Technically the word 'neutering' refers to removing the reproductive organs, testes or ovaries, from a male or a female. However, most people use the word 'spay' to refer to removing the ovaries and reproductive organs from the female and reserve the word 'neuter' to refer to removing the male reproductive organs.
I am going to use 'neuter' for both sexes.
Scientifically controlled studies have shown that it is better to remove the reproductive organs of dogs after they have reached their full growth potential. For Icelandic Sheepdogs that usually happens between about the seventh and twelfth months which is after the end joints of their bones have calcified. The production of adult sex hormones like androgen and estrogen is what causes growth to slow and stop. If you remove the gonads, the reproductive organs, before they are mature growth continues which may possibly produce a heavier than normal dog. (Neutering after growth stops does NOT produce a heavier adult dog.)
There are numerous articles on the internet explaining the pros and cons regarding the optimum time for sterilization or neutering your pet. Google those articles before you make such an important decision. As I've said in the past, it is your decision, your choice, to neuter or to leave your dog intact, with its reproductive organs. If you decide to neuter, it is also your decision 'when' to do so. Please make an informed choice because once your pet is neutered, the process is obviously irreversible.
Our Icelandic Sheepdogs are, in my admittedly biased opinion, unique.
First - They are still a rare breed and promoting their genetic diversity is extremely important for the long term continued genetic health of our breed. That means simply that we should strive to use many different males and females to produce a variety of puppies to ensure as much genetic diversity as possible. Using only a few dogs to produce future generations will possibly work against the long term genetic health of our breed - - in my opinion.
Second - I believe their intelligence and temperaments are unequaled in the canine world. They learn quickly and are friendly, outgoing dogs. They have many of their old instincts intact. Newer breeds seem to have bred some of those instincts out of them. That's a double-edged sword.
It's amazing to watch those instincts at work in our dogs. However, keeping more than one or two Icies in a small household can be problematic simply because they still have those old instincts. In short, keeping Icelandic Sheepdogs successfully means that you have to be aware of their interactions with other dogs. They are extremely sociable - friendly - but they also have some territorial behaviors which necessitate that the owner/handler be proactive anticipating potential problems and nipping them in the bud. In other words, you have to watch what they are doing and stop actions before they become an issue. That's easy to do. You just need to know what they are up to all the time. It's like having a human toddler or perhaps a human teenager around.
All of my new owners are told to enroll their puppy in puppy kindergarten classes. That's extremely important for the canine to canine socialization and also for the human to canine socialization. If you are proactive when your Icelandic is young, that will obviate possible issues or problems when they are mature. In short, you are setting the ground rules while they are still young and at their most adaptable and they will follow those ground rules as adults.
Third - Once people have experienced first hand the amazing personalities and intelligence of Icelandics, many owners have been very sorry that they have neutered their dog. In North America, as opposed to Europe, we are in a hurry to neuter our dogs. I have no argument with neutering, per se. (In Europe neutering is not often done and intact dogs seem to be the norm. They also have considerably fewer dogs of mixed ancestry - one British friend, not liking the term 'mutt', calls her dog a "Bitser" - you know, she says, a bit of this and a bit of that.)
I do think we tend to neuter at too early an age - - - I totally understand "why". People are afraid of accidental pregnancies. When a female comes into season, she is fertile and receptive for a period of about three weeks. That means you must keep her away from intact males for almost a month - that is sometimes hard to do - even for experienced dog people - especially if there is also an intact male in the house. Most breeders I know have had at least one "Oops!" or accidental litter. It has happened to the best of us. Intact dogs are very much like human teenagers. You have to be very watchful; you have to chaperone your intact female during her season. The easiest thing is to keep males and females far apart during that three week period.
So, my recommendation to people is always to wait until your puppy has started to produce its adult hormones, has stopped growing before neutering - if you feel you must neuter. That is in the best interests of the future adult health of your puppy. That also gives you time to examine your reasons for neutering. Several first time owners of Icelandics have become breeders of Icelandics - like me. I NEVER thought I would become a breeder. I never thought that I would enter obedience, rally and agility competitions and qualify. NEVER. I never thought that I would write a book on Icelandics and do a blog on Icelandics.
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