Might have to get my lab neuterd earlier than i wanted...

[dustysags]

So i'm heading up to alaska for a month for work and my wife just graduated from school so shes looking for work. My Wifes mom lives next to us in a house with tons of land and they have a un-spayed female 8 month old who hasnt gone in heat yet i think. I wanted to wait for him to be about a year before I fixed him but we were planning on dropping him off at my wifes moms house everyday while at work with her dog. I know most people say to neuter at 6 months to a year. Anyone think I'm doing a bad thing getting him neutered before a year? He's 6.5 months now

[vandeman17]

I would talk to the vet. I have heard both ways as far as when to get it done. Last thing you would want to do is get your mom's dog knocked up on accident. I say "off with his head" 

[quadrafire]

No good reason to wait.

[Happy Gilmore]

No good reason to wait.

Any thoughts on how testosterone affects muscle and bone growth during early developmental stages?

[Old Dog]

You might want to check this out first. 

One Veterinarian's Opinion

© 2005 Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP

Orthopedic Considerations

A study by Salmeri et al in 1991 found that bitches spayed at 7 weeks grew significantly taller than those spayed at 7 months, who were taller than those not spayed (or presumably spayed after the growth plates had closed). A study of 1444 Golden Retrievers performed in 1998 and 1999 also found bitches and dogs spayed and neutered at less than a year of age were significantly taller than those spayed or neutered at more than a year of age. The sex hormones, by communicating with a number of other growth-related hormones, promote the closure of the growth plates at puberty, so the bones of dogs or bitches neutered or spayed before puberty continue to grow. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered well before puberty can frequently be identified by their longer limbs, lighter bone structure, narrow chests and narrow skulls. This abnormal growth frequently results in significant alterations in body proportions and particularly the lengths (and therefore weights) of certain bones relative to others. For example, if the femur has achieved its genetically determined normal length at 8 months when a dog gets spayed or neutered, but the tibia, which normally stops growing at 12 to 14 months of age continues to grow, then an abnormal angle may develop at the stifle. In addition, with the extra growth, the lower leg below the stifle likely becomes heavier (because it is longer), and may cause increased stresses on the cranial cruciate ligament. In addition, sex hormones are critical for achieving peak bone density. These structural and physiological alterations may be the reason why at least one recent study showed that spayed and neutered dogs had a higher incidence of CCL rupture.

For the complete article, please visit Canine Sports Productions: http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

Dr. Zink is the author of Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete

[Curly]

If you don't want your dog de-nutted, is it an option to get the female spayed? 

[good2go]

My personal feeling. The longer they get to keep the goods intact the better they mature. I'm not a vet and i'm not a pro but I waited until well after my dog was mature. I think he muscled up better and just made him a stronger dog in general.
Take a crate to moms and tell her not to let them out together. It really shouldn't be that big of a deal. I know it's hard to control them when love is in the air but it is possible.

[KopperBuck]

If I want a neutered dog, I do it early. I don't want the habits of a nut hanger.

[wildweeds]

Concrete slab and chainlink kennel with roof , lock on the latch and two latches,one down low and one just above center.No reason that your wife can't lock the dog in the kennell everyday while she works and let him out when she gets home.

[dustysags]

yes i was thinking about the concrete slab, just didn't really want to lock the guy up all day. I just pondering the be free without nuts or locked up with em? I plan on neutering him at around a year just wondered if you guys had any say in 6 months vs. a year for a timeline or if it matters to much.

[vandeman17]

yes i was thinking about the concrete slab, just didn't really want to lock the guy up all day. I just pondering the be free without nuts or locked up with em? I plan on neutering him at around a year just wondered if you guys had any say in 6 months vs. a year for a timeline or if it matters to much.

