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05-27-2010, 05:09 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Smyrna, TN
Posts: 53
| Please, I need advice! I am having trouble getting my 6 month old Smokey neutered. I've heard all kinds of things. The pros are: He won't mark. He will be more focused when training. He won't be after females. There will be less odor from the urine. It prevents cancer. The cons are: The vet told me there would be 50% chance it could change his personality. He would gain weight because it would slow down his metabolism. He would be less energetic. He would not reach his full growth potential. I would not want it to change his personality at all. I'm crazy about him and his energy level. I know someone said that it takes a few months for all of his hormones to leave, but I guess I'm also wondering what he will be like on down the road when their gone. Will he change or be the same later on? I would not want to do anything to change him. Also, I have a female that was never spayed and I had a really hard time when she was in heat. I would appreciate any advice because I am having a really hard time with this. Sorry this is so long! |
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05-27-2010, 05:21 PM | #2 |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | Honestly i do not think it changes their personality. Yorkies are tiny dogs. They are usually finished growing at 1 year old, most of them before that. with females i spay at 6 months before first heat. with males, depending on the breed, i will wait till they hit their maturity age (sometimes 2 years old with giant breeds) before neutering as long as they are not displaying behaviors i do not want (aggression, marking, craziness for females, etc). with dogs as small as yorkies, i would get them fixed at 6 months regardless of maturity age because they typically don't grow much more after that. I had my female spayed at 6 months and she did continue to grow and fill out. she was less then 3lbs at 6 months old and at 1 year she was between 4 and 4.5lbs. now at 4 years old she is just under 5lbs and still in perfect physical condition (actually on the skinny side). With large breed dogs i think you definitely need to let them reach their "growth potential" so they don't have any problems with their bones and joints later on. The only reason for your pet to gain weight after spay/neuter would be you feeding them too much. yes their metabolism changes, but that happens with age anyway. Sometimes their energy level does change too but again that can change with age anyway. Mine were always still just as energetic afterwards. If you notice your dog gaining weight, then just cut back on the food a little. no biggie.
__________________ Kellie and Morgan |
05-27-2010, 05:24 PM | #3 |
Puppy Luv Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada
Posts: 2,678
| Please neuter him, it is best for everyone. You will not like his personality at all when he is marking everything in your house all day long. Male yorkies are very prone to indoor marking and it is a very hard habit to break. Also the chances of an accidental pregnancy are very high with two unfixed dogs. I have never seen any personality changes after altering my males at all. |
05-27-2010, 05:29 PM | #4 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| You have received excellent advice from both of the previous posts and I say ditto to everything that was said. Both my boys are neutered and they are nothing short of total lovebugs. They were neutered together on the same day and neither of their personalities changed at all. Doodlebug is still his same playful self and Bogey is just the same sweet cuddle bug he always was.
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain |
05-27-2010, 05:35 PM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ball Ground, GA
Posts: 1,262
| I've always wondered if people confuse a personality change after neutering with maturity. Puppies grow up.
__________________ Kristan Lizzy's mom |
05-27-2010, 05:37 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,233
| I typed a long post for you but when I tried to load it, it wouldn't go. Darn it. I had Copper neutered on Monday. It was hard to take him, but I had done lots of research and felt it was the best decision. I created a thread of encouragement to others on Tuesday. The response I received was both positive and funny in spots. Maybe you could look it up. It has been 3 days and Copper is as energetic as he ever was. I took his soft foam stairs away from the couch to prevent him from jumping too much. He managed to scramble up the couch without them and then jumped right off. LOL I put them back because he will use them when they are there! I had heard that neutering can curb aggression down the line, but not change the personality. My daughter Holly had her little dog neutered when he was a puppy. A year later and he is still the sweet fun personality that he was. Good luck with your decision.
__________________ Lynn and Copper |
05-27-2010, 05:40 PM | #7 |
Puppy Luv Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada
Posts: 2,678
| I just want to add to do it right away as yorkies tend to start marking about the 6 month mark. It is the best decision I ever made when it comes to my yorkies. If you wait too long their personalities DO change into marking little monsters. not fun, at all. |
05-27-2010, 05:43 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| You are so right about that! Dbugs was lifting that little leg when he was 4 months old
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain |
05-27-2010, 05:47 PM | #9 |
I found Yorkie love Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,488
| The others have given you great advice, it really is for the best. And also, welcome to YT.
__________________ Cathy www.furbabyfashionhouse.ca Handmade clothing for your furboys and furgirls. |
05-27-2010, 05:58 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Here, there
Posts: 2,693
| I have never heard of neutering changing a dogs personality. When I had my boy neutered, he did gain weight, however, his energy level did not change! He is get go from the morning until night. Wants to play, play, play. And, if your boy is marking now, it is quite likely that he will mark after being neutered, just prepare yourself for that. My boy still marks I agree, it is very hard if you have an unspayed female in the house, that is all the boy can think about. I do not regret having my male spayed, I do regret I didn't do it sooner, before he started marking. Good luck.
__________________ Bella (I miss you) Sachi Emmy |
05-27-2010, 06:34 PM | #11 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Smyrna, TN
Posts: 53
| Thanks for all of your wonderful advice! Do you think it would be wise if I have him neutered to have the female spayed even though she's 2 1/2 years old. Would the surgery be hard on her? |
05-27-2010, 06:37 PM | #12 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Smyrna, TN
Posts: 53
| I also forgot to say that Smokey already lifts his leg. Does this mean he is marking? |
05-27-2010, 06:42 PM | #13 |
Puppy Luv Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada
Posts: 2,678
| Yes, I would do both your dogs. It really has so many benefits health wise. It is ok if he lifts his leg to go pee where he is supposed to. But if he is hiking on the table legs, couches, beds, walls, floors, people..... then that could be marking. An un-neutered male can run around and mark several surfaces in less than a minute. |
05-27-2010, 06:52 PM | #14 | |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | Quote:
fix them both asap. you don't want to have any accidents.
__________________ Kellie and Morgan | |
05-27-2010, 07:58 PM | #15 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Smyrna, TN
Posts: 53
| Thanks again for all your advice! Everyone seems to be pro-neutering. I just hated the idea of taking away his manhood. LOL. I will set up an appointment soon. I'm glad I found this forum, you guys are great! |
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