Okay here is the whole story (since a lot of people like to jump all over you if they don't know the exact situtation). My husband rescued a little pit mix last weekend from where he almost ran over her. The vet estimates she is about a month or two old. I already have a Chihuahua who is 8 months old. The thing is yesterday he started trying to get his groove on if you know what I mean. She is wide awake and will not let him...it's kind of funny to watch him....because all he gets is a bite or two. Anyway. I know I'm going to have to neuter him or spay her if not both. I've heard that neutering changes their attitude and they become lazy. I really don't want his character to change, I love the way he is. Which is why I'm leaning to having her spayed. At the same time though, I don't want him not being neutered to get him in trouble with her in the future since I'm sure he'll still try and she'll be big enough to bite his head off.
2006-11-22 06:46:42 · 21 answers · asked by laurel 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
(it wouldn't let me finish typing) From experience what are the ups and downs to having your male dog neutered and/or your female spayed?
Thanks so much!
p.s. for those of you who are ready to attack...I am going to consult my vet about this but I want to know personal experiences.
2006-11-22 06:47:41 · update #1
Okay (thanks everyone so far) So is him being 8 months a little to late?
2006-11-22 07:08:14 · update #2
Oh yes, Happy Thanksgiving to you all too!!
2006-11-22 07:09:20 · update #3
I'd suggest that you have both of them fixed because it will not affect their personality in any negative way at all. It won't make them lazy or dull. They will probably be a lot happier, not having to deal with coming into heat (for the female) or going nuts over the scent of female in heat. I have three dogs that are spayed and they are all just as happy and playful as before. Regarding the humping activity, the neutering or spaying may cut down on it some, but you will likely have to train them not to do it by stopping that behavior when it starts. Female dogs can do it too. Some say it is a dominance behavior, others speculate that it is done because of excitement. Whatever the cause, to me it is like having kids in a restaurant that go around with greasy hands and wipe them on the walls. I'd rather not have the behavior especially since some dogs can really get obsessive with it.
You might want to consider enrolling both of them in Basic Obedience classes. Some major pet stores have low cost training and it helps to socialize them and the trainers can give you pointers on problem areas. Many don't view the humping as problematic at all. I read your other post and congrats on your new dog!
2006-11-22 06:56:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Neutering does not affect the dogs attitude. They calm down slightly though, which is always a good thing. They do not become lazy. Basically, an entire dog, one that hasn't been neutered, gets lots of hormones surging through them telling them to mount the nearest female. if they cannot they get frustrated and angry. They should not be allowed to breed, there a far too many dogs in pounds and rescues, pound dogs being put to sleep daily as they have nowhere to go. In females, if they are not bred or not spayed, the chances of cancer is quite high.
Please get your dogs spayed and neutered. I have a spayed female rescue dog, and got her spayed about 2 months after we got her. Neither her temperament or attitude have changed, we just won't have blood on the floor, or a dog with ovarian cancer.
2006-11-22 08:09:15 · answer #2 · answered by Little Red Riding Hood 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They say that it is supposed to calm the dog down if you neuter him as well as keep him from wandering to find a mate . They also say that neutering the male dog will prevent many reproductive cancers. Also, it is much easier and cheaper to neuter than spay. A neuter is a simple incision and the dog will be home the very same day. As for a spay they actually cut the dog's abdomen open and it is very painful and requires hospitalization.
I just got my 8 month old Manchester Terrier spayed and I have noticed no differnece at all...he's still as crazy as he was before the procedure, with a little less humping.
2006-11-22 07:22:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I volunteer for a rescue group and you can spay (females) neuter (males) as early as 8 weeks old. They bounce back so quickly. Like nothing ever happened. Boys who get neutered that young will never learn to lift their legs so they won't mark things like other boys. The health benefits alone are reason to do it so do both dogs. But actually males who are neutered are less aggressive so they are even sweeter if is done. I have one boy and 3 girls and they are all wonderful. My boyfriend has 3 pitmixes all rescued dogs and all fixed and all wonderful crazy dogs.
2006-11-22 08:03:56 · answer #4 · answered by luvmypupkins 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To start, 8 months is not too old for a dog to be spayed or neutered. I had my dog neutered when he was about a year old and that was when the vet recommended I have it done. It did not change a thing about his personality! Neutering usually stops a male dog from spraying and lifting his leg to pee, etc. I would strongly recommend it, as well as having your female dog spayed! Hope this is helpful. Have a good holiday.
2006-11-22 07:41:18 · answer #5 · answered by Katie 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you don't get him neutered BEFORE he mates with a female then your in big trouble because even if you get him neutered AFTER the experience he will always know what he's missing and he'll still hike his leg to pee on things and act crazy when he gets around a female in heat. I had a black labrador male that did that. Later we got a male German Shepherd about 6 weeks old and had him neutered by the time he was 6 months old and he's 7 years old and still squats to pee and females don't phase him but like you said a Vet will fill you in on all the details but thought I'd share my experience with you. Happy Thanksgiving !
2006-11-22 07:08:07 · answer #6 · answered by CryBaby 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a big fan of both spaying and neutering! I think that if you don't want to breed, you should have them fixed! but that is my own opinion.
Having the male neutered is a good idea... males that are neutered seem to be less likely to get aggressive and they are less likely to "mark" things in the house.
As far as it making him become lazy, well... your dog will still be the energetic young dog that he is, he will just have less of a drive to reproduce, something your much smaller female dog will appreciate. I have a neutered male dog, while he loves his nap times, he still has all his personality from before he got snipped!
From a medical view point, the neuter surgery is less invasive than the spay surgery, though both are common and relatively safe!
2006-11-22 06:58:19 · answer #7 · answered by timesdragonfly 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Neutering will not be likely to stop the juvenile humping, as it isn't a sexual matter to puppies, but an experimental thing, where they are expressing excitement, or trying to impose dominance..has nothing to do with hormones and sex..
that being said..You should know that EVERY police K9 dog, and all professional service dogs are neutered..(or spayed) It sure doesn't ruin them, but allows them to respond better to training and to people, as those confusing hormones are out of the way..
Both of your dogs have a 50% higher chance of a longer, healthier life if altered..both of them..
Most vet recommend that males be neutered at or just before 6 months, and females before they have first 'heat' season..which for your girl, could be any time now..so it would be best to have her done first..
2006-11-22 06:55:56 · answer #8 · answered by Chetco 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Good job taking in a stray! More people should. I would say get them both fixed. I have a male and a female who are both fixed, and it didn't change their personalities even a little. I have heard that they don't take it as well as they get older, though, so you should probably have the male done soon! There are no down sides to getting your dogs fixed, the male will be less aggressive as an adult, and will have a much lower risk of many types of cancer, and the female will not have her regular heats (which can be really messy!) and the same lower risk of cancers.
2006-11-22 06:53:25 · answer #9 · answered by Ashley G 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Spay the female and neuter the male. It is healthier for both dogs. It will not change their personalities except to make them more mellow (not lazy). The male will not mark his territory he will not be spraying all over the house or trying to wander the neighborhood in search of females in heat. It will prevent him from certain cancers. The female will not bleed all over the house. It also will prevent her from getting certain cancers.
2006-11-22 06:57:03 · answer #10 · answered by ESPERANZA 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