When to Neuter a Male Puppy: Best Age for Health & Behavior

When you bring a puppy into your life, the first year is about getting all of his ducks in a row, from training all the way to possible neutering. Neutering is extremely commonplace during the puppy stage.

Sexual Maturity

Dogs generally become physically mature when they're between 6 and 9 months old. The ASPCA recommends neutering puppies around this age, or prior to it. Puppies in optimal condition have been neutered at the age of roughly 2 months old. Speak to your veterinarian about when to schedule your puppy's surgery. The vet can instruct you on the safest time for your cutie.

Reason for Early Neutering

If you neuter your puppy before he becomes sexually mature, you can often prevent a lot of the hormonal patterns of intact canines from emerging. This includes aggression, efforts to run away for mating, persistent vocalization and indoor urine marking.

By Naomi Millburn

References
The Humane Society of the United States: Myths and Facts About Spaying and Neutering
DogChannel.com: The Truth About Spay and Neuter Surgery for Puppies
ASPCA: How Will Neutering Change My Dog?
The Merck Veterinary Manual: Behavioral Problems of Dogs
American Humane Association: Spaying/Neutering

About the Author
Naomi Millburn has been a freelance writer since 2011. Her areas of writing expertise include arts and crafts, literature, linguistics, traveling, fashion and European and East Asian cultures. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in American literature from Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.