Hi, I do believe hormones impact appearance and growth. One can look at horses, and even a non horse person could pick out a stallion in a group of geldings (and not by the danglies!) The muscling that testosterone gives is undeniable, ask any f to m transgendered person! Hormones are powerful things and the effects striking. I am new to bulldogs, Mack is my first, but I looked at dozens and dozens of studs while choosing his lineage, and seeing all the adorable pet bulldogs, I think it is very possible to tell the males that were neutered early. That being said, I am in general in favor of neutering males, simply because I want to reduce the risks of any accidental breedings, and unwanted puppies, and because appearance is ony a small part of why we love our bullies so much. My own Mack will lose his jewels at two unless I find the time to show him as a hobby


Mack's Mom .

Hi, I do believe hormones impact appearance and growth. One can look at horses, and even a non horse person could pick out a stallion in a group of geldings (and not by the danglies!) The muscling that testosterone gives is undeniable, ask any f to m transgendered person! Hormones are powerful things and the effects striking. I am new to bulldogs, Mack is my first, but I looked at dozens and dozens of studs while choosing his lineage, and seeing all the adorable pet bulldogs, I think it is very possible to tell the males that were neutered early. That being said, I am in general in favor of neutering males, simply because I want to reduce the risks of any accidental breedings, and unwanted puppies, and because appearance is ony a small part of why we love our bullies so much. My own Mack will lose his jewels at two unless I find the time to show him as a hobby


Mack's Mom .

and they reach their adult height at about that same time too. The dog will continue to "fill out" as determined by his genetic makeup, with a little influence from exercise and nutrition...but mostly its genetics...whether he's neutered or not...thinking dogs need their hormones to fill out is 'old wives tales' IMO.

and they reach their adult height at about that same time too. The dog will continue to "fill out" as determined by his genetic makeup, with a little influence from exercise and nutrition...but mostly its genetics...whether he's neutered or not...thinking dogs need their hormones to fill out is 'old wives tales' IMO.

The time to think about unwanted aggressive or dominating behavior is before it becomes a problem, not afterward. Unless you are planning to show your dog competitively, he should be neutered. Its not so much for health (altho there are benefits) but its for behavior and even tho the mild-mannered dogs as pups will remain that way as adults, you can "up the odds" of continued mellow behaviors if he's neutered. The cost of local licensing, which I advocate 100%, is reduced with a neutered dog, and others at parks and dog events will perceive your dog as possibly aggressive if he isn't neutered. In those cases where a second pet is added, and its a female, you will find that she is most likely the dominant personality in the household anyway. I have altered some of my males, not done others, but I can confirm that the unaltered ones seemed compelled to mark every vertical surface we came to outside.

The time to think about unwanted aggressive or dominating behavior is before it becomes a problem, not afterward. Unless you are planning to show your dog competitively, he should be neutered. Its not so much for health (altho there are benefits) but its for behavior and even tho the mild-mannered dogs as pups will remain that way as adults, you can "up the odds" of continued mellow behaviors if he's neutered. The cost of local licensing, which I advocate 100%, is reduced with a neutered dog, and others at parks and dog events will perceive your dog as possibly aggressive if he isn't neutered. In those cases where a second pet is added, and its a female, you will find that she is most likely the dominant personality in the household anyway. I have altered some of my males, not done others, but I can confirm that the unaltered ones seemed compelled to mark every vertical surface we came to outside.

The responses are great.
We'll give it a while at least and think it through.
Rocco thanks you all!

The responses are great.
We'll give it a while at least and think it through.
Rocco thanks you all!

I would let the boy mature and fill out, i would not neuter a male unless his behavior was really bad, but not this young.
Becky

I would let the boy mature and fill out, i would not neuter a male unless his behavior was really bad, but not this young.
Becky

No need to neuter at all as long as the dog doesn't have any bad habits.

Sue

No need to neuter at all as long as the dog doesn't have any bad habits.

Sue

i dont believe in neurting....a dog needs its hormones to be healthy....but if you are not in a hurry and still feel the need to neuter i wold wait till he is two....he needs to grow and develope...but this is me and even my vet does not like to neuter till their two....
my wilson is two and he is not dog agressive does not pee on everything (unless were outside) and is well behaved dog....charlie is only 8 months and he is a well behaved male....its just training....and not allowing bad behavior to even start.... make sure you do alot of socializing...

i dont believe in neurting....a dog needs its hormones to be healthy....but if you are not in a hurry and still feel the need to neuter i wold wait till he is two....he needs to grow and develope...but this is me and even my vet does not like to neuter till their two....
my wilson is two and he is not dog agressive does not pee on everything (unless were outside) and is well behaved dog....charlie is only 8 months and he is a well behaved male....its just training....and not allowing bad behavior to even start.... make sure you do alot of socializing...

He came out of anesthesia just fine and was back to normal the next day. It was like nothing ever happened. I would wait a few more months and let him get a little bigger. I think Deuce was about 50 pounds when we got him neutered and he is still filling out, he is about 55 pounds now and I am sure he still has filling out to do since he will be 1 this month. He was never a humper so luckily we never had to deal with that. As for personality, his hasn't changed a bit!! Let me know if you have any other questions.

He came out of anesthesia just fine and was back to normal the next day. It was like nothing ever happened. I would wait a few more months and let him get a little bigger. I think Deuce was about 50 pounds when we got him neutered and he is still filling out, he is about 55 pounds now and I am sure he still has filling out to do since he will be 1 this month. He was never a humper so luckily we never had to deal with that. As for personality, his hasn't changed a bit!! Let me know if you have any other questions.

to take your dog to dog parks, social gatherings where there are other dogs, I would suggest that you have him neutered before 8 months old. Intact males can become real pukes with other dogs, particularly other males. It's not a bad thing, it's just the way it is.

Training and appropriate socialization can help with testosterone based behaviors but truthfully, its a whole lot easier to do all we can do to prevent unwanted behaviors then it is to modify them once they have started.

Right now, I think he is still too young, wait a few months.

What he will look like at maturity, is genetic. If you know what his parents and grandparents look like, you have a pretty good idea of how your boy will grow.

Good luck

Lynn King CPDT

to take your dog to dog parks, social gatherings where there are other dogs, I would suggest that you have him neutered before 8 months old. Intact males can become real pukes with other dogs, particularly other males. It's not a bad thing, it's just the way it is.

Training and appropriate socialization can help with testosterone based behaviors but truthfully, its a whole lot easier to do all we can do to prevent unwanted behaviors then it is to modify them once they have started.

Right now, I think he is still too young, wait a few months.

What he will look like at maturity, is genetic. If you know what his parents and grandparents look like, you have a pretty good idea of how your boy will grow.

Good luck

Lynn King CPDT

get out an socialize him as much as posiible...take him to handling class....a puppy class....an intact dog does take a little more work....in the whos the boss department....

get out an socialize him as much as posiible...take him to handling class....a puppy class....an intact dog does take a little more work....in the whos the boss department....

I will wait and see how Rocco grows up.
I am relieved, I didn't want him to be under anesthesia at such a young age...I also have heard people say their dog's "personality" changes after getting fixed. I don't want that to happen either.
Thanks again!

I will wait and see how Rocco grows up.
I am relieved, I didn't want him to be under anesthesia at such a young age...I also have heard people say their dog's "personality" changes after getting fixed. I don't want that to happen either.
Thanks again!