To snip or not to snip?

sorry..couldn't resist that title!

So if considering going with my dream dog - pedigree Border Collie Male.

My only worry choosing a male was dog aggression with other males outside out of our home. I don't want to be left in a situation going along in my chair when I have my (then adult sized male) trying to go for or retaliate to another male dog when I also have my elderly female dog walking on the same side (need other hand to steer chair). This would be my worst nightmare scenario

From experience with parents dogs both male and entire, they were 'keen' towards other dogs. we had some scary walks sometimes till we got him under control but I was then fully mobile and able to hold him back.

My question is... if I get my dog neutered young will other entire males still see him as a 'puppy' and not bother him?

Inca had been spayed young (around 4 and half months) before her first season and stayed very puppy like for years.. maybe that's why she got on ok with my friends Hearing Dog who was selected as a puppy and also spayed at a young age? I know Assistance dogs often are neutered young, both male and female. They don't seem to have any ill health effects like obvious stunted growth and the males often seem very gentle and much calmer than our two were at home around other dogs.

What are people's views on a good age for this? as there's no risk to him getting pregnant! I heard some people wait till as long 12 months old? what would be the youngest viable age? ... should I wait until sexual maturity (what age will that be in a BC?) starts in him or get it done just before?

Thanks

Kati

my springer is almost 3 and a whole male and is as friendly as it gets my border terrier who is 5 and neutered loves nothing more than a fight so in my experience it makes no difference it is down to socialising and training.
Others will disagree.

The problem is, in some cases (such as with a nervous dog) it can sometimes do more harm than good. It would be a good idea to try him with the implant first to see how he is with that before you proceed. At least the implant wears off.

Guinness was done before we got him, but if it had been left up to me I would not have had him done.

Hi Kati I tend to have bitches these days and I always have them spayed having lost a couple and almost a third with Pyometra.

If I was having a dog I wouldn't see the need to have him neutered. My only concern with having an entire male is the possibility of an unwanted mating but as a responsible owner capable of taking charge of my dog at all times this isn't really something I would worry about.

what is this implant? I don't believe it was around when Inca was spayed but then she is female!

Would the implant involve an op?

Thanks

ok I was told Border Collies are not known for male-to-male- aggression but not sure whether that means just with other collies or any male, even if the the male was being aggressive?

My other worry would be him living with a female dog (she has been spayed) but is starting with arthritis and will not appreciate him getting randy with her and trying to hump her! I'm worried he'd hurt her hips especially after reaching his full size if he ended up bigger/heavier than her.

I'm hoping there would be enough of an age difference that he wouldn't bother her as she would be around 12-13yrs depending on how long it took me to find him in the first place.. (and then reach that age!)

And marking in the house, trying to get out of garden if he smells another bitch (with me not easily been able to get after him).

My males are not aggressive to males of any breed & as for my boys wanting to hump my girls they have never tried, even when the girls have been in season(they are never left with them when they are in season obviously)however my oldest girl does like to hump my Cavalier boy. The girls quickly put the boys in their places if they even try to check them out !

Why should a dog try to escape if there is a bitch in season somewhere else ? & the house marking is all a matter of good house training. These 2 questions are the ones put forward by those who want all males castrated before puberty, which has been proved to be detrimental to the puppy's correct growth & development

It is called Suprelorin and only works for male dogs. As far as I am aware, there is not a bitch equivilent available at the moment.

It is a small implant and it is inserted just like a microchip - no op needed.

How long would it last?

I have heard that neuturing is not as effective to cure behaviours if done AFTER the behaviours have started. I didn't know this implant thing existed.

I take it, it's a short term measure to see how a dog may react to been neutured? (anxiety worse or something?) so it can be reversed or wear off if not helpful?

It's interesting someone mentioned that their 'entire' dog was friendly and the one 'neutured' was the one who looked for fights? I wonder why?

Anyone else got male Border collies in particular and had this done or not and outcomes? (behaviour wise).

It's just I'm been told if I want my dog to work well as my helper he needs to be done early so his mind is on his job only and not any other females in the area.... especially if went through with public training exam (which he can't take until he reached 2yrs in UK) and going to places with much larger amounts of people and other dogs about.

The cancer risk worries me most personally having already gone through losing 5 members of my human family from cancer!

I'm no expert at all but my year old dog is still entire and I've got no issues at all with him, my plan is to keep him entire.

As for behaviour modification, surely that's a training issue and not one that would necessarily be " cured " by lopping his balls off?

I walk most days with a group of other walkers, some dogs are entire and I've never heard anyone complaining of their entire male dog running off or of his mind being elsewhere.

Finally, my last dog, albeit many years ago was an entire male collie cross. He had no aggression issues and never once ran off after a bitch in heat. The only time he ever lost his head over a bitch in heat was when we lived next door to a yorkshire terrier and once when she was in season he lay at the fence whining for a few days. At this stage he was deaf, almost blind and fairly arthritic!