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Question for dog owners

(77 Posts)
Ziggy62 Wed 16-Apr-25 11:53:39

We have a male miniature schnauzer/yorkie almost 2 years old. He is incredibly well behaved and we adore him

Yesterday he had a trial sleepover with a dog boarder. It didn't go well as he got so over excited with the 3 girl doggies that live there.

I'm happy to have him neutured (hope that's correct spelling) but my husband isn't keen, he's worried it may change his playful personality and he may become fat

Advice from long time dog owners most welcome

Macadia Wed 16-Apr-25 20:50:32

Neutering does not stop a dog from being excited around bitches. Dogs that are humpy in personality don't care if it's a male, female or pillow. Most will continue with this behavior for life unless corrected early on. In most cases, it will reduce aggression. The behavior itself is a way to show dominance. Bitches will sometimes display this behavior as well. Vets can use laser to cauterise the tubes and leave everything outside intact the same way it is done for humans. It doesn't cause obesity - overeating does. The owner can balance that out to give their dog a happy, healthy, long life.

Men will almost NEVER agree to neutering a dog. They might even visibly cringe at the mention of it.

Unspayed or unneutered dogs are for breeders, not pets.

Macadia Wed 16-Apr-25 20:38:17

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.

Macadia Wed 16-Apr-25 20:35:51

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.

Iam64 Wed 16-Apr-25 20:16:26

Men 😂

valdavi Wed 16-Apr-25 20:13:10

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

Tenko Wed 16-Apr-25 20:08:20

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 .

Iam64 Wed 16-Apr-25 18:51:52

👍🏻

Ziggy62 Wed 16-Apr-25 18:35:41

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

Nanato3 Wed 16-Apr-25 16:27:00

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 .

Patsy70 Wed 16-Apr-25 16:25:37

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

Iam64 Wed 16-Apr-25 16:07:44

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

Dee1012 Wed 16-Apr-25 16:01:19

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.

cobden28 Wed 16-Apr-25 15:50:40

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.

MayBee70 Wed 16-Apr-25 15:16:34

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.

Iam64 Wed 16-Apr-25 15:10:53

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).

Casdon Wed 16-Apr-25 13:26:45

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.

Iam64 Wed 16-Apr-25 13:21:18

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)

YorkLady Wed 16-Apr-25 13:21:13

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

Iam64 Wed 16-Apr-25 13:19:33

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

Patsy70 Wed 16-Apr-25 13:14:14

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.

sodapop Wed 16-Apr-25 12:38:23

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.

RosieandherMaw Wed 16-Apr-25 12:23:17

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!

Caleo Wed 16-Apr-25 12:19:37

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

Georgesgran Wed 16-Apr-25 12:13:52

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.

Nanato3 Wed 16-Apr-25 12:13:50

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 .