anyone fix a male later in life

I was debating breeding my golden retreiver but he is getting agressive with other dogs including one he had no problem with a week ago. I knowthe answer is to get him fixed because he also started humping me sometime but i am just wondering if recovery is harder - he is about 21 months

does getting fixed help them be less agressive

ps per my breeder I was to wait till 18 months to get him fixed so he got his full size

Re: anyone fix a male later in life

We neutered our Lab at about 15 months, for health reasons. You should neuter anyway, because it's healthier and safer, but it's not a sure fix for aggression. The breeder for our first dog said she might want to breed him too but I never heard from her again. I think it might be a line they use.

Humping is a dominant act, meaning he thinks he's your boss. You should learn from a professional trainer how to change that view in a safe way.

What is he doing to other dogs that makes you think he's aggressive? If it's just humping, it's not aggression. Neutering may help but most of the time, it is resolved with specialized training.

Recovery was normal for our dog, although I will tell you the one thing that helped most was the Comfy Cone. You can get it at Petco, it's worlds better than the plastic crap they give you at the vet.

Message edited 1/3/2011 2:36:40 PM.

Re: anyone fix a male later in life

thank you i definely plan on getting the comfy cone


we had a purebred golden male live to 17.5 so iyou never know that neutering helps them live longer lives -

he only humps me at night - usually when i have my period only - and that is his cranky time before he settles down

but he is terrible about sniffing peoples butts- so i have to work on him more

the agressiveness seems to be over a ball or bone. There was one dog trying to dominate him and i got that he growled back . He growled very nastily at the dogs when they came close to his ball at the dog park or my mom's dog tried to take his raw hide

actually he does not hump other dogs. One female fixed dog humps him all the time when they wrestle and he is fine with it

i am not sure what to do

Re: anyone fix a male later in life

Wow, I hope my dogs live that long! At the very least, testicular cancer is reduced, and I know when I researched it, there were other results of studies. Especially in breeds that are prone to certain cancers or problems. Plus, they're much safer when they're not putting themselves in danger trying to get to a female in heat. Boys will be boys.

So he has toy/bone protectiveness. A lot of people tell me this about rawhides! Maybe because it's an animal product? Anyway, we trained out of this by enforcing the pack leader mentality first, then by giving and taking. I give a bone, I command them to "drop" and "leave it" and take it away. I let that sink in for a few seconds, and I give it back.

Of course, if there's a chance of biting, it's not safe unless you know what you're doing. We only did this method in controlled environments and after reading and researching about body language/signs of aggression or stress in dogs.

That would address both the protectiveness and the fact that he's seeing himself as above you with the humping. It's definitely dominance related, that's why they do it. So even if he only does it at certain times, the training is still the same.

I'd neuter first, let him recover for a month, then contact a trainer for an evaluation. Some trainers do this for free, and will give you an idea of time/cost.

Message edited 1/3/2011 4:24:03 PM.

Re: anyone fix a male later in life

Our dog, Irwin, was neutered at about 18 months. When he came home he was miserable- he could barely lift his head, he wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink. I slept on the floor with him that night because the second I stopped petting him he'd start whining. I was devastated, I thought it was my fault for slacking on getting him fixed and he was too old for it. I cried my eyes out the whole night. Then the next morning he woke up like nothing happened!