[lange]

Should we neuter & spay? Most of us here would agree we should. But another question is, when? Some say you should do it at 1 year, others say you should do it early, even before the first heat for the females. But there are pro's and cons for both. Some even say the pro's & con's can be even more complex depending on the breed & sex.

There is a ton of information online with conflicting 'facts'. So I thought I'd ask everyone here their personal opinions. Where do you stand? And at what age did you decide to spay each of your kids?

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by lange

Should we neuter & spay? Most of us here would agree we should. But another question is, when? Some say you should do it at 1 year, others say you should do it early, even before the first heat for the females. But there are pro's and cons for both. Some even say the pro's & con's can be even more complex depending on the breed & sex.

There is a ton of information online with conflicting 'facts'. So I thought I'd ask everyone here their personal opinions. Where do you stand? And at what age did you decide to spay each of your kids?

I am going to tell you based on over 50 years of experience. At approx 5 to 6 months. Before they come into season. This means both male and female. I have heard and read all the information to but being I have had more dogs in my life than probably anyone here I can attest that not once has spaying or neutering effect growth as many assume and are quick to point out because someone wrote it on some website. They have not had issues ie: medical or health etc. I will continue to do what I know has proven. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke...don't fix it.

[Lunareclipse]

Buster's breeder said to get him fixed between 18 months and 2 years. He has 1 more month before he is 18 months and then it is off to get his nads snipped. I would have done it sooner, but I didn't want any kind of breach of contract with the breeder.

I seriously think that it would be great if most dogs were fixed before they left the breeder that way there is no doubt that owner won't turn out to be a crappy owner and not fix their dog because they didn't want ot spend the money, etc. If a breeder gets $1500 for a pet quality dog what is another $300 tacked on for spay/neuter and a chip?

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

Buster's breeder said to get him fixed between 18 months and 2 years. He has 1 more month before he is 18 months and then it is off to get his nads snipped. I would have done it sooner, but I didn't want any kind of breach of contract with the breeder.

I seriously think that it would be great if most dogs were fixed before they left the breeder that way there is no doubt that owner won't turn out to be a crappy owner and not fix their dog because they didn't want ot spend the money, etc. If a breeder gets $1500 for a pet quality dog what is another $300 tacked on for spay/neuter and a chip?

Much of why that would not work is that most people want the time from 11 or so weeks to spend with their pup as part of the socializing and bonding. If breeders were to take care of the spay/neuter, most pups would not leave til 5 or 6 months of age. Not very many people interested in puppies want one that late not to mention that at that age they are starting to form their personality. Best that when this is happening, it is with their forever family.
Granted though, farm animals for centuries have been spayed and neutered at 8 to 12 weeks of age. Many rescues now do the spay/neuter very young and based on all those years that farmers have been doing it have discovered no real side effects and the healing time is extremely fast. Many vets are starting to adopt this also. It will just take time for the new generation to acclimate. For the record, I sell my purebreds whether pet or show for the same price. The only difference is limited or full registration, and it is less than a 3rd of the price you quoted. In the past, that price use to include micro-chipping.

[reeskujo]

I agree with Yogi on the age...Seigi was on a spay/neuter contract and my breeder required it to be done by 6 months of age....Seigi was just about 5 months when I had him done and he had no problems what so ever...My vet will spay/neuter as soon as the puppy has finished all of their puppy shots and their rabies shot.

[Lunareclipse]

I have to go get Porter's nads snipped too. Unlike Buster, Porter's nads are very tiny. I seriously thought they were burs when I was brushing him out.

[reeskujo]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

I have to go get Porter's nads snipped too. Unlike Buster, Porter's nads are very tiny. I seriously thought they were burs when I was brushing him out.

LOL...I can always count on you for a good laugh Lunar!

[Lunareclipse]

Well, I quit pulling on them after he yiped. And then I realized what they were. He has so much hair you can't see them at all.

[nattiej1976]

We got Kato fixed at 13 weeks, mainly because we have a few irrisponsible neighbours with girls that are not fixed, we wanted to get him done early so there was no chance of him learning to escape or jump the fence after the girls around us

[lange]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

Well, I quit pulling on them after he yiped. And then I realized what they were. He has so much hair you can't see them at all.

LMAO!! You really are hillarious.


Thank you all for sharing your experiences! I don't have a lot of dog people in my life so I always appreciate your feedback.

Yogi, I know you have had at least one large male. Did you also have large females spayed before the first heat?

Our vet sides with 6 months. Which will be Dec for Kuma. (not sure if I ever mentioned that she's my first girl..maybe why I'm being paranoid). At first I was all gung-ho for it, then the more I read on it the more confused I get.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by lange

LMAO!! You really are hillarious.


Thank you all for sharing your experiences! I don't have a lot of dog people in my life so I always appreciate your feedback.

Yogi, I know you have had at least one large male. Did you also have large females spayed before the first heat?

Our vet sides with 6 months. Which will be Dec for Kuma. (not sure if I ever mentioned that she's my first girl..maybe why I'm being paranoid). At first I was all gung-ho for it, then the more I read on it the more confused I get.

I have had both large males and females over the years and yes, those that we did not use for breeding were spayed or neutered by 6 months.

[lange]

Oh Yogi!... What about those females with juvenile vaginitis. The debate being spaying v/s waiting one heat cycle so that the anatomy can correct itself first? Have you had experience with that? Or heard advice from other breeders?

This came up on an Akita group just recently & once again...advice to wait one heat cycle to let it flush & position the vuvla better. I had pretty much made up my mind to spay next month. But now I feel like again I should rethink it because AB have not worked on Kumas vaginitis.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by lange

Oh Yogi!... What about those females with juvenile vaginitis. The debate being spaying v/s waiting one heat cycle so that the anatomy can correct itself first? Have you had experience with that? Or heard advice from other breeders?

This came up on an Akita group just recently & once again...advice to wait one heat cycle to let it flush & position the vuvla better. I had pretty much made up my mind to spay next month. But now I feel like again I should rethink it because AB have not worked on Kumas vaginitis.

This is obviously a topic that has come up over the years and discussed with other breeders and yet none have changed their opinions. Granted, I can assume that the vets may have noted their opinions in cases such as this but overall, 6 months has been maintained by the breeders I know and share information with.

[lange]

Thank you! Kuma's vet also said she's only had one case of vaginitis that didn't go away after spaying. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that Kuma isn't another exception.

[sammydog]

I think its very important to neuter you're dog. I have had the pleasure of their company for 35 years mostly golden retrievers. I woul say its best for the boys to start cocking the leg first as this means the hormone have fully developed and there is no chance of them keeping puppy behavior, they will be fully developed. And the girls are best done after the first season for the same reason.

[Yogi]

That would not make sense perse as a male will lift his leg whether neutered or not. Males by the time they are 6 months whether they are lifting their leg or have not started is not hindered by neutering. They will eventually lift when they are ready to do so. As for a female, avoiding the hormone issues by spaying before their first season has in fact not been proven to cause issues as many reports try to claim. I have for over 50 years had both my large and small breed dogs spayed and neutered at 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 months and can attest that there has been no issues with platelets in growth or problems with their overall demeanor or health in any fashion. Though I do understand in the UK that early spay and neuter is not the norm. In North America it is and has been for many years and has proven to be successful with no health issues down the road. Granted there are tons of opinions that can be found on the internet but unfortunately like most, they are bore out of misinformation and studies that can only account for such a small number of dogs that the percentage is not even traceable. I have found so much misinformation on websites about my breed that I spend more time laughing and the errors and made up information that I have resolved that simply it is a matter of one person writing and the rest just following like blind mice. As with all research into subjects such as this, it is best to go in with an open mind but to always realize the source. Just as you would when purchasing a book on your breed. Majority of these books are authored by writers not actual dog owners and of those that do own dogs, again the majority have never owned the breed they are writing about. This is second hand information gathered from breeders than screened and weaned to fill a book. Unfortunately even the best show breeders out there whether they will admit it or not don't truly know that much about their own breeds history.
Just food for thought. As the saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[Lunareclipse]

How come Buster won't lift his leg to pee? He needs to start because he is still peeing on his front legs.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

How come Buster won't lift his leg to pee? He needs to start because he is still peeing on his front legs.

lol..... actually this is not that uncommon in the giant breeds. Simply, they are so large and heavy that the having to lift a leg causes an imbalance that many find uncomfortable so find it easier to just simply go or slightly squat and go.

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by Yogi

lol..... actually this is not that uncommon in the giant breeds. Simply, they are so large and heavy that the having to lift a leg causes an imbalance that many find uncomfortable so find it easier to just simply go or slightly squat and go.

Buster doesn't even squat, he just stands there and goes. i wish he would squat at least a little. I'm sick of wiping pee off of his legs every tiime he come in.