When To Neuter or Spay Leonbergers and Other Giant Breeds

It is very common for veterinarians, ASPCA and other animal welfare organizations to recommend that dogs be neutered or spayed between the ages 6-9 months or earlier. Their concern is chiefly to prevent unexpected pregnancies, which causes a lot of suffering and unnecessary euthanasia of dogs. However, not all dogs are the same and this is bad advice for many giant breeds, especially Leonbergers. Neutering or spaying too early can lead to serious health complications. Since the Leonberger community tries to prevent irresponsible dog owners from getting a Leonberger, unexpected pregnancies are less of a concern for Leonberger dogs.

We used to own a Leonberger dog, Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, and our breeder recommended that we wait until he was at least two years old before neutering him. Many new Leonberger owners must sign a contract promising not to neuter the dog before the age of two. If you want to buy a Leonberger puppy in North America, you should buy the puppy from a breeder that is certified by the Leonberger Club of America (LCA) and to do that you need to go through an interview. You will have a hard time getting a Leonberger any other way.

Our three months old Leonberger puppy is sitting on the floor, looking into the camera. He is wearing a read scarf.
Our Leonberger puppy Bronco at the age of three months.

I should explain that the Leonberger is a rare breed that is closely related to the Saint Bernard. Saint Bernards were used to create the Leonberger in the early 19th century and later it was the other way around when the Leonberger was used to save the Saint Bernard breed. Therefore, Leonbergers and Saint Bernards are genetically similar, they are about the same size, but they don’t look the same. Leonbergers have a characteristic black face while Saint Bernards have a white mask on their face. There are only about 30,000 Leonbergers in the world and only 2,000 Leonbergers in North America. Therefore, the Leonberger community is a small and tightknit community, and it is relatively easy for the Leonberger Club of America (LCA) to keep track of what is going on with the Leonberger dogs.

Our brown Leonberger dog is standing on our red leather sofa and giving me a hug.
Is he ready to be neutered? I mean the dog. This is me (Thomas Wikman) and Bronco when Bronco was not yet full grown (but almost).

With this post I am giving advice and statements originating from various sources that I consider to be reputable such as AKC/club certified breeders of the specific breed in question, the corresponding breed organization/club, such as the Leonberger Club of America, and scientists in the specific field. In my experience veterinarians who care for all kinds of dogs and pets typically do not have knowledge that is breed specific on this issue. To be sure to do the right thing in regard to neutering and spaying your Leonberger, ask your LCA certified breeder.

What Our Leonberger Breeder Told Us About Neutering

When we got our late Leonberger Bronco (Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle) our breeder Julie Schaffert told us to wait with neutering him until he was two years old if possible. Julie Schaffert has been an LCA (Leonberger Club of America) certified breeder since 1992 and is arguably the most prominent Leonberger breeder in North America. After reading a Leonberger book that incorrectly stated that Leonbergers should be neutered at six months, I sent her this question:

Hello Julie, I hope all is well with you and your Leonbergers. I am currently reading a Leonberger book by Vanessa Ritchie. I’ve read dozens of Leonberger books. It is a very good Leonberger book. However, in the middle of page 30 she is saying something that concerned me. She is saying to neuter/spay your Leonberger at 6 months old. I remember you telling us to wait with ours and we waited until significantly passed one years old. Assuming that is correct, this mistake needs to be pointed out and perhaps corrected. Before saying anything, I wanted to make sure that is correct, that spaying/neutering at 6 months old is indeed too early for a Leonberger.

Thank you for any help

Happy New Years

Thomas Wikman

This was her answer

Happy new year. Yes, it’s now recommended that giant dogs not be neutered or spayed until after 2 years. In the old days it was recommended earlier, any time after 6 months. All the new data says wait.

Julie.

Our Leonberger puppy Bronco is sitting and looking into the camera. He is wearing a red scarf, but it is a black and white photo.
The Leonberger puppy that Julie sold to us. Black and White photo.

The reasons we did not wait the entire two years was that our veterinarian at the time wanted to do it sooner and Bronco was dragging furniture around the house because of his excess energy. He was strong, and big, energetic and a bit restless. He was very friendly and harmless, but he had a lot of energy. Perhaps he should have been a home decorator? I should say that knowing what we know now, we would have waited the entire two years.

Our Leonberger Bronco is big and heavy and sitting in my wife’s lap. You can barely see her behind Bronco. They are sitting in a read sofa.
Our Leonberger Bronco at 167lbs sitting in my wife Claudia’s lap.

