Anyone have experiece cutting a male?

[larry plummer]

I had 1 that was Mean Mean and had him cut
and it made him the best dog I had

[jmdown]

i have in the past casterated big game hounds. one time a bear did it for me!!.. i have to say that in my experience, it has made them less aggressive toward other males or strange/new hounds... in every case, it made them a better dog. they lost no desire to run and/or hunt. to the contrary, they had more desire and were more focused on the task at hand. it is very common to casterate horses of all breeds. they are called geldings. race horses "tend to business" they compete at the highest levels, internationally....centuries ago, kings and noblemen had their body guards and security personal casterated. they were called a EUNUCH ....in the race horse industry, they are welcomed to compete...in my opinion, the major dog registries should also allow them to compete..they cannot reproduce, but they can add merit and recognition to the bloodlines from where they came.

[Steve Mikkelson]

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[golden acres]

I have a friend I watched climb over a fence in middle school OOPS

[S.R.Patch]

Boy! that brings back memories...
I was the pig-catcher, most were about 20 #, no coffee can size. I'd hold both hind legs while dad did the cutting, let me tell you, a pig can rattle your eye teeth with those things going on...
Dad had his peanut knife for the job and a big stone jar of salt for the after treatment, that was all there was to it.
Like silent of the lambs, it's a experience and noise you never forget...

We always banded the boarder collies, Like Jim said, kept them more focused on the job and kept them from wandering off to chase the girls, they had to stay with the cows...

[tiffinis]

One of your questions that hasnt been answered. Neutered males do have a tendency to lose muscle mass and add fat layers. Mostly because they dont have the testosterone to keep the muscle mass. I know the "neuter police" will tell you differently, but it is a fact based in science. If you keep them active it helps, but isnt necessarily going to keep it at bay in all dogs.
I free feed and the only dog over weight in my house is my neutered black lab and he eats less then the rest. I have 5 males and 2 females. Left to pack together, they work out their issues.
The age in which you choose to neuter can effect alot of things. Especially in working dogs. Neutering young can change their growth patterns and also changes their psychological development. If done young, yes it can stop some of the behaviours, but it can also leave them in and eternal state of puppyhood, they dont really mature mentally. In SAR, they want all the dogs fixed to avoid problems, but they tell everyone to wait until your dog is mature, at least 2 with Labs and the likes.

PS United States is one of the only countries that really push neutering for "health" reasons. Spaying females is a different story.

[billi]

Tiff, what is this about eternal state of puppyhood. Is this somethin you read or just your experience. I find that comment very interesting.

[tiffinis]

That is definately my personal experience, both with dogs I have owned and dogs belonging to other people that I have helped handle. Sort of like getting stuck as a teenager. After having observed enough of it on my own, I started researching others experience and found more of the same. It is hard to get honest answers in the US regarding alot of this topic. All they want you to hear is the good stuff. I actually took my questions to vets out of the country. One of whom is also a Lab breeder. She adamantly advises her male puppy buyers to NOT alter before the age of 2 if at all. The female puppies, she also asks them not to spay before 2, but if they are not going to breed to do so.

[billi]

I have more experience with horses than dogs when it comes to casteration but both dogs or horses seem to me like mature at the same rate as those left as studs. As a matter of fact they were easier to teach in that they had there minds on what your teaching. I have 3 female beagles one casterated border collie. Had to quit the horses for health reasons. But i hate foolin with stud horses.

[tiffinis]

I too have experience with horses. Most of me teenage years were spent working at the racetrack. Yes geldings are easier to work with then studs (personally I would rather work with Studs then mares). But I find it is totally different with dogs.

[MasonsBeagles]

Years ago I use to band my males. It was easy. You can even run them the day you do it. What you will see is red when it starts to split. Kennel them then. In a day or so it will be gone and it will look like a dime sized scab. Give it a week and they are good to go. The old dog guy that got me and my cousin doing this swore by it. I have seen some good dogs that were banded and often wondered if it was the banding.