When should you consider neutering?

From around the age of 6-8 months, puppies reach sexual maturity and are therefore capable of breeding and producing puppies themselves!
Some veterinary surgeries will advise that the best time to have your female dogs neutered is before their first season and others may say afterwards, but none will do this during the season, preferring to wait 6-8 weeks after a season to perform the procedure.
Most surgeries will recommend neutering a male dog at 8 months on woods.
It is advisable to keep your dogs on a leash at this time, as female dogs may be able to get pregnant slightly before this age. We would also recommend not leaving your dog tied up outside shops during this time for the same reasons.

Why neuter?

The benefit of having dogs neutered far outweighs the consequences and is a very responsible thing for a dog owner to do. Neutering a dog - castration in the male (removal of the testes), and spaying the female (removal of the ovaries and uterus), not only prevents unwanted pregnancies occurring, but also curbs unwanted behavioural patterns associated with sexual activity. It also reduces the risk of false pregnancies and certain diseases such as mammary tumours, pyometras (uterine infection) and testicular tumours.
Once sexual maturity is reached, the female will begin to come into season. Cycles of sexual activity typically occur twice yearly and will only stop once your dog has been spayed. Signs of a season may include inappetance, lethargy, frequent urination and a swollen vulva.