH Golden she studs out and he's never lifted his leg EVER.  I'd go with the growth plate thing

[newflvr]

Your pup might never lift his leg

The secret is to have Jaime's and Michael's Bear visit Nee.  Before our BPO meet'n greet, Chester had never lifted his leg.  Bear taught him how to do it in a nanosecond!!

[Anky]

Your pup might never lift his leg

The secret is to have Jaime's and Michael's Bear visit Nee.  Before our BPO meet'n greet, Chester had never lifted his leg.  Bear taught him how to do it in a nanosecond!!

Nooooooo!  Hobo NEVER humped anyone until he met Tenchi.  Now he does it all the time.  My dogs are very impressionable .  I like Nee being a baby and not lifiting his legs. I think if he ever does I'll cry.

[hugo~monster]

i neutered hugo at 7 mo.  if i had to do it all over again i would probably wait til he was at least a year.  several good reasons for neutering at 7 mo. was his "equipment" is very small and you can rub his tummy without things getting in the way, he has never lifted his leg once-he still squats, didnt go thru "puberty" and have raging hormones.  but him being neutered young, i feel like he missed out on some important hormones that effected his bones and growth as well as physical appearance (he has more of feminine look as opposed to some of his relatives who were not neutered as young such as thinner neck and head, less masculine muscle tone, etc. i could be totally wrong about this, it may not have a thing to do with his growth and appreance, but next giant i get will be neutered later on, after a year or so old.  as far as humping goes, hugo never humped as a puppy, but will get excited if he is around a female who is in heat or just had puppies-go figure....

[Winslow 151]

Hi,

Winslow has a stuffed sheep his first Toy from when we brought him home. Well he plays the dominance game with "Lambie" we let that go. Occasionally during fetch he'll start and he is stopped by us very quickly. I guess that is why I am asking the question. I am leaning toward the 1 year mark for most of the reasons stated, even though He won't mature until 2 or 3 years.

The leg lift is no issue for me, and I am pretty sure it is not a real issue for my better half, so we'll let you know what we do.

Thanks for all the insight
Rich

[Fumble]

i'm wondering the same thing about fumble.. i'm not too sure when to get the little boy done!  i have no intentions of breeding him or showing him, even though he has quite the ability to be fierce in a show ring!!