when to neuter????

[3kidsnabullie]

To all male bullie owners, when did you decide to neuter, if at all???  I was at a bulldog meet up yesterday with my 5 month old bullie...I noticed *blush* that many, if not most, of the male bullies were not neutered.  My breeder has told us to not neuter until 12-18 months to achieve the best head and bone growth for our dog.  When I asked several of the male mommies and daddies why they haven't neutered, one reason I heard was neutering takes away their "sleek waist and lines".  Is this true???  Also, many of the dogs were "frisky" to say the least......I am not sure if I can handle that   My guy has never shown any signs *yet*, and I would love to keep it that way.......will neutering him at 6 months change his look as an adult???  We were planning to show him when we originally purchased him, my husband's family showed and bred St. Bernards all throughout his childhood....he thought my oldest son would enjoy junior showmanship.  That is a how other issue on whether to neuter or not, but if we don't go that route, will neutering affect his blocky appearance.  Sorry for all the questions......I am still learning
K

[RainbowRita]

If you just want a nice happy and healthy compainion for your family, you are better off neutering your male Bulldog before he reaches sexual maturity. Doing this will limit the risk that he will develop undesirable secondary sex characteristics such as leg lifting/marking and possible aggressive behavior towards other male dogs. Once they start those habits it can be tough to break them of it, even if they are neutered later on in life. You might sacrifice a little bit in the head size if you neuter your male dog at a younger age, but the trade off is worth it. Intact males can get prostate problems later in life. A neutered pet can't get testicular cancer either. I think that if he is neutered by 10 months or so of age, you will be OK in regards to him picking up any bad habits.

He won't develop quite as large of a head or have as muscular of a body if he is neutered because he won't have testosterone surging through his body, but it is really is the safest route to go. Unfortunately, you cannot show your Bulldog in AKC conformation classes if he is neutered and that includes junior showmanship. The good new is that you can still show him in obedience or agility even if he is neutered. And your son could still show your dog in those classes.

Neutering dogs does not make them fat...overfeeding them does. The reason people believe this is because neutered dogs tend to be calmer than those that aren't neutered. So once he is neutered, you might have to make some adjustments in the amount of food he eats. Since we control the amount of food our dogs eat, we owners are the ones to blame when our dogs get fat. Increasing the amount of exercise your dog gets can also be a good idea. Not neutering a dog just because sr owner is afraid it might get fat isn't a good enough of a reason not to neuter a pet. If you Bulldog has good bone structure, neutering won't change that. Talk to your vet about your concerns, I'm sure he or she can give you more information on this subject so that you can make the best decision for your Bullie and your family.

[LynnKing]

6 to 10 months old.

I truly believe the physical outcome at maturity is genetic. I have seen males left intact not develop the same as littermates.

I advise my students to neuter before sexual maturity, too many behaviors develop that most "pet only" owners dont or cant deal with. I want my students to have the best possible chance for a successful companion dog. Too many dominance/pushy behaviors and dogs have a better chance of remaining socially appropriate with other dogs.

[Boomers-Dad]

Very good advise

[brumzoo]

Great advice.

The main reason I have my pets spayed/neutered is the health benefits.

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/why_you_should_spay_or_neuter_your_pet.html

Spaying or Neutering Is Good for Your Pet

Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.
Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.
Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle.
Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.

[3kidsnabullie]

Great advice!  Anyone else with any experience to share???  Did you early neuter or not.....why or why not???  Thanks...I appreciate all opinions.  Oh and I hope this is not TMI, but if I neuter on the later side.....what happens to all that loose skin once the testicals are removed    Thanks again!

[MaytagMan]

We are actually wrestling with the same question right now...    At first we were really undecided about neutering Monte, but after reading about all of the health benefits, etc. it seems like the logical thing to do.  We are certainly not experienced breeders at all, and we just want Monte to have a happy and healthy life.

He is 5 months old, and I guess we should be looking at 8-ish months as  a time frame?   

Looking forward to all of the input!

[8ftbed]

Right now we plan on neutering around the 6-8 month mark. My main reason for considering this alteration was the reports that it reduces or stops the leg lifting. I'd rather clean up a puddle accident in the house than have him writing his name on the walls, furniture, Christmas presents, etc..  From recent input on the subject though, it's not a definite cure, but the added reduction of dominance/aggression behavior is another plus.

Extra skin? I don't think I've seen any flaps waving in the wind on neutered males I've been around.   Maybe take a couple of those BenWa meditiation balls along and have 'em sewn in.   For asthetic purposes plus he'll be calm and you'll hear him coming.

