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When should I neuter my dog? What are the benefits and will he calm?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Could you possibly give me some information on neutering? What age is best to have my puppy fixed? Whats are the benefits? Will it make him more calm? Ive read articles online but couldnt really find anything that was 100% clear, mostly just owner opinions.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 26th, 2017

Yes if course. Neutering is ideally done close to 6 months of age for small breed and medium sized dogs. I am unsure of your pets breed but certain large breed dogs (ie Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, etc) have been shown to have increased risk of bone cancer when neutered early, so we typically recommend waiting to around 1 1/2- 2 years for them. The benefits are : 1) Reduction in risk of prostate cancer and prostate enlargement (which can lead to constipation issues later in life), 2) Decreased risk of venturing away from home in pursuit of intact females, 3) Easier to train because of reduced testosterone 4) Reduced chance of trauma to the penis and unwanted sexual behavior with things like stuffed animals, etc, 5) Reduced risk of perinanal tumors. The calming effects of neutering a pet are not seen 100% of the time, and definitely should not be relied upon when trying to deal with bad behavior. You should still seek proper training if applicable. I hope this helps and I am absolutely an advocate for neutering any pet that is not going to be used for breeding purposes.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on

    These are very good questions! With male dogs, the main benefits of neutering are behavioral - neutered males are less likely to urine mark, and do not have nearly as much tendency to roam in search of female dogs. Intact males can sometimes have trouble getting along with other males, and if your dog is past puberty and still intact, you need to be vigilant to make sure that he doesn't get loose to roam the neighborhood and impregnate female dogs. With large breed dogs, there is some evidence that waiting until they are finished growing may help to reduce the risk of orthopedic issues later in life, such as hip dysplasia and knee ligament tears. So from a medical standpoint, I usually recommend neutering at 10-12 months of age in most breeds. If you are concerned about urine marking or other annoying male behaviors developing, you can also opt to do it a bit younger, around 4-6 months of age. I hope that helps a bit! :)

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    Answered By Stephanie Echols, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    As vets, we usually recommend between 4-6 months of age for neutering. It may calm him, but that's not a guarantee. It does decrease the risk of testicular and prostate cancers in the future. It also prevents him from running away to find a female and possibly getting hit by a car. There are many benefits to neutering, and I would highly recommend it.

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    Answered By Mirissa Duncil, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 4th, 2017

    Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you choose to neuter your pet-I recommend about 1 yr for giant breeds (they will not "fill out" as well if neutered early) and for everyone else about four to five months. It is easier on our pets to have the surgery performed at a younger age, as the tissues are still smaller and vascularly underdeveloped compared to what they will be at true "adult" status. Neutering does prevent testicular cancer (if done before such things have already developed)-so this is a huge pro for performing the surgery, although admittedly all surgeries that involve anesthesia do come with mild risk factors. I hope this helps. In the end, it is up to you to determine what is best for you and your fur family.

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