Best Age Neuter Dog

Time to neuter?

Deciding on the best age neuter dog can be a difficult decision for many new puppy owners. While most responsible pet owners who don't intend to breed their dogs realize that neutering is the best decision for their pet's health and well being, they often have a difficult time deciding on the ideal age for the procedure.

Time to neuter?

When to Start Thinking About Best Age Neuter Dog

As soon as you bring home a new male puppy, you should start making plans for getting him neutered. Dogs generally began experiencing puberty at the age of six months, and it's much better for them if the neutering procedure is performed before this happens.

While it isn't advisable to perform the procedure on a newborn puppy, it is best to take care of having the surgery performed before your pet reaches sexual maturity. Once male pups are eight weeks old, it's likely that their testicles have fully descended, which is a necessary condition for performing the surgery. Professionals typically recommend scheduling the neutering procedure when puppies are between three and sixth months of age.

Concerns About Dog Neutering

Many people are concerned that if they have their dog neutered too soon that the procedure will have a negative impact on his personality and physical development. In fact, the opposite is generally true.

For example, neutering dogs at an early age can keep them from developing negative behavior patterns. Aggressive behavior, for example, becomes common in many male dogs once they become sexually mature. In some cases, early neutering can prevent these types of behaviors from becoming part of your dog's nature.

There is a long running myth that neutering male dogs will cause them to stop being playful companions. Even though this myth has been perpetuated for years, it is simply not true. Playfulness is simply part of the canine nature. Your dog is likely to remain playful throughout his lifetime, whether or not he is neutered.

How Can I Be Sure My Dog is Ready to be Neutered?

If you purchase your dog from a breeder, you'll know exactly how old your new pet is when you bring him home. This can be very beneficial when making decisions about when you should schedule the neutering procedure. The breeder can be an excellent source of information about the best way to care for the particular type of dog you have decided to add to your household.

If you aren't planning to breed your pup, talk with the breeder about his or her thoughts on the best time take care of getting your puppy neutered. Reputable breeders are knowledgeable about health and personality considerations for the types of animals they raise, so it's likely that he or she will be able to let you know if there are any breed-specific recommendations for your dog.

Of course, not everyone purchases his or her dog from a breeder. If you adopt a stray dog or rescue an animal from a shelter, you won't have the advantage of knowing exactly how old your animal is. When you bring home a pound puppy, you aren't likely to know exactly how large he is likely to get when full grown. In this situation, it can even be difficult to judge the age of your dog based on his size, since you don't have breed size standards for comparison. Luckily, most shelters take care of neutering before allowing pets to be adopted, but do be sure to ask about it.

Fortunately, your veterinarian can help you make an educated guess about the age and maturity of your new pet. When you take your puppy to the veterinarian to complete his or her shots, discuss your concerns about the best age neuter dog with him or her. Whether your dog is a purebred or a foundling mixed breed, your veterinary health professional can be the best resource for all types of health care information..

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