Research and Expert Advice on Neutering and Spaying

This is an article from the AKC stating that a larger or giant breed may need to wait until they are near or over 12-18 months of age before neutering or spaying. The article also provides the following interesting information.

Research conducted by the University of California – Davis reveals that for some dog breeds, neutering and spaying may be associated with the increased risks of certain health conditions such as joint disorders including hip or elbow dysplasia, cranial cruciate rupture or tear, and some cancers, such as lymphoma, mast cell tumor, hemangiosarcoma, and osteosarcoma. The research conclusions are not surprising. Sex hormones are important in the development of any animal.  We know they affect psychological development as well as the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and the immune system.

I believe this is the University of California – Davis article in question. It is from 2020. Notice that the suggested guidelines for age of neutering is beyond 23 months for several of the giant breeds in the table of 35 breeds. Also notice that the table does not include Leonbergers.

Recommended ages for neutering and spaying for selected dog breeds

Below is a list featuring the recommended ages for neutering and spaying for selected dog breeds based on the research mentioned above.

  • Australian Shepherd, for neutering and spaying it is your choice. The same is true for Pugs.
  • Bernese Mountain Dog, you should neuter beyond the age of 23 months, but for spaying you have a free choice.
  • Boxer, neuter and spay beyond the age of 23 months.
  • Boston Terrier, neuter beyond 11 months, but for spaying you have a free choice.
  • Doberman Pincher, never neuter, and you need to spay beyond the age of 23 months.
  • German Shepherd, neuter and spay beyond the age of 23 months.
  • Labrador Retriever, neuter beyond 6 months and spay beyond 11 months.
  • Corgi, neuter beyond 6 months, but for spaying you have a free choice.
  • Great Dane, despite being a very large dog you have a free choice for both neutering and spaying.
  • Rottweiler, neuter beyond 11 months, but for spaying beyond 6 months.
A mini-Australian Shepherd puppy is peeking out behind a sofa chair.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd puppy Rollo. You can neuter this breed at an earlier age.
Left to right, our beige pug Daisy, our black and white Japaneses Chin Ryu, and then our big Leonberger Bronco.
Our Pug Daisy, Japanese Chin Ryu and Leonberger Bronco. You can neuter or spay Pugs at an earlier age.

Additional Information on Neutering and Spaying Various Dog Breeds

Hillhaven Leonbergers in Ireland recommend not neutering your Leonberger until at least 2 years of age. They warn against doing it at 6 months old, despite what some veterinarians may recommend.

I did not find an on-line Leonberger Club of America recommendation but this old 2011 article from the Leonberger Club of America states: Because the Leonberger is a slow maturing breed in general, most breeders will ask puppy owners to wait a year or so before altering their puppies, to allow bones to develop more fully.

The photo shows six Leonbergers wearing party hats. They are sitting next to each other and looking into the camera.
Caspian (Obi’s nephew), Austin (Obi’s son), Delfi, Obi (now 7 and a veteran), Digory, and Rilian (Obi’s son). Photo by Jen O’Keefe and Ira Van Order, prominent members of the Leonberger Club of America who allowed me to use this photo.

I did find an article from the Saint Bernard Club of America. The Saint Bernard is genetically similar to the Leonberger. This article states: Above all, no giant breed puppy should be altered before the growth plates in the bones have matured and closed, usually between 15 and 24 months of age.

The photo shows a Saint Bernard dog wearing a little barrel of maybe cognac. In the background there are tall mountains.
Saint Bernard Stock Photo ID: 1713912484 by fred12

This Newfoundland dog magazine states : Currently, the recommended age that a Newfoundland dog should be neutered is 18 to 24 months due to the possible health problems that can arise from altering before that age. The Newfoundland is another dog that is genetically similar to the Leonberger.

A black Newfoundland dog is standing with his front paws on a tree stump. There is a forest in the background.
Newfoundland dog Stock Photo ID: 1925281937 by Marsan

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, even though the expert advice regarding neutering and spaying varies a bit, it is clear that neutering and spaying at six months old is too early for Leonbergers and many other giant breeds. It can harm their Leonberger.

About Thomas Wikman

Thomas Wikman is a retired software / robotics engineer with a background in physics. He has a PhD in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering. He is the author of two blogs, first this blog Leonberger Life which is focused on a rare but amazing dog breed called Leonberger. He has also written a book titled The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, which feature his Leonberger’s crazy adventures as well as information about the Leonberger breed and how to care for giant dog breeds. His second blog superfactful , is a fun but educational blog that is focused on finding facts that are important and yet surprising or disputed by people who are not well informed on the topic. This blog features myth busting as well as facts that will blow your mind.

