Thanks.

Vets4Pets have been superb with everything Roo related so far, but they don't seem keen on wanting to chip him until he's under for neutering.

I might call them and say we're not getting him neutered just for the sake of it and demand they chip him.

I think I can wait and just see if there are any traits, as people say, before having him done.

I'm in 2 minds. I like knowing he can run off the lead without running into any in heat bitches and end up "having an accident" so to speak. On the other hand I don't want him operating on unneccesarily!

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I wouldn't do it before he's a year old. But I also think that if someone hasn't had their dog spayed and she's in heat it's their responsibility to A) keep her in or B) get her the injection if they do not want her to have puppies as they will incounter males that will happily give her pups . As far as I'm aware there is not a controceptive injection for males (if there is I'd get one). I just feel that it's something that should be taken into consideration.

I will be getting Yuri snipped in the future as I don't want him bred from. But if I had a female I'd be cautious over her if she was not spayed and would take the precautions needed.

Unfortunately, it's not always as straight forward to protect entire dogs from the wiles of bitches in season.

Mine are kept in or walked very late on lead throughout - but the smell of an in season bitch can be smelt a long way away by some dogs.

It is also important to note that neutering won't necessarily kill those urges and certainly won't stop a dog mating with a bitch.

There is 'chemical castration' for dogs - and there are jabs that can be given to bitches to stop their seasons - although not convinced I would want to play around with either

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

All the male dogs i have owned have been "done" at 6 months old and they have never had a reaction to it being done then, and i live with the knowledge that they did not cause any unwanted litters.

Just out of interest - can a dog mate with a neutered bitch? Sorry, a bit off topic!

My vet said 6 months for neutering. I'm going to pretend I didn't hear him.

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The health issues would worry me now, if i was to have another male i would wait till he was about 18months assuming it was right for the breed. Having 1 done at 9months is too early, and 6 years was too late, well you live and learn.

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Yes, just ask Gilly- Speaking of whom... has anyone seen her recently?

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

Its not as simple as that unfortunately. The act of mating is a very dangerous act, especially during the tie, where novice/ maiden dogs can panick. I saw a dog and bitch bleed to death when a maiden bitch panicked during a tie, ruptured both sets of genitalia and bled out in the space of minutes it took to get them to the vet

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL