Made Appointment to Get Fixed

I hope that I am making the right decision to get my dog fixed. I guess my fantasy of getting him a wife in the future (black Lab), and having little AKC puppies, was my biggest hurdle to jump. The fact is, even though I am meticulous about certain aspects, the reality is, I have no business thinking I can some day breed him. My biggest aspirations are for him to be trained well enough to do volunteer work in the future. And at the very least be well behaved enough to remain a family dog, loyal to his family, and behaved enough for strangers to pet him (he still jumps up when he’s excited).

I went online today, to research why it is better to not have him fixed, and all I could find were the benefits of him doing the procedure. I heard from a few sources that it was best to wait until a larger breed is at least two years old when they are neutered. How the added testosterone from not being fixed helps with preventing hip dysplasia in larger breeds and greater bone density.

I started to look it up

Cal Vet http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/saortho/chapter_83/83mast.htm

Working Dog http://www.workingdogs.com/vchipdysplasia.htm

Pet Education http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2084&aid=444

Pet Informed http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/male-dog-neutering.html

Why Not to Fix

Ehow http://www.ehow.com/list_6142410_negative-health-effects-neutering-dogs.html

1800PetMed http://www.1800petmeds.com/education/neutering-dog-cat-19.htm

DCN http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/ddtc/sfiles/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

Go Pets America http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/spay_neuter_risks_benefits.aspx

If it is best to fix a male dog, after becoming sexually mature, than depending on the site dictates which age? I saw on one site that a male dog can be, and actually father puppies, at the age of five months (but best to never breed until 2 years old). The AKC site simply states no breeding until they are two years old, and nothing about best age to fix him with least negative health risks. So are my fears unfounded? I read on one side how fixing him with lead to weight gain, and result in hip/joint issues. And although science does acknowledge the risks, they are so slight, and the positives out weigh the negatives. Am I trying to talk myself out of neutering him? Why did we bother getting him and AKC number?

Labradors do not stop growing until they are around two years old! No wonder other owners of large breeds I’ve talk to choose to fix after their dog is at least 24 months. The trainer Cooper had with Petsmart (puppy and next class, same trainer) looked at me like I was crazy when I mentioned why we wanted to wait until he was two years old.

I would hate to think I am choosing to have him fixed now instead of later for selfish reasons. I not only want more choices of doggie daycares (many require him to be fixed, opposed to being stuck in a kennel while we do amusement parks)… personality to be less hyper and tense… he already cost us $75 to find out the neighbor’s son’s dog (female and not fixed) is in heat and my dog was aroused…

I am absolutely confused, feeling lightheaded, and even if we were to breed him later… the next dog wouldn’t even enter our lives for two years (wit our current set of goals), than 2 years for it to mature fully (making it four years before possible puppies), and than what? Breeding is a fantasy… better to focus on training, volunteer opportunities, and simply settling for being “just a family dog”. I even had a fantasy of studding him out for working dogs, that are trained for the disabled, but I am sure they don't need him...