Comments on: At What Age Should I Neuter My Tibetan Terrier Puppy? http://www.pet-guides.com/blog/39/at-what-age-should-i-neuter-my-tibetan-terrier-puppy/ You Have Dog Questions...We have Answers! Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:22:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.1 By: Violet Weinberg http://www.pet-guides.com/blog/39/at-what-age-should-i-neuter-my-tibetan-terrier-puppy/#comment-6 Violet Weinberg Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:33:21 +0000 http://www.pet-guides.com/blog/39/at-what-age-should-i-neuter-my-tibetan-terrier-puppy/#comment-6 The TT puppy question above is mine. Yes, I am familiar with the growth plate process. I know that the bones grow a fraction of an inch longer in the neutered (pre-puberty) male.....I also have understood by the writings I have read that the bones while a little longer - are not as solid and robust - but weaker. I also have read that the chest development is compromised (but to be clear - the writer was referring to large breed dogs). Then again there is what I call the "mystery factor" - and that is the effect of testosterone on the development of other areas of the body - that have not been well researched. It would seem that a compromise might be to wait until the dog is fully mature - and that leaves the question of when that is.....It seems that all breeders of TTs agree that the TT is "slow to mature". Other writers say that big breeds may not be mature until they are two years old....that the only way to tell is the presence of sperm .......(I dread the thought of how they determine that!). One breeder suggests that one can tell that all TTs are slow to mature by when their 2nd teeth come in......well, Shai-Ming is right on time with most other puppies...he has already shed teeth and growing new ones. I read all the time of the importance of testosterone in the human male.......rather recently advocated is supplementation. I am wondering how much conditions like hip displasia may be affected by low testosterone in the male dog........ Violet Weinberg The TT puppy question above is mine. Yes, I am familiar with the growth plate process. I know that the bones grow a fraction of an inch longer in the neutered (pre-puberty) male…..I also have understood by the writings I have read that the bones while a little longer - are not as solid and robust - but weaker. I also have read that the chest development is compromised (but to be clear - the writer was referring to large breed dogs). Then again there is what I call the “mystery factor” - and that is the effect of testosterone on the development of other areas of the body - that have not been well researched. It would seem that a compromise might be to wait until the dog is fully mature - and that leaves the question of when that is…..It seems that all breeders of TTs agree that the TT is “slow to mature”. Other writers say that big breeds may not be mature until they are two years old….that the only way to tell is the presence of sperm …….(I dread the thought of how they determine that!). One breeder suggests that one can tell that all TTs are slow to mature by when their 2nd teeth come in……well, Shai-Ming is right on time with most other puppies…he has already shed teeth and growing new ones. I read all the time of the importance of testosterone in the human male…….rather recently advocated is supplementation. I am wondering how much conditions like hip displasia may be affected by
low testosterone in the male dog……..

Violet Weinberg

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