I'm totally undecided about having Riley neutered.
 

Riley is supposed to go in on the 26th (his 8 month birthday) to be neutered and have his remaining puppy teeth pulled but I'm so undecided about having it done. With Jo there was no question, it had to be done, but it seems different for Riley. Everything is in place, he isn't marking, humping or lifting his leg...he's a well mannered boy. I'm not sure why I'm so undecided...maybe because I'm scared for him or 'I think' he's turning into a very nice looking Yorkie that possibly has some desirable traits for breeding. But, the second thought is silly because I'm not a breeder for one and also I know nothing about his health history soooo.....someone tell me what to do! Maybe I should wait a while? Maybe I shouldn't take him in at all? Maybe I should have him evaluated? Maybe I should have him neutered and be happy with my wonderful little boy? Please someone...hold my hand and make the decision for me!

I think, in the fact that breeding isn't something you've seriously considered, you'd do the right thing to have him fixed. Plus just because he isn't marking now doesn't mean he won't eventually. He may be perfect right now, but he is a little boy! lol They never cease to surprise us. You'll make the right decision. :)

Sorry Terri you have to make this decision yourself. There is a post I did on reason's for neutering your dog (use the search & you should find it) and I just found this one you might want to look at. Of course because I am in rescue it is the only way to go in my book.

http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehom...ry/snindex.cfm

My vote is not to neuter him!

If you are having these kinds of second thoughts now then I say you are not sure it is in Riley's best interests. My vet is not in favor of routine neutering for the sake of preventing pet overpopulation. He feels that all dogs should keep their God given "parts" unless there is a valid reason that is in their best interests to put them through the pain and risk of this major surgery.

Some vets will tell you that it is healthier for the dog to be neutered and they usually cite the fact that neutering a male protects him form getting testicular cancer is fallacious since testicular cancer is very rare in canines and when it does occur, the "cure" is to neuter at that point. There are cancers like bladder cancer that occur more frequently in neutered dogs than in intact dogs.

The reproductive hormones serve purposes other than for reproduction and actually protect the heart and other organs so the health benefits are not a reason to neuter imo.

There are also less invasive procedures that are easier on the dog that your vet will not usually tell you about like a vasectomy.

Please do a search on this forum to find out all you can and get links to other research on the subject.

Good luck with your decision.

The fact that he is not marking yet is great. Loki was neutered at 6 months, and he doesn't mark and has never lifted his leg. He still squats when he pees, tail and nose both sticking straight up - it's hilarious. We never had to deal with humping or any of those boy issues, and I'm SO glad. It's so nice not to have to stop at every tree and lamp post so he can pee. And when I see other dogs walking through the neighborhood doing that I have to laugh :-) IMO, it's just part of owning a pet dog.

i had the same second thoughts earlier this month when i made the appointment for bunjee's neutering. i feel so badly for him every time he's sore from his shots. i didn't know how he will react to surgery. he has such a sweet temperament. i would love to have more little bunjees around as well as my parents and my in-laws. for a while i was toying with the idea... maybe just one litter...

but i think the key is "i am not a breeder". i wouldn't know the first thing about breeding a healthy litter. pet ownership is a big responsibility. whelping a litter will be an even bigger responsibility with more financial investment and time commitment. realistically, i'm not sure that's something i can handle.

i weighed the health benefits of testicular cancer prevention; behavior benefits if he never developes behaviors such as leg lifting, marking, roaming, and fighting; safety benefits by being more responsive to commands and less likely to run away in search of females in heat; social benefits because i wouldn't be too afraid of taking him to visit other people in their homes, behaviors such as marking, once it becomes a habit, it may decrease but not unlearned and he may exhibit the behavior out of habit rather than testosterone need. my friend brought her 2 yr old shih-tzu over once. he's neutered before he was adopted at the shelter when he was about a year and a half. he wanted to mark everything. he nearly pee'd on me.

so, cutting to the chase, bunjee went in for his neutering this morning. he got home a few hours ago. he's sleeping right now but otherwise he's recovering wonderfully. i am confident i made the right decision.

you'll have to make the decision for riley on your own. i'm sure you'll make the right one for both you and riley! good luck!

If you're not going to bred him (and 99% of us shouldn't be doing that) -- I would definitely neuter him.

The reasons to have him neutered far far far outweigh any reasons not to have it done.

Every pet I have owned over the past 20 or 30 years has been spayed or neutered.......wouldn't have it any other way!

Carol Jean

Thank you all for your advice and information. I know in my heart what should be done but it's hard...you know? He's such a good boy and he's turning out so much better than I thought he would...I think he had the 'ugly duckling syndrome' when he was little. ;) I'm not a breeder or a show dog owner and I'm not sure I could ever be either one and I certainly don't want to add to the pet over population problem. I regret having Jo neutered (but it was necessary in his case) so I'm having second thoughts about getting Riley done...even though I know it's the responsible thing to do. Thanks again...

I TOTALLY agree with SnowWa - I can see why you're confused because recently there is so many posts about this ....

the pro's far outweigh the cons ...especially with a male....

I know exactly how you feel. my fear was the anesthesia and I drove my vet NUTS for the week before with my questions. BUT you willl need to have him put under to get those baby teeth out anyway so my feeling is if you have no reason to keep him intact to go ahead and do it.
8 months is not that old he may not have started marking yet and he may never mark in the house depending on how solid his potty training is. My gsd is intact and he would never dream of marking in a house but most intact males are not that good:)

Teri...one more thing ...it's easy for someone to tell you NOT to do this for their own personal reasons....

but when your sweet baby starts humping everything that moves or lifting his leg on all your furniture - you will probably wish you had the surgery....

It's a very easy procedure for males and both you and your yorkie will be happier in the long run....An un-neutered male can develope some traits that you may not be able to control if he stays intact....

I had my male neutered and he was fine. I would not want to have to put on belly bands to keep him from marking. Also they cant get testicular cancer if they are neutered.

I've been going through the same thing...wondering what to do. I haven't got my pup yet, but making plans. He is born. I am getting him in April. My last Yorkie was neutered and still showed a few signs of humping a pillow when he was very young or over excited. Somtimes he would pee in someone's house if it was the first time he had ever been there. And he definatly marked on walks and around houses when we first got to a new house. He wasn't bad though and was house trained imediatly. Just if it was the first time in there. I think...if I hadn't of had him neutered...how much worse could it have been? I know of dogs who hump people's legs as they walked in the door! Not fun!
BUT on the flip side. I am more on the holistic side. Limited vax, natural flee and heartworm, homecooking, etc so I think...oh...that surgery and putting them under...and people giving me horror stories about what the vets do to the dogs in the room...their heads banging back and forth and all kinds of stories. And oh...is it bad because they aren't in their natural state...and my holistic friends make some good points that make me think! And they tell me that humping and marking can be controlled through training.
BUT on the flip side of that...in my living situation right now...a humping dog would not make for a pleasent houshold. It would make the situation much worse. The person I live with FREAKS out about it and that is why we almost got a female instead. It would put a lot more stress on me besides the regular training and how could that be good for anyone all around? Plus...is it good that they have all these hormones going around inside and no way to let it out? In fact...aren't some diseases caused by an imbalance of hormones.
I don't know.
I don't have an answer one way or the other. I see points of view on both sides of the story and they both make sense to me. I think in my situation I have to neuter because of my living situation and increased traveling I will be doing. It may make it harder on me and my new pup if we have to worry about the negatives of leaving him natural.
suzie