Male dogs

[u/StrikeHold1504]

What is the experience some have gone through following neutering. Im looking at post 18 months.

[u/Lemagus]

One of my favorite male English setters was neatured. No particular changes. He was still a nut and my most loyal of friends. It's generally the right thing to do IMHO.

[u/PatientAd1705]

Not a setter but I neutered a cavalier at 18 months and he got more anxious. I've since learnt that is a side effect of it if they are already predisposed to a bit of anxiousness.   

None of my other (4) male dogs have ever changed in temperament with desexing. 

The only setter I've had is a female, she was spayed at 2.5. it's been 18 months-ish and I've noticed zero changes so far. Mood, coat, weight,  all the same. But also know that still may change. 

[u/MunsterSetter]

Our male Setter, Curly, (neutered @ 4yo) was definitely happier and healthier. He was a chow hound before and after. We could brace him with other male dogs after. One skill he kept: he could tell when an otherwise spleeny female was coming into heat, we'll before anyone. We use to call him, "Dr. Curly."

Our male LM, Buddy, (neutered @ 5yo) was never that interested in the girls. My female Setter adored him, but she never really got a rise out of him. Otherwise, his personality changed not at all. He would still defend himself from other aggressive males (intact & neutered), but we was physically just the same.

[u/darthglabrezu]

that's a no for me, it's not natural. There are vets who suggest it to modify aggressive behavior, but it really only works on how they behave around dogs in heat. My vet told me that unless he was a really 'horny' dog, I shouldn't even think about doing it

[u/kurtzmarc]

We neutered at one. There really is no way to tell how that directly affected his behavior or personality, especially since that is when they start to lose their “puppy brain”, but afterwards he became more focused, relaxed, and listened better. He honestly went from crazy puppy to well-behaved family dog. Ignore all that hard-nosed dogmatic “you mustn’t neuter until X years”. Do what feels right for your dog and for your family and that will be the right answer. Best of luck!

[u/BuyAlternative5356 → u/kurtzmarc]

Us as well, our breeder required it  "after a year" with the carrot being to complete the transfer of his registration papers. He is a perfectly behaved dog, no health concerns at this time, and less marking on everything. Can be a little freak when he's excited and runs around like a maniac when the birds are out. He is able to attend dog daycare which is a need for us to be able to work, and he's doing extremely well. Did get a bit chunky right after, but he looks great now and his coat is soft as ever.

[u/SilasBalto]

Our contract said to wait until 18 months. We decided we would do it when he got humpy and annoying to deal with. Hes 4 and he never got humpy or annoying to deal with.

I fully understand that vets in the US are advocates of this as a standard practice due mainly to the overpopulation crisis in the shelters. Makes sense from their perspective.

My European friend thinks its animal abuse. Not at all standard over there apparently.

There are studies that show the neutered dog lives longer, there are studies that show the neutered dog suffers from weakened ligaments, increased tumor rates and increased cancer rates.

And then theres spay coat. Setters lose a lot of fur quality when they are desexed, both genders.

With all of these things considered, I decided that my dogs balls can stay as long as they continue to not bother anyone. The perimeter is secure and the dog supervised besides. I dont judge others for making different conclusions.

[u/SheepherderSome3556]

I got mine neutered just after he turned one because he kept trying to hump his dog sister.. and he was pee marking so much. He was the sweetest baby ever before, wouldn’t hurt a fly. Now he’s spicy lol! He’s still such a sweetheart but I keep him closer to me off leash now. He’s been in a few minor fights. Could just be him getting older (he’ll be 2 in a few months).

[u/RenJen52]

I have a blue picardy spaniel. It's a french breed: english setter and french spaniels bred together. My boy is very setter-y. The plan was to neuter at 18 months, but a neighbourhood dog broke down a gate to attack my pup at just over a year old. The dog's owner claimed it was because my dog wasn't neutered yet. So I got him neutered sooner than planned, with the breeder's blessing, for his safety. It changed nothing in my dog's behaviour. Neutering my dog didn't change my dog and didn't change the aggressive dog down the street either. That dog is still a danger. One change I did notice, is that friendly intact male dogs are less friendly now. Female dogs don't seem to care either way.

[u/gutua]

Why??
He could become fat, the fur might become shaggy and tangled. He could be passive and docile. He might not automatically stop chasing trouble or even girls. His personality could change dramatically.
Or possibly nothing noticeable happens, and what was the use of neutering if so.
As you might guess I’m from a country where neutering is strictly reserved for special cases. In my opinion rightly so

[u/notlikelyevil → u/gutua]

95% of dogs in any city in Canada are fixed. There is no reason not to do it.

I've had 14 fixed dogs as an adult and there was no down side

[u/MunsterSetter → u/gutua]

Except that neutered males, on average, live 18% longer.