what age is best for neutering a male Rottweiler?

 

by Dave Harris
(London Ontario Canada)

Hi…….. I have a nine month old rottie who is a little on the short side. Although there is supposed to be little difference from the German and American Rotties so I’m told, this guy was born from both German parents and has a very wide head with large jaw and is quite stocky. His parents both look very similar to him in both body and head structure.

While I want him to be merely a loving pet which he is, I do want to maximize his growth potential. I’m told the breed can take as long as 18 months to 3 years to reach full physical maturity and that waiting to have him fixed until midway through his growth period (18months) will ensure max growth potential is met. After owning many other large breed dogs, he is my first Rottie and our family loves him regardless of his size.

However a larger dog is always more of a visual deterrent for intruders, we feel and has been our preference. What is your opinion on this time frame for neutering?

Thanks

Dave Harris

Hi Dave
As with all breeds, there are variations in body type between different bloodlines. The eventual size and conformation of any dog is mostly dependent upon the genes inherited from his/her parents. Diet and health care play their own roles, and can maximize a pup’s potential, but genes do most of the work.

You can see the difference in breed standards for the Rottweiler if you take a look at my Rottweiler Breed Standard page. Personally I prefer the stockier build, but it IS a personal preference and Rotties were never meant to be ‘giant’ dogs!

They are a slow-to-mature breed and the time-frame for maturity is as you mention, about 18 months to 3 years of age. The bigger males tend to be the slowest to mature. I’m not a veterinarian and you may want to talk to your own vet about the neutering issue. However, in my personal experience and opinion waiting to neuter a pup until he’s fully grown isn’t necessary. A pup who is neutered by 6 months of age is unlikely to be affected in any significant way in terms of growth/development. If you check out my Rottweiler Puppy Growth Chart page you’ll find lots of info. on this subject.

Neutering by 6 months is recommended because it give the maximum protection against developing reproductive order diseases or conditions in later life. It also helps to reduce territory marking (or ‘spraying’), and aggressive dog-on-dog behavior and the desire to wander which can afflict un-neutered males when there is a female in season anywhere within what seems to be a HUGE radius!

A Rottweiler is an excellent, and very discerning guard dog, he doesn’t need to be bigger, or taller, to be intimidating. ANY dog, of almost any breed, will be willing to protect their owner and property if the need arises, Rotties are perfectly capable of doing this and the sight of one is enough to make any smart intruder leave quickly. Never encourage your pup to guard in any way, these instincts come naturally given time and at first many adolescent dogs aren’t quite sure what to do with them. This can cause them to over-react and you don’t want to encourage that. Even the mildest, sweetest Rottie will know exactly what to do and when.

I hope this helps answer your questions and wish you lots of luck with your pup.

Comments for what age is best for neutering a male Rottweiler?

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Mar 14, 2017

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shultzie NEW
by: Anonymous my Rottweiler was a female. She was neutered at 6 months old and lived to be seventeen years old. Never had any health problems and she was a sweetheart. no aggressive behavior whatsoever. Now I have a male who is 5 months and my vet said to neuter him at 6 months.

Oct 04, 2016

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Rottweiler spay neuter NEW
by: Anonymous Was told by a vet today not to neuter till one year as the dogs that are neutered earlier have greater chance of the growth plates growing to fast.. not sure what to do I’m talking to my breeder to see what she recommends as she has rottweilers for many years .

Feb 27, 2016

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Osteosacoma aka Bone Cancer NEW
by: Anonymous NEVER spay or neuter a rotti or large brred dog at 6 months old ! Wait til 14 months for female, 18 months for males. A very knowledgable vet will advise to wait chances of developing bone cancer decreases by waiting.. Any vet that still suggests spaying and nurturing at at 6 months is not up to date with all the new research that has been done in trying to prevent or decrease the chances significantly!! I know my rottie was diagnoised with bone cancer at 5 years and 10 months old. She lived for 6 months after the diagnois.. She was spayed 6 months old !

Oct 22, 2015

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Pups Rescue Rules NEW
by: Rosie Vee I got my GSD#Rottie mix at 8 weeks old from a rescue house. The contract said I have to spay her 3 months after I adopt. Her first visit at the vet went well, the vet said not to spay the dog until she is at least 8-12 months old. If I don’t spay her what the contract states the recur house will not transfer her chip to my name. Is there anything I can due to put the spaying off ad the vet suggest and not lose my pup?

