CowboyBebop
Well-Known Member
Castle, our Bullmastiff, is now 2. I'm wondering if I should go ahead with the neutering. He has grown into a handsome dog and really filled out this past year. I'm 90% certain that he is done growing and filling out. His weight hasn't changed in about 8 months.
I was particularly wondering about behavior and how neutering at 2 years old will affect him. He is a wonderful dog and joy to be around. He has a slight to moderate guard disposition but is 100% socialable with dogs and people. He mostly keys off of our response to people, weary when we are, inviting when we are anything else. He is INCREDIBLY scent driven, almost to the point of being a nuisance; will this lessen at all after fixing? Also, he is an incessant "marker" when he goes outside to the bathroom, but he still behaves very well when we are on actual walks, will that change or lessen at all after neutering?
I don't want his guarding instinct to lessen. It isn't what I call very strong right now. I would like his scent drive to lessen and his marking to subside somewhat. I realize that these last two things will never cease altogether but a 20% to 30% decrease would be wonderful! Does anyone have any experience with neutering the dogs at a later age? If so, how did your mastiff change, or did he change? Are my expectations realistic? Or would you just recommend a vasectomy?
I was particularly wondering about behavior and how neutering at 2 years old will affect him. He is a wonderful dog and joy to be around. He has a slight to moderate guard disposition but is 100% socialable with dogs and people. He mostly keys off of our response to people, weary when we are, inviting when we are anything else. He is INCREDIBLY scent driven, almost to the point of being a nuisance; will this lessen at all after fixing? Also, he is an incessant "marker" when he goes outside to the bathroom, but he still behaves very well when we are on actual walks, will that change or lessen at all after neutering?
I don't want his guarding instinct to lessen. It isn't what I call very strong right now. I would like his scent drive to lessen and his marking to subside somewhat. I realize that these last two things will never cease altogether but a 20% to 30% decrease would be wonderful! Does anyone have any experience with neutering the dogs at a later age? If so, how did your mastiff change, or did he change? Are my expectations realistic? Or would you just recommend a vasectomy?