Question for dog owners

I believe it's a kindness to the dog to have them neutered or spayed for girls. Un-neutered dogs can get cancers .
I've never experienced any changes in their behaviour or had a fat dog . You just need to give a little less food to keep them fit . Make sure your dog is fully grown before having the op. With a male dog you can hardly tell they've had the op , all mine have been back to themselves in 48 hours.

I've had mostly girls which is a much bigger operation but I know they can't get uterine cancers after being spayed.

I'd say have him neutered for his sake , it's cruel to leave them intact if you aren't going to breed from him , he'll get frustrated if he smell a girl dog on heat .

It's a misconception about it changing their personality.
Let us know what you decide .

Personally, I believe all dogs not to be used at stud or for showing should be neutered.
It tends to make the dog more affectionate as its mind is on the owner, not the opposite sex! As for becoming fat, I think that’s a bit of a fallacy and perhaps down to owners giving more treats/less exercise as the dog ages.

Other GNs may disagree.

Dog will not get fat if it's properly fed.

I’m fully in agreement.
As well as preventing unwanted pregnancies/unwanted puppies/straying in dogs/problems with bitches on heat, it also reduces the risk of some cancers and pyometra in bitches-a potentially fatal uterine infection.
Other than stopping him humping human legs or everything in sight, it won’t affect his temperament!

Agree with other posters, unless you are putting your dog to stud have him neutered. As I have said before on here our vet said the major bladder problems our JR suffered could possibly have bern avoided had he been neutered. The weight issue is a fallacy.
I also agree with RosieandherMaw about having bitches speyed.

I agree with others that you should have him neutered. We have had both male and female dogs, and the surgery has not changed their personalities or made them fat.

Another on in support of neutering dogs. I’d do it before he stays with the boarder again, habits can be hard to break

Have you looked at the possibility of injections or implants to reduce testosterone levels. Have a chat with your vet, who will advise you.

Sorry should add they don’t gain weight unless you let them. All my dogs have been neutured, not one gained weight. My big boisterous very much ‘a lad’ Labrador became easier to handle after castration and he’s sleek (much as he’d like to be fat)

My male spaniel is neutered, and it definitely hasn’t affected either his personality (he is still completely bonkers), or his weight - it’s not good for dogs to be overweight, and it’s within the owners’s gift to control.

Casdon your spaniel woukd get on with my bonkers lab
My spaniel is usually to be found sleeping. I got her a donut bed and she loves it. She comes alive if there are birds to flush )on walks not a working dog).

I’d always advise spaying bitches once they’ve had one or two seasons ( I nearly lost a dog with pyometra) but I’m not sure about automatically neutering male dogs.

If your dog is entire and was boarded in a household with bitches then he's bound to be unsettled - get your dog neutered, it'll make life so much easier for both the dog and you.

When I've had male dogs in the past I've always had them neutered as soon as my vet advised it was safe to do so. It doesn't alter the basic temperament of your dog and in prevents him having the urge to escape and hunt ofor females in season. If your dog is lively and affiectionate before getting the 'snip'then he will continue to be so after getting snipped. The only difference is that he will squat to urinate, like a bitch, rather than lift his leg.

I've had both male and female dogs through the years and all have been neutered except for one, he was a tiny rescue dog and absolutely terrified of anything and everything...my vets advice was given his age and temperament, neutering wouldn't help as he needed what little testosterone he had to cope! With the others, I never experienced weight gain or temperament changes either. The only other caveat I've used was again on the advice of my vet...none of mine were neutered before the age of 12/18 months, all were large breeds and it's advice I've always followed.

Yes, Dee1012 is right to remind us large breed males should be allowed to grow rather than neutured young. I’d intended to wait till my lab was 2 but his snuffing, marking and risk he’d go after one if the bitches in season some owners insisted on walking. So he was 19 months, it did help me help him to stop obsessive sniffing and marking, he still pees standing up xx

My male dog is neutered and lifts his leg to wee!

Both dogs and bitches should be fully grown before neutering is done otherwise it can affect their bones and joints.
Some dogs have developed hip problems from being done too young . I think the OP's miniature schnauzer/yorkie
would be fully grown by now .

Thank you for all your helpful posts
We've decided to go ahead

👍🏻

I’m another one who’s all for neutering unless you want to breed . I’ve had 3 labs , 2 boys and 1 girl and had them all done for the reasons other posters have mentioned.
I found with my current boy that many dog boarders won’t take intact males. Before my boy was old enough to be done , he had several neutered males getting aggressive with him .
The weight gain and change of personality is a fallacy. My dog is still an affectionate nutter and being a lab I’m very strict on treats .

Patsy - my male dog is unneutered & squats to wee!

Men 😂

Patsy70

My male dog is neutered and lifts his leg to wee!

Neutering has no correlation with leg lifting. Almost all male dogs lift their leg.

Nanato3

Both dogs and bitches should be fully grown before neutering is done otherwise it can affect their bones and joints.
Some dogs have developed hip problems from being done too young . I think the OP's miniature schnauzer/yorkie
would be fully grown by now .

Hip problems are a genetic disorder and are not related to spay or neuter. It can be predicted via. x-ray at 8 weeks of age.