Airedale Terrier Forum:
neutering my puppy

I have a 4mo old puppy and I want to get him neutered but the vet wants to wait until he is 6mo. Can anyone tell me when you think is the right age to do it.

There is a lot of controversy on the best age to neuter a dog. Some like to do it very young, while others prefer the dogs to be older. There are pros and cons to both sides.

One of the issues specific to Airedales with neutering too young, is that it can affect their growth. Your dog could grow abnormally tall if neutered too young. The bones will be less dense and more susceptible to injury. If neutered too young, he could also never mature into a masculine dog. Male Airedales allowed to mature more prior to neutering have such a regal bearing and "aire" to them.

However, if you wait to long to neuter your dog, you will be dealing with marking of territory (i.e. urine stains on the carpet and furniture), a tendancy for him to try to run off if he smells a female in heat anywhere within a few miles, and a tendancy for him to try to challenge for "pack leader".

By getting him neutered between the ages of 6 and 9 months, he will have completed most of his grow