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Grizzly is staring down the barrel of a neutering

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IamKevin

New Member
I'm trying to talk my wife out of neutering Grizzly, our 17 week old Fila/Cane Corso mix. She fears he'll become aggressive but I'm very familiar with these breeds and have training and experience for years. My question is, honestly, what your opinions are about the effect this operation will have on his growth and development and realistic effect on his temperament. I think it's silly to perform surgery on a puppy and change his body chemistry and development on the off chance he might have become aggressive in maturity.

I don't mean to start a debate or stir up any crap, I'm just interested in a pro's and con's sort of deal from you good folks.

Grizzly 15 weeks 55 pounds.jpgHere he is at 15 weeks and just over 50 pounds. I put the Kleenex box behind him as a reference to his size.
 
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zebraworks

Well-Known Member
why did your wife get a fila cross if she feared a dog that was defensively aggressive?? thats the question.
 
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IamKevin

New Member
Neither a pro or a con...and thanks for answering a question with a question.

I didn't say DEFENSIVELY aggressive in my original post. My old Corso was aggressive toward strange male dogs and she hated it. With Grizzly's potential size, she's worried he'll go after people the way Havok went after dogs sometimes. I'm not saying her thinking is correct... I'm arguing it. Just hoping to get some actual data on pro's and con's.
 
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Mooshi's Mummy

Mooshi's Mummy

Well-Known Member
Neutering will not and does not have any calming effect whatsoever on a dog, it does not curb their agreession nor does it change their personality. Doing this too early will have a negative effect on his growth by making him grow to tall, too quickly. Please do not do this, if you are going to neuter wait until he is 18-24 months old and finished growing. And I agree with Zebra, if there is an aggression concern why choose a Fila mix?
 
Mooshi's Mummy

Mooshi's Mummy

Well-Known Member
IamKevin said:
Neither a pro or a con...and thanks for answering a question with a question.

I didn't say DEFENSIVELY aggressive in my original post. My old Corso was aggressive toward strange male dogs and she hated it. With Grizzly's potential size, she's worried he'll go after people the way Havok went after dogs sometimes. I'm not saying her thinking is correct... I'm arguing it. Just hoping to get some actual data on pro's and con's.
Click to expand...
Fila's ARE people aggressive, it is what they do and what they are, and from my understanding there is next to nothing you can do to change it. My main concern would not be neutering but preparing for the future with a Fila. Yes I know its a cross, but its a Fila cross.
 
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zebraworks

Well-Known Member
you will not know the temperament till it gets a few months older but I can't understand why people would want a dog without aggression and then have a dog being a partial breed where the correct temperament is a detest of strangers and strong guardian instinct.
 
chuckorlando

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. You dont want human aggressive o you get a mix with one of if not the most human aggressive breeds their are. If that dog has a fila temp your in for it. Filas do not like anyone outside of their family. NO ONE. Dont take that lightly. Family to them are the folks they see very very very often. Not once a week. Every month. Every day. All other humans are the enemy.

Dont snip the dog this young. Bad business doing that
 
ruthcatrin

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
When to neuter is a common topic on this board if you do a search. Neutering removes the sexual hormones and the testicles. Period. Most aggression, and specifically the "aggression" that is the Fila temperment is not affected by hormones and therefor neutering has no effect on it. Neutering early DOES have the very serious potential to increase all sorts of health risks for the dog however as those hormones affect all sorts of aspects of the dog's growth, so please consider waiting to neuter. Assuming you are capable of not allowing the dog to roam. Which I would hope you are since you got a Fila cross. And I have to agree with the others, if you aren't interested in managing potential aggression why in the world did you get a Fila??
 
ruthcatrin

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
For actual data....

This one is brand new, JUST published this month: PLOS ONE: Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers Golden Retrievers neutered before one year of age had MUCH higher rates of hip dysplasia, ligamiment tears, and cancers (note for most mastiffs we recommend waiting till at least 1.5yrs as they are slower to mature than Goldens).

And a compliation of studies: Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs and a clickable reference to it: Spay and Neuter Decisions - References
 
Tiger12490

Tiger12490

Well-Known Member
Lol fila mix with no aggression. ..if that pup takes its fila side you can snip and cut off what ever ya want that thing is still gonna try to maul your neighbor....

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
 
shodanusmc

shodanusmc

Well-Known Member
Not even going to ask why you got that cross, but wait at least till 18 months. Best of luck. Corso's are leery of strangers, and Fila's.........well, tnat is why I got a Corso and not a Fila or a mix.
 
