To Neuter or not to Neuter???

[JackLover]

With all the talk about Neutering I was wondering what you all have decided? Also could you give a reason for your choice

[Shalva]

I would choose not to neuter my dogs.... it really is much healthier for them to be intact..... with bitches there is high risk of pyometra so for them it is preferable to be spayed but with males, there is really no reason to neuter assuming you can be responsible with your dog and not allow him to roam.

I am neutering my cuinn for health reasons, he has seizures and the girls coming into season exacerbate his seizures, but if this were not the case I would not have him neutered.

S

[Kade]

We decided on neutering for containment/non-procreation reasons.

[annie_so_pink]

We got Wesley neutered and Im so glad we did! We didn't get Theo neutered cuz we did not know much about it when he was young, but now he has an enlarged prostate, which could turn in to prostate cancer, and the vet says it is becuz we didn't get him neutered So our vet said that it would be best if we neutered him now but they can't becuz he also has kidney failure I wish we would have gotten him neutered when he was young!

[anaconda]

I think that unless you are thinking of breeding or showing your dog, (and you should only breed if your dog is true breeding stock) or if your dog is a rescue, you should neuter your dog. I am going to neuter Finn as he is a golden/lab mix and therefore would not fit those guidelines.

P.S.: I posted this in the spay post by mistake LOL!

By the way-

with bitches there is high risk of pyometra so for them it is preferable to be spayed but with males, there is really no reason to neuter

Dogs can develop testicular cancer.

[annie_so_pink]

Originally Posted by anaconda

By the way- Dogs can develop testicular cancer.

And prostate cancer too! Everyone should spay/neuter their dogs for their dog's health and bcuz there r all ready so many unwanted puppies out there...

[BellFounder]

neutering is very beneficial for the health of the dog - and for their behaviour as a neutered dog generally has much lower stress levels than an intact dog. Shalva you need to do some further reading as you seem to have the wrong idea about this one.
Again there are only two acceptable reasons for not neutering a dog
1) he is a potential champion in the show ring/field trials and will be used for breeding himself later on if he makes the grade
2) he has a heart condition or other problem which makes it risky for him to have an anaesthetic.
Any other "reason" is an excuse made up by poorly informed, irresponsible dog owners for not doing the right thing.

[Shalva]

Originally Posted by BellFounder

neutering is very beneficial for the health of the dog - and for their behaviour as a neutered dog generally has much lower stress levels than an intact dog. Shalva you need to do some further reading as you seem to have the wrong idea about this one.
Again there are only two acceptable reasons for not neutering a dog
1) he is a potential champion in the show ring/field trials and will be used for breeding himself later on if he makes the grade
2) he has a heart condition or other problem which makes it risky for him to have an anaesthetic.
Any other "reason" is an excuse made up by poorly informed, irresponsible dog owners for not doing the right thing.

I will be happy to share the citations and studies with you.....
I dont have the wrong idea at all..... there is way to much propoganda surrounding spay and neuter and the actual studies and data do not support the beliefs that people have aobut neutering being beneficial to the dogs.
s

[Shalva]

Originally Posted by anaconda

By the way- Dogs can develop testicular cancer.

yes of course they can which is very rare in dogs..... and highly treatable....
but prostate cancer in neutered dogs is one of the most aggressive forms.
there was recently a study showing that testosterone has a protective factor in doggy dementia.....
again early (prior to maturity) have increased risk of hemangiosarcomas and osteosarcomas.....
dogs who are neutered on the early side have difficulty passing kidney stones if they should indeed get them.....

I would be happy to share my studies wiht you .... if you would like the citations.....
I HAVE done my homework.....

I have no problem if you want to neuter your dogs..... go ahead.... however when I first got my first show dog I was panicked that I was risking their health because I was showing..... I had been taught the same "its for their health" arguments that everyone here is spouting.... but being a researcher and knowing how to read studies I started doing some homework and what I found in researching is that spaying and neutering had great benefits for pet overpopulation and birth control but wasnt necessarily the panacea for health issues as is presented.
s

[JackLover]

Ok i thaught this would happen but there are other topics about neutering, could everyone please just say what they have chosen, yes I asked why but with as little facts as poss, everyone has different opionions and thats fine, but I just want to know what you choose

[shandoggy1]

I will have my male neutered a little over a year to allow him to mature and grow. After working in the animal field for so many years my experience with intact males and the ones I have grown up with seem to be alot more un-managable and ill-mannered than the fixed males.