I have a decent size dog run along the side of my house for my two dogs. It is covered and works out nice. They can get up, walk around, stretch, get a drink of water and be comfortable while I am at work. I also have a fenced yard so when I get home they are let out and they can play with each other. I also get up early for the gym so they are out in the yard for close to two hours before I go to work. It gives them some time to play, burn some energy, pee, poop whatever before being locked up. They are both high energy labs

[AspenBud]

If you don't plan to breed the dog ever then I don't think it matters. I wouldn't go any younger than six months however and personally I would wait until a year. There is something to the bone length and muscle mass concerns imo.

Someone will likely haul out a study about Goldens that were spayed/neutered too young and all of the cancers they got. The problem with that is Goldens are cancer magnets at the best of times so keep that in mind.

Edit: whoops, the study already got listed.

[Happy Gilmore]

If I want a neutered dog, I do it early. I don't want the habits of a nut hanger.

You mean the owner right?

[Special T]

Concrete slab and chainlink kennel with roof , lock on the latch and two latches,one down low and one just above center.No reason that your wife can't lock the dog in the kennell everyday while she works and let him out when she gets home.

Apparenlty youve never seen a dog knocked up through a chain link fence! 

[Happy Gilmore]

Concrete slab and chainlink kennel with roof , lock on the latch and two latches,one down low and one just above center.No reason that your wife can't lock the dog in the kennell everyday while she works and let him out when she gets home.

Apparenlty youve never seen a dog knocked up through a chain link fence! 

Heard some accounts of Marines in the Phillippines being able to make it happen through the fence around the base while on patrol. 

[PlateauNDN]

Concrete slab and chainlink kennel with roof , lock on the latch and two latches,one down low and one just above center.No reason that your wife can't lock the dog in the kennell everyday while she works and let him out when she gets home.

Apparenlty youve never seen a dog knocked up through a chain link fence! 

Heard some accounts of Marines in the Phillippines being able to make it happen through the fence around the base while on patrol. 

   its called improvise, adapt & overcome

[wildweeds]

He has a male..................... if the dog is in a locked kennel with a roof, the owner of the female is the negligent one,not him.And yes I had a litter of springers 24 years ago that was a through the fence job.And it was totally my fault I owned both parties,one with nuts was loose and the other was locked down.

Concrete slab and chainlink kennel with roof , lock on the latch and two latches,one down low and one just above center.No reason that your wife can't lock the dog in the kennell everyday while she works and let him out when she gets home.

Apparenlty youve never seen a dog knocked up through a chain link fence! 

[mossback91]

Had  a male climb a ladder on the outside of the barn to hop into the barn with the female in heat

I have always believed in waiting till the male is mature for muscle and bone structure, but I ain't no vet!

[KopperBuck]

If I want a neutered dog, I do it early. I don't want the habits of a nut hanger.

You mean the owner right?

HA! Exactly, just ask my wife!

[Birdguy]

The only male we have ever had fixed, we waited until he was a year old. He barked, and acted like a male in the yard but a fixed broken sole in the park. He did mount our females when they came into heat but so did the other female    .
Dusty, that pup of yours should be a stud when developed, I would hold out if I were you but I certainly understand your situation and appreciate your desire to have a good tenant to leave with others. A good/responsible pet owner  .

How is he doing? Putting on weight yet? Are you planning on making the APLA meeting in March? If so maybe we can meet there, I would love to see the pup.

[L-ofalab]

The only dog I had neutered young (6 month) got a torn cruciate and after expensive surgery never was the same. Vets tell you to neuter young for the money they will make. If it is just a house dog it probably doesn't matter. If you want a healthy hunting dog with lots of drive don't do it till at least 1 1/2 years.

[dustysags]

well i spent some time at my mothers house before i went to alaska and was able to put a few new posts in and repair her fenced yard. So although its not as close to our house as my wifes moms house now if my wife has to go to work he can go there. So now I guess I dont have a timeline for him to get fixed. Nash dodged a bullet there!

[REHJWA]

Good to hear you were able to get it worked out.
Good luck on your trip.

[Birdguy]

He will probably fill out a bit while you are gone, you may not even recognize him when you get home  . I am sure he will appreciate your efforts in letting him hang onto the "boys" a little longer but someday he will know anyhow  .