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zebraworks

Well-Known Member
I think 6 months could be a time when you start to see temperament beginning to come in. There is the real possibility that the dog will not have the proper fila temperament, there are some papered "pure" filas that do not have "ojeriza". if you search there are articles about socialization to try to show/expose the dog that all people are not threats in different situations. It is interesting to see how they transition from puppy to the aversion to strangers when you want to keep your distance and have to keep an eye out so people do not just walk right up and try to touch the dog (which in the wrong place would require eyes in the back of your head). I have had people very upset with me because the dog would growl and bark at them when I was trying to socialize (some of these upset people think you should just not have that kind of dog near them or other people and may tell you so, kind of frustrating despite them never being close enough to be in danger).
 
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LauraR

LauraR

Well-Known Member
He is a gorgeous boy.
I do not have any personal experience with Filas or Corsos, I'm primarily here to learn everything possible about Mastiffs in general. However, I have done quite a bit of reading on the benefits of spaying/neutering pets along with the potential risks and harm.
There is nothing saying that having a male dog neutered, or a female dog spayed at an early age has any negative/positive effects on their behaviors as an adult dog. A dog does go through some what of a "teenage" phase when they reach sexual maturity, but often times this behavior will occur whether or not they have been altered.
However, there have been studies that have documented cases of growth issues, joint troubles, increased cancer/tumor risks in dogs that are altered before 18-24 months of age. In addition to that, you are talking about undergoing a major surgery to alter him when he is still just a "kid". Is it really worth going to such extremes just because your wife believes it will prevent aggression later in life?
My advice, wait. If it is completely out of the question to wait 18-24 months then push it back as far as you can. Every month you wait is giving him a better chance of not developing some serious health issues. Besides, if he does develop a health issue that is related to neutering too young, do you really want that gnawing away at you in the back of your mind. The thought of him possibly being perfectly healthy if only you had waited a few more months?
 
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RobinM

Member
Wait as long as possible to get him neutered. In a large/giant breed neutering too soon has the potential to make him susceptible to joint injuries. I waiting until my boy was 8 months old and I couldn't wait any longer because he was humping anything that moved even our goats. He has not had any issues and he is now 3 years old. His joints are healthy.
I HIGHLY recommend neutering because there are too many dogs in the shelter and a Fila is not a breed to end up in the shelter because they will be put to sleep unless a rescue steps in.
 
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IamKevin

New Member
Thank you all! This was exactly what I was looking for. She got a little too into the aggressive dog hating, vilifying BS on the internet. You guys helped a lot and cooled her off. She was on some labradoodle forum some crap lol. She loved the territoriality and aggression of our old Corso, so I knew once she actually paid attention to people that knew what they were talking about she'd come around.

It actually started from some crap she picked up from her "mommy to be" type websites in which anything bigger or tougher than a Lhasa Apso is the devil.

Thanks again. I know I sounded like a dumb ass even posting this, just wanted to get all input, so it would sound silly to snip the lil guy.
 
alwcm4

alwcm4

Well-Known Member
IamKevin said:
Thank you all! This was exactly what I was looking for. She got a little too into the aggressive dog hating, vilifying BS on the internet. You guys helped a lot and cooled her off. She was on some labradoodle forum some crap lol. She loved the territoriality and aggression of our old Corso, so I knew once she actually paid attention to people that knew what they were talking about she'd come around.

It actually started from some crap she picked up from her "mommy to be" type websites in which anything bigger or tougher than a Lhasa Apso is the devil.

Thanks again. I know I sounded like a dumb ass even posting this, just wanted to get all input, so it would sound silly to snip the lil guy.
Click to expand...

I think Lhasa Apsa's are the devil!
 
chuckorlando

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
Nothing beats a Fila for a house dog. They want nothing in the world more than to please their people. But they are a true to the core protection kinda dog. They not only dont trust strangers, they typicaly straight up dont like them. And in most cases will go slap the hell off. The are no harder to own than any other breed if you are realistic about what you have. Super athletic and can jump pretty high Kona will clear a 3ft fence from a stand still pretty damn easy. If they get a run going 5ft aint impossible. So you need a tall fence thats strong. Possibly privacy or some sort of screening. Jut to limit what they see to keep them from going crazy. Muzzle at vets and in public. Maybe even when folks are over. Strong collar and leads. STRONG. And dont let the dog be around anyone but very close family with out safe guards in place. Of coarse you will need to learn the dog and see where the temp settles. Could be soft could be a monster.
 
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