Neutering is a big topic and there is a LOT of varying and contradicting information out there that can make figuring out when the best time to neuter very challenging!
As a rescue facility, we have done a lot of research and spoken to a lot of professionals in order to come up with a neutering procedure that is the most beneficial for the dogs we work with and today we're going to discuss how we came to our decision and why.
So first of all, what is our neutering procedure?
Any dogs that come into our facility un-neutered will first of all go through an extensive behavioral assessment in order to give us the best idea of what their behavioral needs are (if any!) and therefore discuss whether neutering is the best step at this stage in their training journey. We will not neuter any dogs under the age of 2 years old, unless there is a medical reason that they need the neutering done at a younger age. So if a dog is over the age of 2 years old and their behavior is stable, we will neuter them prior to them being adopted out. If they are under the age of 2 years old, the family who adopt them will have to sign a neutering contract that insists that the dog is neutered no earlier that 2 years old. We check in with all of our adopters regularly as part of them rehoming with us and will check in around the dogs 2 year birthday to make sure the owner is aware that the neutering is now expected to take place, assist in getting that all booked in if needed and provide any support following the neutering if needed.
Why don't we neuter any dogs under 2 years old?
Well there are actually a LOT of reasons why we don't neuter any of our dogs under 2 years old and this is a decision made with a lot of professional imput and support to ensure we are offering the most up to date and dog focused information we possibly can as after all, everything we do id for the benefit of the dogs we work with!
1. For the majority of breeds, their joint growth plates don't close until 2 years old
So one of the biggest reasons why we prefer to wait is because most dogs growth plates in their legs don't close until they are 2 years old. This is especially important in larger breed dogs but is still relevant in smaller breeds too and waiting until these are closed greatly reduces the risk of long term joint issues at a later date. When our dogs are puppies, a large portion of their joints in their legs is made up of cartilage and not bone. This is to allow the large bones to continue lengthening over time as the puppy matures where they will then be replaced with bone once the dog reached it's full size. Hormones play a HUGE part in this process and that generally the growth plate closure coincides with the end of puberty, so for intact dogs the growth plates will close after exposure to hormones. If a dog is neutered prior to puberty there is generally a delay in the closing process or if done too early, it can prevent the growth plates from closing at all. This can be seen by pups developing a rather leggy appearance which can predispose them to issues such as, hip dysplasia, Cranial Cruciate Ligament injury and even bone cancer. Dogs neutered before 2 years old show an increased predisposition towards joint issues which we obviously want to avoid in order for our dogs to live long, happy and healthy lives where they can explore their new world with their new owners.
The best way to determine whether a dogs growth plates have closed is through x-rays which is obviously an expensive procedure and a lot for a dog to go under just to make sure. Research seems to mostly show that the majority of breeds reach full maturity and therefore their growth plates have fully closed by 2 years old at the latest and this is why we have decided to have 2 years old as our generalised cut of date in order to give our dogs the very best chance of not developing joint issues or other issues as a result of the growth plates not being fully closed.
2. Behavioral implications
Another big reason why we like to keep dogs un-neutered for those first two years of their life is because it can have a hugely positive impact on their behavior and training. For dogs suffering from nervousness or anxiety especially, having their natural hormones still in tact can help the dog to feel more confident in themselves which can therefore aid in the training process. It is especially important that a dog is at a good emotional and behavioral state prior to being neutered as a dog not given proper training and support after neutering, especially one with anxiety, will worsen with the sudden drop in hormones. Our preference with the dogs we work with is always to do the training first, then neuter and continue with the training in order to give the dog the very best opportunity to deal with the change well. It may mean that a dog is with us for a longer period of time in order for us to offer them the support they need throughout the process but we much prefer to ensure the dogs we work with get the very best care we can possibly provide and we believe that providing training prior to and after neutering around the age of 2 years old helps to create more balanced and mentally stable dogs who are therefore much more able to deal with the rescue process well and stay in long term homes.
What about if there is a medical issue?
Now just because our preference is to not neuter dogs until they are 2 years old, this doesn't mean we wont EVER neuter a dog earlier if it is really necessary. We work with a wonderful veterinary team who are able to support us for each dog as an individual and if a dog we are working with needs to be neutered for one reason for another before they are 2 years old, we will absolutely do that. Our preferences are there in order to try to provide the best care for the dogs we work with but every dog is different and we must be flexible with our policies in order to provide the best care for each of the dogs we work with. So if for some reason a dog needs to be neutered sooner than 2 years old for a medical reason, we will absolutely do that. At the end of the day, the policy is there in order to provide the best care for the dogs we work with and if that isn't what's best for them, we'll do whatever is even if that goes against our preferences.
What about behavioral problems?
A lot of dogs can display behavioral problems that can be linked to being un neutered such as scent marking, becoming snappy or reactive towards other dogs, not recalling and more and we work hard to provide prior training to all of our dogs as well as ongoing support in order to help our dogs and their adopters if they need it after adoption. All of our dogs get at least one month with our team before they even go out on trial to a potential home and with a team experienced with training and behavior, this time is specifically to set them up for success and provide them with the foundations they need. We are also incredibly proud to be partnered with Holistic Hounds, an award winning dog training and behavioral company who regularly help to work with our dogs and provide training support and guidance to our adopters if they need further support after adoption. Our aim is to only place dogs who are at a point in their training where they are ready for the changes that come with rehoming so that they have the very best chance of being their best self and the home sticking. Our adopters get full support including training sessions with the Holistic Hounds team during their trial period in order to help them to get settled and work on any issues that arrive and if they need further training, the Holistic Hounds team are on hand to help out and work with our dogs and their new owners to help with any behavioral issues that may arise. This helps us to provide the support and training our dogs need so that staying un neutered until they are 2 years old is as minimally stressful for them and their owners as possible which therefore gives them the very best chance at reaching maturity as healthy and happy as they can be!
It can be so confusing with conflicting information on what the right thing to do is which is why we have worked closely with our vet team and other professionals within the industry in order to create a neutering policy that is with our dogs best interest at heart and we always provide ongoing support and check ins with our adopters as often as we can even once our dogs have been adopted out to their forever homes!
We believe neutering our dogs is an important step into reducing unwanted pregnancies and ensuring breeding of dogs is only done by professional breeders who fully health test, take great care of their dogs and can appropriately place their puppies in forever homes. Ethical breeding ensures our favorite breeds are kept healthy and well managed and so we want to support the ethical breeding of dogs by ensuring our rescue dogs are not accidentally adding to the dog population and creating further problems for the rescue community. So we have made sure to work closely with our vet team and our adopters to ensure our dogs are neutered at an appropriate age which reduces the risk of unwanted litters whilst also giving our dogs the very best chance of a healthy and happy life.
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