Unknown's avatar

Author: thomasstigwikman

My name is Thomas Wikman. I am a software/robotics engineer with a background in physics. I am currently retired. I took early retirement. I am a dog lover, and especially a Leonberger lover, a home brewer, craft beer enthusiast, I’m learning French, and I am an avid reader. I live in Dallas, Texas, but I am originally from Sweden. I am married to Claudia, and we have three children. I have two blogs. The first feature the crazy adventures of our Leonberger Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle as well as information on Leonbergers. The second blog, superfactful, feature information and facts I think are very interesting. With this blog I would like to create a list of facts that are accepted as true among the experts of the field and yet disputed amongst the public or highly surprising. These facts are special and in lieu of a better word I call them super-facts.

58 thoughts on “When To Neuter or Spay Leonbergers and Other Giant Breeds”

    1. Thank you so much Carol Anne. I don’t entirely know why Leonbergers are rare. Part of it is that they were used in World War I to pull cannons and ammunition carts because they ran out of horses and almost all of them died, and then they almost died out again in the second World War. They did not reach United States until the end of the 1970’s. Well a few visited earlier than that but there was no permanent population until then. Maybe that is why. However, I am also wondering if they are intentionally trying to keep the population small because it comes with certain benefits to have a small population. For example, LCA can check on the dogs and make sure they end up with owners who can take care of them well. Yes certain dogs, especially many large breeds should not be neutered or spayed at an early age and many people miss that information.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thank you Lynette. You did the right thing. According to the list above a German Shepherd require you to wait beyond 23 months for neutering or spaying. For Labrador Retriever it says beyond 11 months but it being a mastiff cross complicates things. Congratulations on your new dog. That is wonderful news.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. We had a beautiful brown Doberman Pincher, our vet recommended not to spay he was against it so we never di dhowever we also never had problems and she never had a litter either we were careful…An interesting subject.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes I see in the table that spaying a Doberman is listed as beyond 23 months and neutering to leave intact. It seems like it is often the best to leave intact. It is interesting that your veterinarian knew that since not all veterinarians do. Doberman’s are beautiful dogs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yes our vet had been on a seminar and that is what he came away with leave our Ruby intact his words were what would you rather have an incontinent 2 year old or 10 Yr old caused by old age…I agree she was a beautiful girl very protective ,never barked unnessarily but she watched and if neccesary would defend…Luckily it never came to that I always said if my house broken into I would know that Ruby knew them otherwise they wouldn’t get out she would corner them…

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

    1. Thank you so much Luisa. I see for a Rottweiler it is beyond 11 months, for a poodle beyond 23 months for a male/neutering and choice for a female poodle if I read that right. The other two I did not see in the list. Owning a Dogo Argentino must have been tough. They are big and as I understand a bit aggressive, but I admit I don’t really know.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. That’s really important information. Hopefully pet owners do their research. We spayed our border collie around 6 months. We waited about a week after her 6 month birthday and a male dog down the road was hanging around following her so we booked the vet visit the following weekend !

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

        1. I think this information is fairly new and many veterinarians have not kept on top of the latest. If you see the comments from CarolCooks2 above. Her veterinarian went to a seminar and educated himself on this information and it probably made her Doberman’s life much better.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  7. Maverick will be 8 in April – Golden Retriever. He has not been neutered, he’s never off leash except at his daycare, so he’s never going to be an oops daddy. I did the research and have had many an argument with those who tell me I’m an irresponsible pet owner. It’s a battle, but one worth fighting. Thank you for this post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you Suzie. I see in the list that neutering a Golden Retriever is recommended beyond 11 months. However, based on what I’ve heard if you he’s never going to be an oops daddy it might be best to never neuter him. Why disrupt the hormones if there’s no risk. I have to admit it is the first time I hear the phrase “oops daddy”. I am going to steal that one.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. We were planning on having it done when he turned 2 but Covid put that on hold – and then it seemed like why bother? Should he ever become a daddy, it ail be planned – and feel free to use “oops daddy” whenever you like!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

    1. Yes many large breeds mature slowly at the same time as they live shorter lives. I guess grabbing hold of sofa legs with his teeth and dragging the sofa was for Bronco like when we go to the gym. He had to get his energy out somehow. I should say I did not bring up this topic in my Leonberger book because I didn’t want my book to be part of book burnings (being a potentially controversial topic).

