Updated July 28, 2022
Whether you call it neuter, spay, castrate or desex, the right time to get it done in dogs is a subject of much debate. This is because it varies from breed to breed. Recently, a study was published on the best age for neutering in all three Poodle breeds.
While the paper isn’t perfect (more on that later), it does provide the first evidence for Poodles on choosing a time of desexing with the fewest health problems. The study compared dogs neutered at different ages for their rates of:
- joint disorders: hip dysplasia (HD), cruciate ligament injury (CCL) and elbow dysplasia (ED)
- cancers: lymphoma (LSA), mast cell tumour (MCT), haemangiosarcoma (HSA), osteosarcoma (OSA)
- urinary incontinence (UI)
All of these have been suspected to be linked with the age of neutering. Here’s what they found (only bold values are significant, after the six tables you will find my summary):
Toy Poodles
| HD | CCL | ED | At Least One | |
| Male < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
| Male 6 – 11 months | 0/14 (0) | 1/14 (7.14) | 0/14 (0) | 1/14 (7.14) |
| Male 1 year | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) |
| Male 2 – 8 years | 0/10 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/10 (0) |
| Male Intact | 1/49 (2.04) | 1/49 (2.04) | 0/49 (0) | 2/49 (4.08) |
| Female < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
| Female 6 – 11 months | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) |
| Female 1 year | 0/12 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/11 (0) |
| Female 2 – 8 years | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) |
| Female Intact | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) |
| LSA | MCT | HSA | OSA | At Least One | |
| Male < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
| Male 6 – 11 months | 0/14 (0) | 1/14 (7.14) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 1/14 (7.14) |
| Male 1 year | 0/9 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/9 (0) |
| Male 2 – 8 years | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) |
| Male Intact | 1/50 (2) | 0/49 (0) | 0/49 (0) | 0/49 (0) | 1/50 (2) |
| Female < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
| Female 6 – 11 months | 0/28 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/29 (0) | 0/28 (0) |
| Female 1 year | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) |
| Female 2 – 8 years | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) |
| Female Intact | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) | 0/58 (0) |
Miniature Poodles
| HD | CCL | ED | At Least One | |
| Male < 6 months | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) † |
| Male 6 – 11 months | 0/23 (0) | 2/24 (8.33) | 0/24 (0) | 2/23 (8.7) † |
| Male 1 year | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) |
| Male 2 – 8 years | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
| Male Intact | 0/41 (0) | 0/41 (0) | 0/41 (0) | 0/41 (0) |
| Female < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
| Female 6 – 11 months | 0/23 (0) | 0/23 (0) | 0/23 (0) | 0/23 (0) |
| Female 1 year | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) |
| Female 2 – 8 years | 0/17 (0) | 0/17 (0) | 0/17 (0) | 0/17 (0) |
| Female Intact | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) |
| LSA | MCT | HSA | OSA | At Least One | |
| Male < 6 months | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) | 0/11 (0) |
| Male 6 – 11 months | 0/24 (0) | 0/24 (0) | 0/24 (0) | 0/24 (0) | 0/24 (0) |
| Male 1 year | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) | 0/6 (0) |
| Male 2 – 8 years | 0/13 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/13 (0) |
| Male Intact | 1/42 (2.38) | 1/41 (2.44) | 0/41 (0) | 0/41 (0) | 2/42 (4.76) |
| Female < 6 months | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) | 0/14 (0) |
| Female 6 – 11 months | 0/22 (0) | 0/23 (0) | 0/22 (0) | 0/23 (0) | 0/21 (0) |
| Female 1 year | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) | 0/12 (0) |
| Female 2 – 8 years | 1/16 (6.25) | 0/17 (0) | 0/17 (0) | 0/16 (0) | 1/15 (6.67) |
| Female Intact | 0/29 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/29 (0) |
Standard Poodles
| HD | CCL | ED | At Least One | |
| Male < 6 months | 2/24 (8.33) | 0/25 (0) | 0/24 (0) | 2/24 (8.33) |
| Male 6 – 11 months | 0/38 (0) | 1/38 (2.63) | 0/38 (0) | 1/38 (2.63) |
| Male 1 year | 0/16 (0) | 0/16 (0) | 0/16 (0) | 0/16 (0) |
| Male 2 – 8 years | 0/8 (0) | 0/8 (0) | 0/8 (0) | 0/8 (0) |
| Male Intact | 1/47 (2.13) | 0/47 (0) | 0/47 (0) | 1/47 (2.13) |
| Female < 6 months | 0/17 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/17 (0) |
| Female 6 – 11 months | 0/30 (0) | 0/30 (0) | 0/31 (0) | 0/29 (0) |
| Female 1 year | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) |
| Female 2 – 8 years | 0/28 (0) | 0/28 (0) | 0/28 (0) | 0/28 (0) |
| Female Intact | 1/53 (1.89) | 0/52 (0) | 0/53 (0) | 1/52 (1.92) |
| LSA | MCT | HSA | OSA | At Least One | |
| Male < 6 months | 2/25 (8) | 0/25 (0) | 0/25 (0) | 0/25 (0) | 2/25 (8) |
| Male 6 – 11 months | 0/37 (0) | 0/38 (0) | 1/36 (2.78) | 0/37 (0) | 1/36 (2.78) |
| Male 1 year | 4/16 (25) | 0/16 (0) | 0/15 (0) | 0/16 (0) | 4/15 (26.67) |
| Male 2 – 8 years | 0/8 (0) | 0/7 (0) | 0/8 (0) | 0/8 (0) | 0/7 (0) |
| Male Intact | 1/47 (2.13) | 1/47 (2.13) | 0/47 (0) | 0/47 (0) | 2/47 (4.26) |
| Female < 6 months | 0/17 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/18 (0) | 0/17 (0) |
| Female 6 – 11 months | 1/31 (3.23) | 0/31 (0) | 0/31 (0) | 0/31 (0) | 1/31 (3.23) |
| Female 1 year | 1/9 (11.11) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 0/10 (0) | 1/9 (11.11) |
| Female 2 – 8 years | 0/26 (0) | 0/27 (0) | 1/28 (3.57) | 0/28 (0) | 1/25 (4) |
| Female Intact | 1/53 (1.89) | 0/53 (0) | 0/53 (0) | 0/53 (0) | 1/53 (1.89) |
UI was reported in only one Miniature Poodle spayed under 6 months and one Standard Poodle spayed after 2 years.
