Thank you all for your input and for the links to more information. I've started reading up on the subject. Not really sure what I'll do yet.

--


Visit Kirby: flickr | youpet.com | YouTube

It was harder on us to leave him overnight than it was for him to loose his luggage. There were only three stitches and he was running around right away. It really did help with the humping! He also has no interest in marking.

Boris

good luck in what ever you decide.

Lynn King CPDT

I took it to my vet and the biggest comment he had about it was that in his practice the biggest killer of male dogs is the un-nueterd ones being hit by cars going after a female in heat. He also agreed with me not to spay Audrey until after her 1st heat cycle, but was pretty adaant about doing it before her second cycle.

Cathy
when she first came home

that goes beyond the 'spay/neuter to prevent unwanted puppies'. There is a lot of myth and untrue assumptions about neutering in particular, and some contradictions as well; such as the reduction of prostrate cancer in neutered dogs. There have been studies that prove neutered dogs have a HIGHER rate of prostrate cancer. It is still a VERY SMALL rate though. It is true that spaying before the first heat cycle SIGNIFIGANTLY reduces mammary tumors in females. This has been proven over and over and is the main reason my girl was spayed. Spaying before the second cycle still greatly reduces that risk. If your dog is having sexual hormone related beahvioral issues, definitely have a good long talk with your vet about the benefits to him to be neutered if you are not going to breed him. His hormones are not going to stop on their own, and if his beahvior is inapproprite and you can't take him to the dog park anymore, is it really worth it to him to stay intact? Is it possible to alter that behavior without neutering him?

this one discusses long term health effects only: no behavioral issues are discussed
http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/ddtc/sfiles/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/neutr.html

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/spayneut.html

http://www3.us.elsevierhealth.com/communities/Veterinary/Schwartz/neuteringeffects_instructions.html

Cathy
when she first came home

and behaviorally, neutered males do much better in social situations that intact males as they become older. My male dogs are always neutered and it has not once changed a beloved characteristic of my dogs.

Amy and Sophia

He still humped, not as much but on ocassion he does. When he was younger his humping was bad, the older he got the less he humped. I used a water bottle to squirt him when he doing it and it worked wonders! If I just show him the bottle he runs...

I've considered this dilemma with Chopper. While he is not a humper, he does not back down from other dogs and dog parks are a set up for confrontation. Too many irresponsible owners with other dogs that shouldn't be there either.

As much as I enjoy chatting at the dog park, I decided that he is just not a dog park dog. Plus neutering at maturity would leave behind with a rather large and empty sac that would be regular reminder of an unsuccessful experiment. Anesthesia and surgery risks counter any health benefits. Alternatively he has a frenchie at home to play with. I wouldn't dare take my little frenchie to a dog park with large dogs.

Good luck with your decision.

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

I'll preface this by saying the males and female bulldogs that I've had were neutered. My current male had undescended testicles so I knew I had to do it. But as my vet said there wasn't any rush...I could have waited till he was 3 years old before I had to worry about testicular cancer. So I waited till he was 18 months old. I really believe the studies that say male dogs have less injury to their cruciate ligaments if they aren't neutered early. My first male was neutered prior to a year old and he did injure his cruciate ligament.
I think a neutered male dog is easier to deal with around other strange dogs, ie the dog park. But you should have all the facts when you make these decisions.

We neutered Dozer at about age 2. He wasn't ever a 'humper' but he has always been a maker when he is out & he still is. Neutering did not change this. I do think neutered males are happier guys in general, we have an intact male & I would not take him to the dog park. My Bullys that I am showing, I leave intact, otherwise spay/neuter. Best of luck on your decision.