[brumzoo]

You can do a scrotal ablation which is where the vet cuts off the excess skin. If the neuter is done while the dog is young enough, an ablation is usually not needed.

I am very pro spay/neuter. From what I have seen, animals that are spayed/neutered when 8 weeks old heal a lot quicker than those neutered older. As far as spaying goes, if you spay before the first heat, the chances of the animal developing mammary cancer later is almost nil.

[cadillactaste]

Well...I am personally for neutering...Though I have spoken with my vet about waiting for Sarge our pup to mature for that "larger" head size. I believe that is true...We never neutered our first bulldog...And he had an enormous head...Our second and third bulldog...We neutered...And a smaller headsize seemed to be the case. Where my pup of 9 mths. his head size has already passed the side of our 2 1/2 yr. old male that was neutered at 6 mths...

As for lifting the leg...I have had two male dogs that weren't neutered...And never did they lift their leg...But were squatters...But we did neutered the one at 7 yrs old due to prostrate issues. HE ALMOST DIED from us not having him neutered!!! And it's more common than you would imagine...So...I would suggest at some point you do neuter your bulldog...

As for muscle definition...I have seen MANY of neutered male bulldogs that were really CUT! So...I wouldn't say that was a "major" in all cases...More with a tendency of over feeding would be my guess...

It sounds as if you are looking for a large head bulldog...As myself wanted with our current  bulldog pup. And my vet stated...As long as he is neutered by the age of 2 yrs. of age. She didn't feel it would become a problem with a prostrate issue...That my friend...Is something you DON'T want to see a beloved pet go through...And knowing...That just neutering would have put a stop to the thing rearing it's ugly head...GUILT...You don't want to look at your pet and know that you could have prevented a health issue...I was down that road...And frankly...I "pray" that I never walk that road again!

[3kidsnabullie]

Wow, so sorry to hear about your bullie's prostate issue.  I pray that never happens again.  We are *definitely* planning on neutering....we have just received so much conflicting information as to the timing.  After meeting a bunch of bullies at the meet-up this month, I was so surprised that many adult males were unneutered, and the owners did not think anything of it.  I can understand if the dog is being shown and then used as a stud, but these dogs were not the case.  Yes, we also would like a correct head and body, but not if it is going to sacrifice the health of our babe.  Also, no leg lifting here....but from what I've been reading, that doesn't have much to do with neutering your bullie either way.   

[bullieBosco and Daisy Mae]

I can tell you from my own personal experience that a neutered male dog can "learn" to lift his leg by watching other dogs.  My beagle always squatted until I got my bullie, the next thing I knew, they were both lifting their legs.

[Justine]

We didn't get Wembley snipped until about 8 and a half to 9 months and we wish we'd done it sooner as he now has what we call his "pancake" that kinda dangles a bit! 

Maybe take a couple of those BenWa meditiation balls along and have 'em sewn in.   For asthetic purposes plus he'll be calm and you'll hear him coming.

LMAO!! 

[cadillactaste]

We didn't get Wembley snipped until about 8 and a half to 9 months and we wish we'd done it sooner as he now has what we call his "pancake" that kinda dangles a bit! 

Maybe take a couple of those BenWa meditiation balls along and have 'em sewn in.   For asthetic purposes plus he'll be calm and you'll hear him coming.

LMAO!! 

WOW...A PANCAKE EH!?! I guess Tank when he was neutered at 6 mths...Was not very well...Endowed...For he hasn't a pancake flappin...Now Sarge is a rather...NOT that case...He'll have some large pancake dangling if that the case when we neuter him at 2 yrs. old... ...That is odd they didn't remove the extra skin...But left it flap...I plan on calling my vet and asking her about that...Maybe it's an extra procedure or something to have it removed...I can see the kids...Asking questions about a flapping pancake...

[Justine]

Was not very well...Endowed...For he hasn't a pancake flappin...Now Sarge is a rather...NOT that case...He'll have some large pancake dangling if that the case when we neuter him at 2 yrs. old... ...That is odd they didn't remove the extra skin...But left it flap...I plan on calling my vet and asking her about that...Maybe it's an extra procedure or something to have it removed...I can see the kids...Asking questions about a flapping pancake...

LMAO 
Yep, Wembley was...erm....a big boy! lol
It has receded a LOT from what was originally there after the snip, but there is still a small pancake!

Yeah, you really need to give the kids more things to ask about, eh?!! LOL