Posted: 7/22/2026 12:12:28 AM EDT
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We got our first dog, a Labrador retriever, 16 months ago. Our vet suggested waiting at least a year before neutering him, due to health benefits. He's now 18 months old and still intact. Is it better for his health to keep him this way, or should he be neutered? So far he doesn't display many negative behaviors aside from occasionally humping a blanket and marking more than usual (he peed on my boss's foot last week). Am I out of line for keeping him intact? |
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Gotta make that call yourself. What’s the risk of testicular cancer? Can’t get it if they’re not there. But is it a high probability? No. If he’s not humping everything, you can leave it be. But also remember, if there’s other female dogs in the area that aren’t fixed, you’re risking a bunch of puppies. Our pup has begun humping my wife’s arm, so he’s probably going to get snipped after summer vacations. He’s also obsessed with marking. I swear he can’t take a leak unless our female goes first. Then he goes on top of hers. Well, thinks he does. He zones in on the spot then takes 4 steps past it, missing completely. Whatever little dude. |
| All my dogs have jobs according to their breed. They are always out of good lines and registered. None have been fixed. If I worked towards getting titles on them, some one may want to breed to get a litter of good working pups. In 40 years I've had the stud dog in about 6 breedings. |
I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
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I've grown to be anti neuter, unless actually necessary. Testicular cancer risk is the most asinine reason to recommend a surgery. Sure if they get neutered they can't get testicular cancer. But they can get liver cancer. Should we remove that too? |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
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Originally Posted By shack357: I've grown to be anti neuter, unless actually necessary. Testicular cancer risk is the most asinine reason to recommend a surgery. Sure if they get neutered they can't get testicular cancer. But they can get liver cancer. Should we remove that too? Except that a mammal kind of needs a liver to live....testicles, not so much. |
"she's not going to think that you've embarked on a secret life of crime... sketchy underworld figures, like gang members, cartel members, INTERPOL fugitives, and the lizard people.
And it's that last part as to why we need a vet. "L_JE"
And it's that last part as to why we need a vet. "L_JE"
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Originally Posted By GS_mk2: I have heard that for females it can be beneficial later (3-6 years)? I don’t know if it’s true or not, but this is a good place/time to bring it up. Maybe someone can explain. My dogs are intact fwiw. I'm no expert but from what we were told, one or two cycles before before spaying is the current thinking. It leads to better developed joints and bones among other things from what we understand. For our female, we waited until after the second cycle. Worth investigating deeper if anyone is in that situation. |
It's not journalism, it's sensationalism
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My GSD is nine years old and intact. No issues. There are vets that will do a vasectomy now instead of neutering the males so they still have all their hormones but no oopsie litters. Cost is the same as a standard neuter. |
Heller II - Challenging DC's bans on semi-automatic rifles, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, and its onerous and expensive handgun registration process. http://www.HellerFoundation.org/
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Barrett isnt fixed. Doesnt hump anything or other dogs. He does like to play with other dogs and goes to the level the other dogs are playing. Funny how some see this as him being "dominant" (thats directed at woman who runs the local FB pug group who asked me if I bring Barrett to the dog park to keep him on a leash nevermind its HER male pug who keeps trying to hump Barrett. Needless to say I no longer am a member of that group. Not driving 1hr one way and pay $8 to get into it just to walk him around on a leash in a dog park.). None of the pugs we had were fixed. Our only female died from cancer at 6 but she was so damn small the vet said putting her under would most likely kill her. |
Rob