I have been desexing our puppies at 6 weeks of age (Early Spay Neuter or ESN) for 26 years. My puppies are desexed when they are still with their mother and litter group, they wake up being cuddled by a friendly human and within half an hour of the surgery they are back with their siblings, up and eating their delayed breakfast. Baby puppies are remarkably resilient, the surgery is quick, simple and with appropriate pain relief it is remarkably stress free.

Compare this with the stress of being taken to a strange place at 4-6 month of age, left among strangers and submitted to a major operation, then having to wear a weird plastic collar for 10 days. It is not surprising that most dogs hate going to the vet ever afterwards.

The best thing that can be said about adolescent dogs is that they grow out of it! This is the time when your dog discovers the joy of digging and chewing.