have a male charcoal lab that is almost 6 months and 55 pounds.. his mom was 55 pounds.. I want him to have that spark, bite, and Edge about him when that testosterone hits.. right now he is a sissy and still squats when he pees.. All of this is just generally speaking... Should I neuter by BEST FRIEND? And how much bigger will he get?
Wait till he’s fully grown - about 2 years old. He needs his hormones for physical and emotional growth, and to protect against some cancers. Six months is way too early to neuter. We waited so long with our boy that we ended up not neutering him. He’s 6 yo and a lovely, friendly, confident dog.
I definitely wouldn't consider neutering until he has reached physical and emotional maturity - at least 2 years, as @MF says. Then assess and see whether he has any over-sexualised behaviour that can't be trained out.
Hi Justin and welcome! I have a one-year old male, and that testosterone is hitting right now!!! But it is totally manageable, he is just very bouncy and interested in sniffing the butts of every dog he meets... I certainly don't intend to have him neutered - he is the fourth male Labrador I have owned, and none of them have been neutered (well, the very first lab I had was neutered when he was older, but that was due to a health issue). I think it's very much a personal and a cultural thing, and it also depends on each individual dog.
I'm not sure exactly what behaviour your are expecting from your pup. Testosterone won't change his nature. Sorry but no dog is a 'sissy'. All puppies squat to pee, males begin to cock their legs as they get older but it is not uncommon for them to be still squatting at 6 months or even 9 months of age - there is no set age for them to cock their leg. Some dogs never cock their leg but squat, just as some bitches start to cock their leg....
Coco is nearly 4 and still does a girly squat for his main "empty the bladder" pees. He started cocking his leg for scent marking on his walks at around 2 years (much to my delight - proud dog-mum ) He was castrated at just over a year old - policy at the ManxSPCA where he came from - all dogs are neutered.
We made a mistake with Finn getting neutered at 1,5 year of age. He was afraid towards other dog, this showing by loud barking. This has been increased after being neutered. So think twice before you want him to get neutered. We regret it that we have let it done!
Wow! I was expecting everyone to troll.. I think we will go ahead and wait.. What about size? How much bigger did your labs get after 6 months?
The usual guide for size is that they stop growing taller at about 10 months, and keep getting broader and stockier until about two years old when they’re considered fully grown. Snowie is chunky with a big head. I do wonder if it is because he is still intact. His brother, who was neutered at one years old, has a narrower head and body. But I can’t be sure his brother would’ve been bigger if he’d remained intact, although that is the theory. Snowie also eats raw meaty bones as part of his diet, and I’m pretty sure all that chewing has built up jaw muscle.
He is getting bigger everyday.. Monday he weighed in at the vet at 55lbs.. he is about 6 1/2 months now.. he is still trying to figure out when to use his whiny voice vs his adult bark
Neutering is a personal choice and a topic that can get heated. Do lots of research before you decide. My boy is 2 next month, 75 pounds and still intact. I see no reason to neuter at this point. He never lifted his leg till about 9 months and still sometimes squats at night with a full bladder. He never marks inside or on the deck. He humped his bed for a brief time out of excitement but soon gave that up.
