do we "snip "

[callisto]

hi it is early days for my male pup but already im being asked if i will get him castrated. When i bought him off breeder i signed a contract to say that i would notify them before got dog "done". i have no problem with this but vet said at the end of the day its my decision ...my dog etc

 my questions are these 1) Will having my pup done make any difference ie calm down , change temperament

2) As its a standard poodle my groomer recommends castration , as it supposedly stops dog from spraying and "matting / Staining Back legs .

 im really not sure which ways best .... he is lovely natured at 16 weeks but the "hormones are coming !!!!

 any advice would be greatly recieved Thanx

[Goofy]

Most vets now recommend snipping. However, if you want to show then definately not.
Do you want to breed him? If the person who sold you the dog wants to know, could it be that he would be interested in using him for stud?
My reaction has always been that if it aint broke, don't fix it. In other words, if the dog is well behaved, not agressive, and doesn't mount everything and everyone in sight, then leave him be.

[jilbai]

I had my puppy castrated when he turned one. I left it a year so as to let his character come through.

I decided early on that I did not want to breed him and wanted him as a family pet and looked into all the pros and cons of castration  My pup showed slight signs of aggression/fear with larger dogs as he got older and so after speaking with my vet I went ahead and had him castrated

It certainly did calm his tempremant  but not his character and he is as lovely, georgeous and cheeky now as he was 8 years ago

[callisto]

thankyou in answer to your posting both my standards are family pets not shown but will do obedience , i think the breeder was covering herself for the breeding lines i guess i think a year is a good time to see the dog mature and  tell tale signs of dominance/aggression show themselves (hopefully not ) so will sit on decision and enjoy my puppy imsure he will make the decision for me .x