Finally getting neutered. Opinions please!

AusnAsh said:
Hm that does sound like a correction sort of thing. As if he's telling the Shiba that, "you should stop doing that". Does he ever growl in addition to nip whenever he comes into contact with other dogs? Mushu usually does it if large dogs corner him or if they bump into him. He hates rough play.

I wish I could see the pic :( It's private. And I love the names Alfie and Ajax!



What a beautiful bi-black. I'm impartial to that coloration. I was planning on getting a bi-black but then there weren't in the litter so Asher became mine (which I don't regret). That is quite the tail carriage. It's similar to Asher's. The only difference is that Asher's is held even higher up over his back. It doesn't rest on his back. I believe that it also has to do with him being higher energy and being over-excited.

That's true. I suppose the bolting is a training issue. I've just heard that it's related to dogs wanting to search for females. I've also seem numerous accounts of dogs calming down a bit after being neutered. They become less anxious to get out. But, I definitely was planning on teaching him soon to stay indoors if he's ever presented with the opportunity to bolt
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Oh they settle,believe me. Our lab once neutered,became so laid back,and his over the top antics in time stopped. Of course labs & shelties are 2 differant temperments.

Trapp stopped humping everything he saw. I mean he was beyond ridiculous.At gathering that year,he was humping anything that moved,even the cat.So that ceased immediately.Jasper never humped anything before or after surgery.
And thank you about Blake.He is very high energy,nothing I have ever seen with my sable boys. So I think its genetic...He's a high flying dog.I have never seen a dog soar like he does.And attitude,ooweee~But smart,and listens well,and sucks up anything for training just like a sponge.He remembers it,and does things well.
I am looking at him being neutered well before the gathering,so I have no issues with him being intact.
 
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Ajax used to mark alot before neutering. That improved alot. But my mum's maltese, even after his surgery still marks whenever he visits a new place...

yeah it definetely looks like ajax is trying to correct these dogs. He never growled at the shiba, just quickly walks over and nip and him then walk away. He did growl at the samoyed though, but also nip him if he comes too close. Not sure why he is reacting this way towards them. But the only difference between him and alfie is alfie was neutered at 6months, so Im assuming once the dog is neutered when sexually mature they become more sensitive to raging hormones from other males?

http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/616w8d
http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/JLqsgG
http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/sEE0Dj
http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/f9MXR9
http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/2V2qz1

try it now? alfie is sable merle, ajax is blue merle. Alfies LOVES the water, ajax... not so much lol
 
xerospin said:
Ajax used to mark alot before neutering. That improved alot. But my mum's maltese, even after his surgery still marks whenever he visits a new place...

yeah it definetely looks like ajax is trying to correct these dogs. He never growled at the shiba, just quickly walks over and nip and him then walk away. He did growl at the samoyed though, but also nip him if he comes too close. Not sure why he is reacting this way towards them. But the only difference between him and alfie is alfie was neutered at 6months, so Im assuming once the dog is neutered when sexually mature they become more sensitive to raging hormones from other males?

http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/616w8d
http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/JLqsgG
http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/sEE0Dj
http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/f9MXR9
http://flickr.com/gp/25665754@N05/2V2qz1

try it now? alfie is sable merle, ajax is blue merle. Alfies LOVES the water, ajax... not so much lol
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Your dogs are gorgeous !!
 
Calliesmom said:
how tall is Alfie? he reminds me a lot of Cranberry- also a sable merle who likes water:smile2:
http://cranberrycallie.shutterfly.com/960
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Alfie is 17'' tall, weighs around 30pounds! He's a big boy lol Cranberry and him DOES look alike, with blue eyes on opposite side!! Is Cranberry big too? you must get the comments "are they mother and child?" or a 'mating pair' alot... I know I do:/ most people dont know shelties vary alot in size.

And thank you mellie :) They're the joy in my life, I'm gutted I didnt get a sheltie sooner :P

Just to be back on the topic, when was the theory that early neutering might lead to some health hazards first came out? I only started seeing heavy discussion on this topic the last 2 years or so. If I had known earlier I wouldn't have neutered alfie so early. He is very active, I'd hate if his body cant take it because of my decison :(
 
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xerospin said:
Alfie is 17'' tall, weighs around 30pounds! He's a big boy lol Cranberry and him DOES look alike, with blue eyes on opposite side!! Is Cranberry big too?

And thank you mellie :) They're the joy in my life, I'm gutted I didnt get a sheltie sooner :P

Just to be back on the topic, when was the theory that early neutering might lead to some health hazards first came out? I only started seeing heavy discussion on this topic the last 2 years or so. If I had known earlier I wouldn't have neutered alfie so early. He is very active, I'd hate if his body cant take it because of my decison :(
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Ha that is how big Birch is about 17" and 29 lbs(just weight last week). Definitely nothing little about him. i figure it is just more to love.

i think Cranberry is about the same size. Birch was almost as tall as him this summer when we met.
 
I'm a secret admirer of Birch! He has the cutest fox-like tail! Seems like the big boys have alot in common. Nothing bothers alfie. Birch is the same I assume? He is so easy to live with, other than constantly bringing me a ball to toss... And climbing onto my chair whenever he finds me spending too much time on the computer lol (can you imagine a 30lbs dog trying to put himself in a computer chair with a person already sitting on it) thankfully after I got ajax he doesnt bother me that much now lol
 
Oh wow! You guys posted a lot since I've been gone haha

Yup. I can see them now. Ajax and Alfie are such beautiful shelties. You guys are right though, definitely a big boy. 29lbs for Birch!? :eek2: Asher's 26lbs right now but has an extremely skinny build. Do you think he could become as big as Birch??

And I'm not quite sure when that theory about the risks of early neutering came out. I've just seen multiple studies conducted on that. There are also disadvantages to neutering later than one year old though so it goes both ways unfortunately :(
 
AusnAsh said:
Oh wow! You guys posted a lot since I've been gone haha

Yup. I can see them now. Ajax and Alfie are such beautiful shelties. You guys are right though, definitely a big boy. 29lbs for Birch!? :eek2: Asher's 26lbs right now but has an extremely skinny build. Do you think he could become as big as Birch??

And I'm not quite sure when that theory about the risks of early neutering came out. I've just seen multiple studies conducted on that. There are also disadvantages to neutering later than one year old though so it goes both ways unfortunately :(
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Yes there are advantages and disadvantages of both. Don't underestimate the knowledge of people on this forum, many and maybe most of us are knowledgable enough to manage intact dogs. It is more difficult that is for sure. I have had both. Alot of personality changes are still occuring even up to 3 yrs old in any dog.

Justice who was the perfect puppy and young dog become a semi jerk around 2.5 yrs and started causing issues with other intact males around that time. He actually put a hole in Pike, his best buddy because Pike was acting foolish and Justice was offended. Had I neutered him at 18 months, he would have been on one of these survery studies as becoming more aggressive. In reality, it was age and maturity. (See how survery studies can be misleading.) As it is I was able to work though and train the issue away for the most part. At almost almost 11yr s Justice is still intact and one of the most steady dogs around but he still doesn't tolerate foolishness well.

Birch, I neutered at 15 months. Yes for me because I have no intention for breeding him and it makes my life easier. I think I am a very good dog trainer too. But lets face it most of JQP is not(unlike the majority of those on this forum). Heck in my experience most people want a dog that doesn't pee potty in the house, doesn't chew up the house and comes when called. If they can't do that well... thats why I work in a shelter. :(

So in reality when we quote studies and benefits of altering and not altering our dogs it comes right down to what is best in the individual situation. It can blow up in your face either way I have seen it. But on average most people do better with an altered dog. The when is still up for debate.

Oh and Birch, I have seen no behavior changes in him at all except he is less distracted at training and less worried about what the other dogs are doing in class and the boys have decided that he can live. Justice, Jamie and Grizz(all intact) were on the verge of plotting to take him out soon.:smile2:
 
xerospin said:
Alfie is 17'' tall, weighs around 30pounds! He's a big boy lol Cranberry and him DOES look alike, with blue eyes on opposite side!! Is Cranberry big too? you must get the comments "are they mother and child?" or a 'mating pair' alot... I know I do:/ most people dont know shelties vary alot in size.

And thank you mellie :) They're the joy in my life, I'm gutted I didnt get a sheltie sooner :P

Just to be back on the topic, when was the theory that early neutering might lead to some health hazards first came out? I only started seeing heavy discussion on this topic the last 2 years or so. If I had known earlier I wouldn't have neutered alfie so early. He is very active, I'd hate if his body cant take it because of my decison :(
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Cran's official AKC height measurement for agility is 18" and he's been steady at 28-29 lbs for a while now.
I enjoy telling people that they are littermates and that Dixie is the correct size:winkgrin:
 
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