Sep 21, 2015

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Nuter or not to nuter NEW
by: Axel So far my first German rotti. Love this dog just a specimen of the breed. He is my first to show food and toy aggression and it concerns me as I have small grand children that visit. He is only 8 mo old , 85lbs and very powerfull. I’ve always heard there are many health benefits to nurturing as well as the humping and behavioral benefits. Now I’m reading it in creases bone and other cancer risks by 3 or 4 times. I’m at a los as to which way to go now. I had a rott got him done a 6 mo and he died with limphoma at 8 yrs old. Not sure which way to go.? Any thoughts??

Aug 17, 2015

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think now snip later NEW
by: Anonymous we get our puppy in 4 weeks, this will be my first puppy and i just assumed 6 months was when you got a dog neutered from what other people said and it would prevent it from humping (and intended on doing this for that purpose). so when the breeder said no 2 years i was a bit shocked but after discussing it it and further research myself to better understand it i have actually decided i wont be doing it now as the health risks outweigh the benefits. they mentioned getting a vasectomy done instead. from looking online it seems to be a laughed at/uncommon procedure for vets to do and i was curious to why this is not a prefered method of birth control for males especially for large dog breeds.

May 14, 2015

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aggression NEW
by: Nik my rottweiller is 1 tomorrow’s, we’ve had a couple of incidents where Frank has tried to dominate and has resulted in aggression. He has just bit my 10 year old boy while he was trying to get a hair band out of his mouth and then went for myself after reprimand. I’m always very firm and make it clear that he will not get away with anything like that. Today he has been very unsettled, panting a lot and trying to jump all over us (no humping). No harm has been done. But I need to nip this in the bud! He’s 12 months now an hasn’t yet been nurtured as we’ve always said no unless absolutely necessary. I’d love some advice, Frank is an amazing dog only I’m a little worried and not sure what to do??????

Apr 14, 2015

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Neutering NEW
by: Debbie My vet as well does not believe in neutering any rottie until at least 18 months…it has to do with development as they do not reach maturity until 3 years…

May 31, 2014

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Cancer in Rottweilers NEW
by: Kristabee On the topic of neutering v cancer. We had a rottweiler bitch who was spayed at approx 18months old and ‘mid way between seasons’ as advised, and we sadly lost her Julylast year at the age of 9 years, to bone cancer (inoperable in her shoulder – diagnosed in March) which was devastating. We have just got a 10 month old and adorable male Rottweiler but wouldn’t have him neutered until he had reached maturity. I think there Are many more factors involved in bone cancer in large breeds than nutering but even so I want to give my dogs the best chance possible in nutering later rather than sooner – to me it seems barbaric to neuter at 6 months.

May 31, 2014

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Cancer in Rottweilers NEW
by: Kristabee On the topic of neutering v cancer. We had a rottweiler bitch who was spayed at approx 18months old and ‘mid way between seasons’ as advised, and we sadly lost her Julylast year at the age of 9 years, to bone cancer (inoperable in her shoulder – diagnosed in March) which was devastating. We have just got a 10 month old and adorable male Rottweiler but wouldn’t have him neutered until he had reached maturity. I think there Are many more factors involved in bone cancer in large breeds than nutering but even so I want to give my dogs the best chance possible in nutering later rather than sooner – to me it seems barbaric to neuter at 6 months.

Jan 10, 2013

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NEUTERING NEW
by: Jake I just lost my Rotti at 81/2 years old and the vet told me it was because I got my dog neutered at 6 months that I should have waitted until atleast 1 yrs old I just got a new pup and will not get him neutered until 1 yrs old it was the hardest thing I ever had to do he had cancer in his front paw very bad . hope this helped .

May 15, 2012

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Wait 18 months to 24 months to nueter NEW
by: Anonymous Reading what has been posted is the way things use to be. New studies have shown that especially with Rottweilers that you should not nueter before 1 year old. Doing so can increase the risk of many cancers by as much as 4 times.I have a male a waited until he was 18 months old to neuter to avoid these issues. Do the reasearch and you will see I am right.

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About The Rotty lover 2159 Articles
My name is Dr. Winnie. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Duke University, a Masters of Science in Biology from St Georges University, and graduated from the University of Pretoria Veterinary School in South Africa. I have been an animal lover and owners all my life having owned a Rottweiler named Duke, a Pekingese named Athena and now a Bull Mastiff named George, also known as big G! I'm also an amateur equestrian and love working with horses. I'm a full-time Veterinarian in South Africa specializing in internal medicine for large breed dogs. I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 kids and Big G in my free time. Author and Contribturor at SeniorTailWaggers, A Love of Rottweilers, DogsCatsPets and TheDogsBone