If these tables makes no sense, it’s mostly because there are almost no abnormal findings. Have a look at this one for Golden retrievers as a comparison.
Summary: The Best Poodle Spay & Neuter Times
As the findings are different, I will consider each breed separately.
Toy Poodle
There is minimal evidence that Toy Poodle health problems are influenced by the age of neutering. Owners of either sex are therefore free to choose the age of desexing that suits them best.
Recommendation: 6 months for both sexes.
Miniature Poodle
Male Miniatures had an increase in CCL problems when castrated under 12 months of age. There is minimal evidence that female Toy Poodle health problems are influenced by the age of neutering.
Recommendation: 6 months for females, 1 year for males. However, this late decision may be influenced by:
- local neutering legislation
- risk of male dog aggression to children or urine marking behaviour
- health problems associated with intact dogs
Standard Poodle
No joint problems were associated with the age of desexing. Male Standard Poodles desexed between 1 and 2 years of age had an increased rate of lymphoma.
Recommendation: 6 -11 months for males and one year for females.
This allows for the general trend of later times with higher body weights. It is older with females as they will come into season at 7-9 months, and we want this to settle down completely before surgery.
For all three breeds, this is so far the only science we have for the best desexing age in Poodles. Your vet, breeder or online group may have a different opinion based on their experience or personal beliefs. It’s perfectly reasonable to take their advice into consideration as well.
Problems With This Study
In the original paper, the authors appear to make some recommendations based on very limited evidence. I have published the original study data so you can see the actual numbers involved and decide for yourself.
The authors also do not mention the well-known increase in lifespan associated with desexing male and female dogs, which tends to counteract most concerns about specific cancers. The following comment in the paper is a clue that it might also have been true for this population:
Across all breeds the mean age of last entry in the record for neutered males was 5.5 years (range 3.71–6.54), for neutered females 5.7 years (range 4.21–6.97), for intact males 4.9 (range 4.15–7.11), and intact females 4.7 (range 3.41–6.32)
The study tries to also look at the rates of mammary cancer & pyometra in females, but cannot give an accurate assessment for two reasons:
- the mean ages listed above are far too young to pick up most cases
- pyometra and mammary cancer are rarely referred to university hospitals
Regardless of any concerns, the authors are to be applauded to bringing into focus one of the most common questions from dog owners. For the Poodle at least, they’ve made the decision a lot easier.
Related: Best Desexing Age For 35 Breeds | Desexing Choices For Dogs | Costs Of Desexing
Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.
I just got my poodle and she is 3 months old come August 25th I would like to get her fixed what is a good age to get my dog sprayed she’s a standard red poodle she’s absolutely beautiful very playful sometimes and hard-headed I really want to get her fixed as soon as possible. I know for sure I do not want to breed her. Please help.
Hi Lena. The best age we advise is listed in the article above for each poodle size.
Thank you for this guidance, have a 4 month old toy poodle and this info and analysis helps tremendously.
I have a 6month old male standard Poodle who is becoming aggressive. He bites and has THAT LOOK (Top Lip up showing top teeth) I have been told 10 months, by my vets but i’m worried if i wait longer the attitude will stay with him because he really is very lovable too . Any ideas?
Hi Gail. The behaviour may have nothing to do with testosterone levels, but the safest thing to do is to get him desexed as soon as possible just in case. If you look at the data you’ll see that there isn’t much risk with doing standard poodles earlier (such as 6 months) so that’s what I would do.
Both my vet and the breeder suggested 18 months for a Standard Poodle.
Hi Brook. That’s perfectly reasonable. I wrote this article just so that people could see what the science tells us.
I have a female standard poodle puppy. She’s 5 months old now and my vet says spaying earlier is easier on the dog—cleaner, recovers faster. But I’m curious about personality changes related to early versus later spay? Any thoughts on that?
Hi Whitney. There is very little evidence for or against behaviour changes associated with neutering female dogs. I wrote a short article you can read here about aggression but the jury is also out on that one.
My 8mo old standard poodle x old english sheepdog is humping until full ejaculation. I initially thought I had to wait until 2 due to the study results, but this would show that between 6-11mo is not doing harm to him? Should I get hips and elbow x-rays to check growth plates? I’m seeing a lot of advice about standard poodles maturing physically at 24 mo. when growth plates are completely closed. Mainly, he is humping owning when in play mode and over excited – bites at shoulder, jumps, humps, a sometimes gates full erection with glans swollen. I’m soo worried about increasing his risk of cancer!
Hi Lindsey. What is presented here is the only evidence on which to base such a decision. The rest is conjecture. I hope it gives you some comfort that an earlier date would not be inappropriate, especially considering that the behaviour describe may become learnt with time and difficult to abolish.