[Shalva]

Originally Posted by shandoggy1

I will have my male neutered a little over a year to allow him to mature and grow. After working in the animal field for so many years my experience with intact males and the ones I have grown up with seem to be alot more un-managable and ill-mannered than the fixed males.

you need to train them!

Its funny a few years ago.... ok many years ago.... I got a cat... never checked and was told it was a male, named him michael and he was a rough and tumble cat..... then I went to get him neutered...(ok don't laugh) and he didnt have any ummmmm well anyway they spayed her and she became maureen..... and the vet commented about how I would probably treat her differently..... and I just laughed... give me a break.... me a highly educated person, a sociologist at that who doesn't buy into societal creations of gender.... well that cat has turned into the biggest girly girl..... delicate and sweet and well.... a cat.

Most breeders that I know will tell you that the boys are more cudly and sweet and loving and describe the boys as "I love you I love you I love you" and the girls are not called bitches for no reason and they are more like "you love me right?"

My point in all of this is that most of the people that interview wiht me for a puppy want a girl because they apply human stereotypes of gender differences..... What I see often is people who complain about male behaviors, marking, humping and because they view these behaviors as unavoidable they never bother to try and train their dog to not do these things. I can tell you that my boys don't hump things..... my boys don't mark any man made things.... trees and bushes are fine but cars, houses mailboxes. anything man made is off limits and they know it..... they are all intact.

I actually find my boys easier to live with and generally lower key than my girls that have an agenda and will try to work the system..... I know many a breeder who if given the option would have just boys. however it is kinda hard to have a breeding program wiht only boys. Now don't misunderstand my girls are wonderful but I do think that alot of the behaviors that people don't like with boys are because they havent trained those behaviors. This goes back to why are intact dogs more ill mannered..... perhaps the answer has nothing to do with testicles but rather the people who own them and chose not to have them neutered. Seperating out reasons is important in this type of conversation.
S

[D.Schäferhund]

I will wait and see if he will be breedquality, the vollhardtest was very promissing, but it all depends if I really want a studd at home.
If i just want to keep him as a pet, yes he is getting neutered. and i think this is a good option for everydog that is not supposed to be bread. If you want to keep an intact dog, then make sure that no accidentes are happening.

[mrsgrubby]

Yes, I spay and neuter all my dogs. I have no intention of showing or breeding, I hate dealing with a female in heat.

[shandoggy1]

Originally Posted by Shalva

you need to train them!

Its funny a few years ago.... ok many years ago.... I got a cat... never checked and was told it was a male, named him michael and he was a rough and tumble cat..... then I went to get him neutered...(ok don't laugh) and he didnt have any ummmmm well anyway they spayed her and she became maureen..... and the vet commented about how I would probably treat her differently..... and I just laughed... give me a break.... me a highly educated person, a sociologist at that who doesn't buy into societal creations of gender.... well that cat has turned into the biggest girly girl..... delicate and sweet and well.... a cat.

Most breeders that I know will tell you that the boys are more cudly and sweet and loving and describe the boys as "I love you I love you I love you" and the girls are not called bitches for no reason and they are more like "you love me right?"

My point in all of this is that most of the people that interview wiht me for a puppy want a girl because they apply human stereotypes of gender differences..... What I see often is people who complain about male behaviors, marking, humping and because they view these behaviors as unavoidable they never bother to try and train their dog to not do these things. I can tell you that my boys don't hump things..... my boys don't mark any man made things.... trees and bushes are fine but cars, houses mailboxes. anything man made is off limits and they know it..... they are all intact.

I actually find my boys easier to live with and generally lower key than my girls that have an agenda and will try to work the system..... I know many a breeder who if given the option would have just boys. however it is kinda hard to have a breeding program wiht only boys. Now don't misunderstand my girls are wonderful but I do think that alot of the behaviors that people don't like with boys are because they havent trained those behaviors. This goes back to why are intact dogs more ill mannered..... perhaps the answer has nothing to do with testicles but rather the people who own them and chose not to have them neutered. Seperating out reasons is important in this type of conversation.
S

Shalva in a way I agree with you on training an intact male. But if it is just a pet it should be fixed. I don't think an intact males brains are in its head!LOL!