https://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/library/articles/an-update-on-the-health.html
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-your-dog-avoid-health-risks
https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/effects-of-neutering-on-undesirable-behaviours-in-dogs
About 15 years ago, we got a Golden Retriever. Knowing next to nothing about dogs, and totally nothing about Goldens except that my brother in law had one, and that dog hated kids – since I’m not a fan of most children, I thought it was perfect. (Yeah, who knew that they’re kid magnets?)
We looked in the newspaper for “puppies for sale” ads, found one close by, went to visit – total back yard breeder and not the best kind, but again, we knew nothing – and played with all the puppies. One little fat guy stole my heart, but wouldn’t stay on my lap. One little golden guy crawled into my lap, put his head on my chest and the rest was history. I handed him to Bear, he put his head on Bear’s chest and the deed was done. We brought him home a week later, I have no recollection of that drive except that he was on my lap the entire time and I never took my eyes off him.
He was an amazing puppy. Incredibly calm, an old soul, loved everyone and opened my world. Bear worked nights, so Max and I were mostly alone, just the two of us. He went everywhere with me, even went to school with me and slept under my desk while I taught.
And then he layed down in the flower bed one morning and wouldn’t get up. Our last journey began – one of chemo and sickness and begging him to eat something and please, please God, let me have one more day with him.
Max was neutered at 6 months. The prevailing wisdom was, and still is, that the earlier the neuter, the better. It will solve all your problems and give you the perfect dog.
What they don’t tell you, you can read some of in the links above. It quite often makes behavior problems worse. Sure, it stops some of need to pee on every stick in the world, and maybe keeps the dog from roaming – although Max decided to go visit the neighbors every time their female was in heat. The paragraph about aggression in the third study is quite revealing. They also don’t tell you that in some breeds – Goldens being one of them – it greatly increases the chances of certain cancers. Can we say hemangio? Yes, we can – said it way too many times.
Hemangiosarcoma is one of the nastier cancers out there. There are no symptoms. By the time you realize your dog is sick, there’s pretty much nothing you can do but give them some weeks of joy and let them go peacefully.
There are things I can’t forgive myself for. Among them are neutering Max at 6 months. I chose to put him through chemo because I was ready to move Heaven and earth to cure him. I didn’t cure him. I put him through 6 weeks of sickness and confusion. I know, I did the best I could. I will never do that again, but was that lesson worth it?
Anyway. When he died, I was lost. My heart was completely shattered – 6 years later, I’m sobbing as I write this. Along came Maverick. He brought laughter to a home that had been bleak and dark for 3 months. I will always be grateful to him, even when he makes me want to strangle him. 🙂
I will not make the same mistakes with him I did with Max. I chose to keep him intact at least until his growth plates closed, after he turned two. But that plan, along with so many others, was derailed by Covid. In the intervening years, I’ve continued to read and debate this issue – and it always comes back to, “do I want to chance cancer?” I know, he’s a Golden, he’s already at risk but why increase that risk if I don’t have to?
Also, he’s so totally Maverick – he is such a large personality, he brings the party, then dances on the table wearing the lampshade on his head while telling terrible jokes that crack you up everywhere he goes. It drives me crazy sometimes, but I wouldn’t change him for anything. I don’t want to take that chance either.
And I’m stubborn. So the more people tell me I need to neuter him, the harder I dig in my heels. This charming trait was why I questioned Covid so early, refused to wear a mask after bowing my neck for a few weeks, still remain unvaxed, and am generally a “prove it” kinda gal. So If you’re gonna tell me that taking a chance on my dog getting cancer, exacerbating any behavior problems (which are training problems, for the most part) and will generally make life better, my response will be “prove it” and I’ll start showing you evidence of the exact opposite.
Also – it’s actually really funny when people get all indignant and tell me “you need to get him fixed!” My response is that he’s close to perfect and doesn’t need fixing, thanks.
My favorite story is about the random woman at the park who glared at me and demanded, “why isn’t your dog neutered!?” My response? “Why are you looking at my dog’s ass?” He’s a Golden, you can’t see his parts unless you’re looking!
You may disagree with me on this, but any nasty comments will not be approved.
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
My brother’s childhood dog was intact. Later in his life when he developed prostate cancer the vet said that if a male is neutered, it is unlikely he will develop that cancer. I guess it depends on the breed and which cancers he is at risk for whether or not you’d want to do surgery.
Every spring my brother’s dog would become so lethargic that he would stop eating, and he would barely move. We took him to the vet only to find that it was “puppy love”. Evidently the neighbor’s dog was in heat, and my brother’s dog was pining for her company. 😆
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I remember your sweet (horrible word for a perfect friend) Max, and how hard you tried. I cried with you. I did not know this about neutering. It’s actually no one’s business how you make any decision. Your response to the nosy lady was well deserved.
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Max left paw prints on many hearts. And I’m pretty sure the nosy woman is still in shock! Her response to my question was “Well, why isn’t he neutered!!?” My response was “how is that your business?” as we walked away. 😁
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You keep him “whole” because you love him and have studied it out, anyone throwing hate or shade for that is unreasonable. That’s the great thing about freedom, we get to make up our own minds that others don’t have to agree with!!
Like you, the mask thing didn’t work very long for me either, it’s hard to breath with it on, and re-breathing your own breath instead of getting a fresh breath each time is reducing your oxygen intake. That can’t be healthy!
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The first time I went for groceries without a mask, there were two other people there with naked faces. We actually grinned and high fives each other. While others looked on in horror, of course!
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The health of your four-legged child is as much ONLY YOUR BUSINESS as the health of any two-legged child. You obviously aren’t making this choice to be a rebel and defiant but based on a lot of research and your previous experiences.
Breeders don’t spay/neuter any of their dogs and, in fact, will “toss out” a dog once it can no longer be part of breeding. They also don’t get veterinary assistance when a dog is having issues with delivery. Puppy mills are a much larger disgrace than an individual personal choice about spaying/neutering. As long as Maverick isn’t having any medical difficulties because he’s still got his ‘boy parts’ attached, I support your decision.
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Good breeders will retire their dogs after two or maybe, rarely, three litters. Hobby breeders are normally good about health testing, etc. Puppy mills – I live near Lancaster. Don’t get me started on how wonderful the Amish are. We err at the vet the other day – who told me what to be aware of as Maverick gets older. If it becomes medically necessary, we’ll do the surgery. Until then, I liken it to neutering a child – how well did all those eunuchs work out?
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I lived in Lancaster County for 14 years before moving here, and managed or did sales from several lodging sites. My last 5 years was at Strasburg Village Inn, the sister of the Creamery on the corner of Strasburg. And yea, when tourism marketers talk about the Amish to promote them for tourists, they never mention about how they abuse their horses and have puppy mills.
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They also don’t mention that most of the “genuine Amish” crap is made by other people and just resold
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Your dog, your decision. You do what’s best for you and him. It’s no one’s business but yours.
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I don’t think you need to explain yourself to anyone. He is your boy and he is perfect. People need to find their own business. Maverick is perfect!!!
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How many cookies did he give you to say that ? 😂😂
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It’s the eyeballs.
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