Neutering vs Vasectomy?

I would neuter him.

Neutering does NOT change your dog's personality or behaviors. He will be the same silly dog he always was.

At 16 months, it is perfectly safe to neuter him. Neutering does NOT stunt their growth. It removes the testosterone from the system. The increase in testosterone levels during puberty are what indicates that the dog is finished growing and closes off the growth plates of the long bones. These large dogs that are neutered early are often TALLER and lankier and always kind of have the look of a juvenile rather than the broad developed masculine characteristics of a full grown male. For these giant breed dogs we do recommend waiting until a year of age to neuter unless it is likely the dog will be accidentally (or purposely) bred, or begins to develop behavioral problems. There is no evidence that it effects anything other than the way the look and doesn't pose any health concerns.

Vasectomies may not be 100% effective. There are a small number of cases in humans at least where the men were still able to reproduce either by reattachment of the tubes or some other failure of the procedure. There is no risk of that if the testicles are completely removed.

Neutering is a very simple procedure and completely eliminates his chances of impregnating a female. Neutering also reduces the chances of prostate problems and eliminates the chances of testicular cancer. You are right, he probably won't live long enough to see cancer become a problem, but I have seen Danes live up to 15-16 years and Danes who are prone to cancer, so it's not a guarantee. When comparing the two, I don't really see a vasectomy being a better choice than a regular neuter.

A vasectomy is not 100% guaranteed that it will prevent a litter. I dont actually know that the proceedure is even performed on a dog, to be honest.. there are still failure rates tho.

Neutering is 100% guaranteed.. even if you are responsible at keeping him leashed and fenced.. there's no 100% guarantee that he wont get loose at least once in his lifetime.

Vasectomy still keeps the hormones going, and thus, hormone driven behavoirs. He isnt marking or displaying behavoirs now, but he is also still quite young. My male didnt start marking until he was well over a year old, and saw another male doing it!

Also since you plan on taking him to dog parks and such.. often when a fight breaks out, you can almost 100% guarantee that an intact male was invovled. A vasectomy will not decrease these hormone levels and he will be more likely to want to fight with other males, expecially if there's a female around.

I know plenty of spayed and neutered pets.. it does not decrease energy levels or change the personality. It does make them a more "focused" pet.. they are less interested in seeking mates and fighting rivals, and are more focused on you. Altered pets are easier to train and work with, and also tend to be more sociable with other dogs.

Find a different vet!!!! Yours filled you full of BS..Neutering a Dane will NOT stunt growth....if anything the opposite will happen, he will grow taller...this really has a lot more to do with genetics then with neutering.Also your vet is so way off on Danes not living long enough to get cancer and other hormone related problems.....1) a dog can have cancers,prostrate, fistulas, etc as young as 9 months of age..it is NOT an old dog problem 2) the average life span of a Dane is 10 years, the same as a Lab, Golden, Doberman, etc and many wellbred, well cared for Danes live into their teens.

Neutering will NOT change a dogs personality..it will be what it is..period. The only thing it will do is eliminate hormone driven behaviors...what he is he will be.

As for vasectomy....it is not usually an option and it is not worthwhile either..the only thing it does is eliminate the ability to produce puppies..it does not eliminate hormone driven issues and in fact it can lead to heightened aggressive behavior.

Neutering is the best thing you can do.It will NOT change his energy level at all.

I have many, many years of experience with males of all breeds both intact as well as neutered and in particular with Danes. I've owned, trained and shown Danes for over 25 years. I've owned both intact & neutered some have been rescues, some have been owned since puppyhood.

It is very unfortunate that your vet gave you so much misinformation.

Dog Vasectomy

I'd go with neutering. He is still young - though you don't have issues with him now, continued production of testosterone could change that. A vasectomy will not stop the production of testosterone like neutering will. If only given a vasectomy, he is also more likely to have issues with other male dogs - not that he will start them, per se. But males often act differently to neutered males than to those who aren't.

Prevention vs cure...? That is what you are asking. You should use prevention where possible and cure for when it's already happened. You talk about spaying animals as if it's an option to spay people... if you think about that, it's clearly not! Personal choices cannot be dictated by anyone in a free society. Abortion is an option that I assume is taken on board with a heavy heart and after much thought. It's up to the family and it's a very personal and private thing. Laws are made to protect human beings and the law only sees the foetus as such at a particular point in the pregnancy. I must admit, I question the length of time they have decided but I don't know enough about it to have a fair opinion. You have to wonder, without natural selection how will the population grow?

Neutering vs Vasectomy?

Vasectomy is the male version of having your tubes tied. he will still have his testicles and therefore still be producing testosterone and other hormones. He will still have a "sex drive" and mount females in order to make them except he will be shooting blanks.

Neutering removes the testicles and thus stops the production of many "sex drive" hormones and reduced his urge to mate and mount females or other dogs in general. This will never completely go away due to the fact that he has already reached his sexual peek.

I personally prefer neutering. It will not change a dogs personality nor will the dog "miss" his testicles. You may not have dominance issues or territorial issues with him now but if his testicles are left intact then these characteristics may become more dominant as he ages

Neutering will remove the nuts, where a vasectomy will leave them behind...Both have the same effect...

I once chose to have a vasectomy on a smallish dog rather than a neuter...The vet convinced me to..

A neighbor shot and killed my dog because his was in heat and my dog was hanging around and "looked" to be intact...

Either way, the dog will be sterile...It's your decision to make...

I vote neutering. If he still has hormones he's still going to have the behaviour that goes with them, i.e. mounting females, trying to get to females, the annoying whining and trying to get out when a female in the area is in heat, marking. Plus there's always the chance that someone will freak because they think he's not neutered and do something like one of the others mentioned. Why take the chance? His personality isn't going to change except for the better.

well if you choose to neuter be aware it might change his personality.

It did my dog but it was better for my dog as he is now longer so dominant or aggressive. if you like the way he acts now and just don't want him to ever reproduce then get a vasectomy.

Hope this help!