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. Excellent advice for those who have larger dog breeds! It makes sense that spaying/ neutering them too early can be bad for them. I had a client with two labradors who told me her vet said she should wait until they were over a year old. They were rowdy pups! 😆

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you Debbie. That is interesting veterinarian advice. Veterinarians often go too low on the age and I see that Labradors are listed as beyond 6 months, which surprises me since labradors are big dogs. However, if there is no risk for unwanted pregnancies it is better to wait longer or never do it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yes, labs are big dogs and this breeder recommends between 12 and 24 months.
        https://www.kodalihartlabradors.com/care-health/desexing-or-sterilisation

        Personally, I think it is better to do it than not. In Europe, that was unheard of, so we didn’t spay our first two little female dogs. One got cancer and died fairly young (8 years old). The other developed pyometra and had to be euthanized, but at least she lived much longer.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. That is certainly an interesting link. Beyond 6 months sounded a bit early for such a big dog. So sorry about rhe loss of your dogs. I guess even if you don’t spay and neuter there is a high chance for cancer in dogs.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

    1. Thank you so much Animalcouriers. For a Doberman I think that disrupting the hormones can significantly increase the risk for bone cancer, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, hypothyroidism, and joint disorders. A commentor above “CarolCooks2” was told by her veterinarian to never spay her Doberman, even though spaying is OK beyond the age of two, but yes for Dobermans neutering is recommended to never do it. The health risks I guess have to be weighed against the unwanted pregnancy risks.

      Like

      Reply

  13. This is all very interesting, Thomas. First, I didn’t know how rare Leonbergers were, but, until I started following your blog, I had never heard of them. Second, it totally makes sense to wait to neuter dogs due to growth and hormones. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Carla. I have to admit that before we researched dog breeds and decided to buy a Leonberger we did not know about the Leonberger breed either. Its cousin the Saint Bernard is much more better known. However, there are only about 2,000 Saint Bernards in the US, and 1,000 Leonbergers in the US, and another 1,000 in Canada. So there aren’t that many more Saint Bernards than Leonbergers even though everyone has heard about Saint Bernards. You are right, disrupting the hormones is not a good thing that can cause a lot of health problems down the road and it should be weighed against the risk for unwanted pregnancies.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  14. No wonder I have never seen a Leonberger in person before. I didn’t realize how few there are in North America. I also had no idea that spaying and neutering guidelines varied as much as they do from breed to breed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I should say that the Saint Bernard is much more better known than the Leonberger. However, there are only about 2,000 Saint Bernards in the US (1,000 Leonbergers in the US, and another 1,000 in Canada). So, Leonbergers are not a lot less common than Saint Bernards. Saint Bernards are pretty rare too but I think they get more media exposure. However, I admit that before we researched dog breeds and picked out the Leonberger we had never seen or heard of them either. I think the research that is finding out about the increased health risks of neutering and spaying for different breeds is fairly new and we will probably know more in the near future.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  15. This makes sense. I just wish all dog owners were responsible enough to prevent unwanted puppies. Marley was intact when we adopted him at age 6, and he’s probably fathered pups in his early years as an escape artist. No more chance of that happening again. I’m curious about the recommendations to leave male Dobermans and female golden retrievers intact.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes, that is the crux. Neutering and spaying can lead to health problems down the road because of the disruption of the hormones, at the same time as irresponsible owners can cause unwanted pregnancies and related disasters such euthanasia, so what do you do? Based on what I’ve read, neutering a Doberman or spaying a golden retriever lead to significantly higher risk of developing various sorts of cancers and joint and hip disorders. I’ve read that early spaying/neutering has been linked to 4–5 times the incidence of joint problems in golden retrievers compared to intact dogs. It is great that Marley got to wait with his neutering even though 6 years seems long, but it is not so great that he may have been an “oops daddy”. From what I’ve seen and read Marley is a wonderful dog.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. It’s interesting about the bigger risks for those specific breeds. Yes, Marley is a wonderful dog. It’s hard to believe he’s only been part of our family for less than five years and that he’s ten years old now. He’s slowing down but still acts like a puppy half the time.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Yes the aging process is different and complicated depending on dog. Our Japanese Chin Ryu was in good health and then he suddenly got sick from cancer. It was sudden and very sad. Our Leonberger Bronco started showing signs of aging before the age of 10 and then he slowly lost his mobility over the next few years. I hope Marley will have a long and happy life.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

Leave a comment