http://norcalbulldogrescue.org

Hi,Bubba was 5 years old when I had him neutered. Initially I wasn't going to neuter. When Bubba was 2 years old I took him to the bulldog specialist adn had his pallet suregery, I asked the doctor to neuter himi while he was under anethesia, he asked me why, I said to avoid cancer ect. He told me he has only 1 case of testicular/prostate cancerinhis many years working. I did not neuter Bubba at that time due to what the bulldog "guru" said. Just last may Bub was very sick and I had to have many tests and x-rays done on him, at that time my local vet found that he had cysts on his prostate and advised me to nueter him.........Off we go again to the bulldog specialist to have the surgery performed. The Dr asked me why? I brought Bubba's exrays and told him about the cysts ect. He said that is normal, it happens and they are benign.....He also said Bubba would not change, he told me Bubba was a hyper bulldog and he would remain that way because I was neutering him late in life. Well, Bubba literally changed over night, he is no longer hyper or very active, he gained 10 lbs. If I had to do it over again I would not neuter. That is my opinion. The bulldog vet I take him to is very well known and highly experienced with this breed. I wish I had listened to him. I know alot of people are going to get very angry at my post, but it is my honest opinion and experience. I hope no one bashes the doctor, because in my opinion he is very very good, and people come from all over to see him (I drive 2hrs and wait in a long line) Good luck!

I do trust our vet---he DEFINITELY knows bullies!!! (that's sooo important!) I would NEVER NEVER NEVER let a vet
who doesn't know the special needs of bullies do the surgery.

Anyway, Meaty just turned one, and we are thinking
since bullies are still "pups" until age 2, we considered waiting until he's 2. BUT---he does mark a lot with urine and
sometimes the humping is outta contol.... Of course we want what's best for HIM----and the thing that bothers
me is that I've read the humping does NOT necessarily stop after neutering.

I LOL when you said "Ceasar Milan wanna be"......there are SO many of those out there! There was this guy at our
dog park one day who almost yelled at me (for something SO dumb!)....sheeshhh----come to the dog park
for FUN and stop watching soo much "Dog Whisperer"..... (I'm sure you were thinking the same thing, huh?)

He is not fixed. He marks everything outdoor and also started to hump the females. However, he is too slow as most other breeds are much faster than him. They just run and he chases.

So far Toby is not out control at the dog park. But I can see it escalating if he is not disciplined.

I met a few bulldogs at the park, and they are neutered and are major humpers. I guess training is the key?

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

Visit Toby's blog http://www.snorable.org

when he came to rescue but I soon found out that he was bleeding from his hind end due to testoserone cysts.

Those have since gone away and I have to say he personality has not changed. He is still the crazy, non stop bulldog he was before losing the boys!

I was constantly taking him off of other dogs at meetups. Off with the boys at 8 months and no more humping.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TThresh

for health reasons.

"Neutered male dogs will not get testicular cancer and they will have a decreased chance of developing prostate enlargement."


MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue | www.midatlanticbulldogrescue.com
A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization

NOT! Run, Kirby, run! The Canadian border is not too far from ya. Bring plenty of blankets.

More seriously, I had my first bulldog spayed. She was a mad humper. The neutering did not slow down her humping at all. I've never had Boo or Clovis spayed, but I also don't take them to dog parks. Tough decision for you to make. Good luck.





ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME ARE MY PROPERTY, ARE COPYRIGHTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW, AND CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT MY WRITTEN PERMISSION. ANY INCOME MADE OFF OF MY PHOTOS AT ANY TIME MUST BE IMMEDIATELY REMITTED TO ME.






And click here for puppy photos of Boo & Clovis:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/glandry113

you both will be much happier

breed KIRBY..then neutering is the best thing for you to think about.
all my boys..all marked, and humped and so on..and when they were all neutered and Gus was later cuz he was bought as show.......
alot of that social behaviour stopped..completely. everytime we went to petshops or the vet..Gus would mark his spot. once he was neutered NOTHING at all
I did not want to deal with the fact that he get prostate cancer in any of these dogs..either

I have 3 males..all of them are neutered.
I am glad that I did it
I will not say that it settled down their activity one bit..
they are all active as usual..

it is really the best thing for Kirby health wise unless you plan to show or breed him..
just my thoughts..

that word seems to make most men cringe. LOL

Matt, neutered dogs are for the most part far more socially appropriate then dogs that remain intact. I would also suggest neutering to help modify some of Kirby's behaviors, especially in group settings like the dog park. Believe me, Kirby's mounting other dogs is not impressing the owners of those dogs, so if you want to be a welcomed guest at the park and not the guy with the obnoxious dog, neutering Kirby is a good place to start.

Good luck

Lynn King CPDT

Please!


Not all bullies are as fortunate as the ones we call our own....
http://www.adoptabullrescue.com