Advice re castration.

[interzone]

Elwood is now nearly 10 months old. His attendance at a socialisation class has shown he is overly interested in humping anything that moves! He has never displayed this type of behaviour with our other dog or humans. He has never scent marked and is always friendly and laid back.

Staff at the facility where we take him to his socialisation days, suggested considering castration. They commented on dogs with such short life spans, getting them done as soon as possible is of huge benefit to them.

This was aslo suggested by my Vet at a recent bi yearly health check. I did make the points that have been posted all over the net about affecting growth, bone development etc. etc. etc. but the experts I have spoken to are all in favour of early castration (we are not going to show him or breed from him).

We obviously want to do whats best for Elwood, we just want a happy, healthy family pet.

Any advice either for or against would be welcomed!

 

[cinnamon roll]

I would not neuter him. He is too young to be neutered. He will not grow properly if you do it this young.

 

[musicdeb]

Mastiffs should not be neutered until at least 18-24 months or never to prevent future health issues. Neutering will not stop humping because humping is a sign of excitement. He's probably excited in the class.

The staff at the facility is dead wrong about neutering early or at all. Studies have shown that neutering can cause joint issues and health problems. Vet always recommend neutering to stop overpopulation of puppies. As long as you are a responsible owner, the pup will be fine.

 

[Tunride]

If your male is not with a female that is in heat (neighbors dog?) or loose to run then there is little chance of unwanted puppies. Mastiff need hormones for bone/joint/size and development, plus new studies have shown neutering can cause serious problems for males. Altered mastiffs will become lanky and not fill out. Humping is also a show of dominance with other dogs. My spayed female will do it another spayed female here. I did not get our new rescue, neo male neutered because he is maybe 15-18 months old, we spayed the 2 1/2 yr. old female EM. After reading about the problems with neutering a male, Bubbles will keep his family jewels. All females (4) are spayed, 5' fenced yard, and no neighboring dogs. Use correction/distraction when Elwood starts humping at class. He's a puppy and they do tend to embarrass us sometimes.

 

[DDSK]

I'm betting Elwood would agree with everything that has been said in here.

 

[DennasMom]

I don't think "short life span" has anything to do with the argument, either... that they brought that up makes me question the source of their information... and I would not trust it at all. I put a LOT more trust in the experts here on the forum that have experience with the DDB!

I'd also bet on the humping being excitement, not dominance or a "need to breed". LOL. Redirect (to you or a toy or put in a sit to calm him down a little) as soon as you see the first indication of a hump on the horizon and keep working on obedience and socialization skills.

 

[2nd Chance]

Id like to add, that at 18 months, we have desexed our DDB, and in the 5 weeks since then, his urine no longer smells pungent, his 'funky entire male' smell has gone.
I have a very sensitive nose (can tell when my colleagues are menstruating) its unpleasant. I notice he smells more normal dog now.
This smell issue, and wanting to charge up to females and demand a shag there and then got me over the line and we had him done.
That was 5 weeks ago, shhhh, Brian hasnt noticed anything happened yet. He did bust the vet's cage door, apparently came around very fast, stood up, broke the door off and slept it off at the receptionists feet, till i came to grab him at lunch time.
Im not breeding mine. So i didnt have to decide should we, just when. As living with livestock and breeders nearby, i didnt want problems occuring. He'd already noticed a bitch in season on next property.

 

[DogueOwner]

I am not a vet but have read several times that male or female, intact or altered, dogs will hump things. As another reader said, they get excited. Popular to contrary belief, their "jewels" have little to do with this. Also, larger dogs mature at a much slower rate, so if you are giving consideration to castration, definitely wait until 1.5 to 2 yrs.

We bring our 8 month old to doggy day care on occasion, where as they require all dogs past six months to be spayed or neutered. They make exceptions for large breed dogs to nearly 2 yrs.

Keep him intact for as long as you can, or forever.

 

[Kujo]

I am not a vet but have read several times that male or female, intact or altered, dogs will hump things. As another reader said, they get excited. Popular to contrary belief, their "jewels" have little to do with this. Also, larger dogs mature at a much slower rate, so if you are giving consideration to castration, definitely wait until 1.5 to 2 yrs.

We bring our 8 month old to doggy day care on occasion, where as they require all dogs past six months to be spayed or neutered. They make exceptions for large breed dogs to nearly 2 yrs.

Keep him intact for as long as you can, or forever.

That's awesome you found a place that will make the exception, most places wont.