Chesapeake Bay Retriever question

Dale Wilcox

Dale Wilcox

Member
I know some of you have some Chesapeake's. So, what do you think about neutering them? I have a male puppy about seven months old and he is doing great, his name is Dewey. My wife wants me to get him neutered, but I am just not sure that would be good. I am not planning on using him for breeding. I am of course planning to use him for a lot of waterfowl hunting and some upland hunting. I have had several other Chesapeake's over the last 40 years or so and none were neutered. All were good hunters, good friends and good watch dogs. Any comments will be welcome.
 
Don't have chessies but most vets I know prefer to wait for a dog to be spayed/neutered once they have "grown up". My vet advises waiting until after the second heat with females. I would have to ask him about males since I never really considered having my boys (past or future) neutered. There are a lot of hormones involved in helping for the muscular system and skeletal system to grow up right and my vet is of the opinion that it is better to wait to have them spayed or neutered, unless perhaps there is some big reason to have it done early.

Neutering him may save him prostate or testicular issues in the future. Talking with folk though, there are far more issues with intact females as they get older with various cancers related to the reproductive system than there are with intact males. I'd need to ask my vet if that is true for what he sees to have a better idea if it is just talk...
 
I prefer my dogs, Chessie or otherwise, intact. Like you, I have no plans to breed the dogs, but still prefer not to neuter.

Intact Chessie:

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We had a very close friend that was a vet and she had an almost pathological need to cut dogs balls off. It drove her crazy when we would visit with an intact dog, she commented nearly every time we saw them (or should I saw that she saw "them").
 
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I am on my 3rd male CBR... None of mine have been wrecked.[;)] Seriously. I have had NO issue with them being intact. If you feel the need to snip.. I would wait until his is 18+ months.

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Dale, I have raised and trained Chesapeakes for over 40yrs. From my experience I do not see any advantage to neutering. What is your wife's reason for having him neutered?
 
Thomas, She heard they have less potential serious medical issues and maybe get along with other dogs better? I am not sure where her info is coming from.
 
Phil Nowack said:
I am on my 3rd male CBR... None of mine have been wrecked.[;)] Seriously. I have had NO issue with them being intact. If you feel the need to snip.. I would wait until his is 15+ months.
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All from the same breeder Phil ?
 
No, Grizzly came out of a breeding in NC Iowa..... Kodiak, came from Butch Goodwin at Northern Flight... I wanted another from him...but he is out of the business and has disappeared... Otter is from Red Branch Kennels by Stevens Point, WI.
 
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My first lab I had clipped at 7 months ('05), my current lab I waited til he was 2. I heard it was better to wait to neuter until 2 years old for bone / joint development and this lab is now 4 and an insanely strong retrieving machine. I wasn't planning on breeding him either.
 
I wouldn't castrate a dog either. I just don't see it being an issue. The pressure to do this comes from animal welfare organizations and it's genesis is stray dogs and unwanted puppies. My first lab was a male and I never had him castrated, although encouraged to do so by vets and others, the claim being it didn't matter. My current female lab I had speyed when she was young. She is now 14-1/2, but I actually regret doing it.
 
Phil Nowack said:
No, Grizzly came out of a breeding in NC Iowa..... Kodiak, came from Butch Goodwin at Northern Flight... I wanted another from him...but he is out of the business and has disappeared... Otter is from Red Branch Kennels by Stevens Point, WI.
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Gotcha ........beautiful dogs
 
With regard to aggressiveness and male dogs; we have two intact male labs living in our house. Have never heard either one of them growl at the other, mark in the house etc. All but one of our male labs over the years have been intact with no aggression, our related health issues. Some dogs are aggressive regardless of the presence of their "equipment". IMG_1025.jpg
 
Not sure if this is related but we have friends with a chessie who is a sweetheart who is intact. That being said he is hung like a horse and loves to play with himself constantly. Not sure if he's just bored or if there's anything related to him being intact. He was never properly trained as a gun dog so I'm sure he's found the next best thing to entertain himself with.

We've always had intact dogs, both male and female, and it's never been an issue. Always heard go wait to spay females after 2nd heat, but our current Brit is 5 and will be spayed next month. Mostly just because we don't want yo run another litter and the diaper situation is mentally traumatizing for her- and she has a high flow rate, diaper required for the entire 3 weeks every 6 months.
 
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I do not recommend neutering. If he is going to be a working dog; the extra muscle mass from being intact will help compensate for any MINOR hip issues..if your hips are complete trash no amount of muscle will help though
I interned a summer under the guy that literally wrote the book for a lot of current orthopedic procedures in dogs and cats.. if you?re not having behavior issues he would absolutely recommend NOT neutering your pup
 
Well thank you Dani and all you gentlemen for your opinions, experiences and advise! I really appreciate it and I know Dewey does too!! I plan to leave him "intact" and my wife agrees. I think mostly because of all your sound advice. It has been 5 or 6 seasons now that I have been hunting without a retriever, so I am really looking forward to this upcoming season with a new dog. It sure does add a lot to the hunt as I am certain you very well know.dewey 7-7-22.jpg
 
About to join the chessie club myself. Almost bought one 8 years ago, but my current lab was gifted to me..
my new pup was born the 28th of June. Leaning towards a male but not 100% sure.
10 healthy pups.



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