Hi.

I have been doing a lot of research with regard to castrating my 5 month old (he's just turned 5 months), Labradoodle when he is six months old, as recommended by my vet.

However, my research seems to point to a 50-50 chance of positive and negative consequences after castration - and I am not convinced he will be better off; in fact I feel he will be worse off without his man parts.

I really don't want to castrate him as I feel the heath risks of an intact dog are negligible according to my extensive research.

I have owned many intact male dogs (Mainly English Springer Spaniels) in the past and I have no problems with them whatsoever.

I won't be breeding him.

I am 99% certain I am keeping Maximilian (Max), intact, but what are others' views on this.

I had no hesitation in neutering my female Springerdoodle and I am convinced it was the best thing to do for her medically, and for social reasons.

Christmas Greetings.

Thanks.

I have always had males done in the past but our last experience wasn't pleasant and we ended up with a very nervous aggressive yorkie. I would not routinely do it again.

Thanks for this, this is one of my main fears.

Very few health benefits, would leave him as he is, if his hormones take over and make him a sex mad loon (unlikely lol), you can always neuter then or use the implant.

Great to hear people doing their research rather than blindly trusting vets' advice

Great advice, thank you I am keeping him intact and will see what happens.

Yes, people should start thinking for themselves.

I have always thought for myself and in 4 decades have never owned a dog I have not had neutered and never had any health problems.
The Op has a male intact that is not going to be bred. So what is the alternative? A male animal that will spend his life lusting after a female - any female - because that is their nature. How on earth can this be kind?

It's IMO far more important to worry about the temperament of the dog as I said one who became so nervous aggressive he was not any more a happy dog from that day forward. And from what I have seen of other people's entire males they tend to lust only when a female in in season, like mine is at the moment, hopefully by keeping her in I have not caused anyone any problems.

By "research" do you mean reading opinions on the internet? You have also asked for opinions on this forum which is hardly a place to get advice for something like this as posters will choose to take their very limited experience and try and apply it to every other situation.

There is very real evidence , remember the plural of anecdote is anecdotes. I would never leave a male dog intact if I wasn't going to breed but you seem happy to do so which is your choice.

There is loads of proper research out there now explaining about temperament changes, if you have a confident dog then it won't make any difference but if you have a nervous dog removing the hormones suddenly can cause the dog to become aggressive, I knew nothing about it until it happened to us then we (too late) did research and our current vet (he didn't do the operation) says he would not have agreed to do it knowing how nervous Duncan was pre op, and would have explained the problems it could cause.
As always I believe my current vet - he seems a far better source of wisdom than most.

Hi.

I am happy with my research and my decision, thanks for all the interesting replies. My mind is made up.

My previous intact male dogs had no problems with overwhelming "lust" lol.

My boy is keeping his bits. My husband who sadly is no longer with me, would agree.

I am sure my boy will be very happy and enjoy nibbling his boy bits.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We can only always do what we individually feel is best, and nothing says you can't change your mind in years to come, something you can't do if you neuter, once you realise that is a mistake there is no going back as we found.

I have kept my Border x JR Terrier intact and he is 7 now and a perfectly lovely dog. He gets a bit unsettled twice a year when there are local bitches in season, but he is fine the rest of the time. The only problem is with other unneutered dogs that he meets as there can be a bit of aggression, but as long as he is on the lead it is easily dealt with.

He never acts inappropriately with young children and he never marks his territory other than on a walk.

I have consulted my vet a couple of times and he has always said if the dog is happy, then leave things be.