Dog Spay and Neuter: Discussion

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

To me it should be YOUR choice to spay/neuter. I spay or neuter though!! I am involved in rescue and I cant count the emails or calls that we have gotten over the years by people saying come get the dog NOW or I will shoot it. I had one man INSIST I come get his 5 month old male Pug at 1am because he couldnt take one more night of him whining to get inside (mind you this was in JANUARY)

My DH and I laugh that even WE are spayed and neutered lol lol

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
There is one fairly important (IMO) issue with dogs that is 100% related to sex hormones.

Accidental puppies contributing to the large number of dogs being euthanized in shelters.

If I had a nickle for every person I've seen/known with "puppies for sale" because they were SURE they could keep their b*tch from getting pregnant... and of course for every accidental pregnancy there was also an intact male involved, who escaped his owner's control somehow... it just happens SO SO OFTEN.

IMO, unless a dog is so superbly outstanding that it is worth intentionally breeding (but not for several years), there is no good justification for leaving it intact. I don't have an opinion on what exact age it should be done at, by private owners (I totally agree with *shelters* only adopting out early-altered dogs), though, b/c I just don't know enough about the dog-specific medical issues.

JMHO,

Pat

 

[teach1rusl]

LOL...you can see my stand if you've read my signature. Plain and simply, there are NOT enough homes (willing to adopt) for all of the unwanted dogs and cats out there, although I know this is just about dogs. When people find out my goldens (both AKC) are male and female, one of their first reactions is "Oh, will you be selling puppies?" NO!!! Each was spayed/neutered at around 5-6 months of age. I see tons of golden retriever rescue organizations trying to place this lovely breed. There's not even enough homes for THESE dogs, so why would I produce more??? In an ideal world where everybody was responsible for the animals they owned, maybe I would have been interested in breeding a litter or two. But we're far from an ideal world when it comes to our treatment of dogs/cats.

 

[farmerlor]

I only have rescue dogs and while they are quite beautiful it never even occurred to me that they should ever bear or breed a litter of more unwanted mixed breed dogs. Don't get me wrong, I adore mixed breed dogs and will always, always have at least one dog that I've liberated from some rescue organization. But they WILL be spayed or neutered sometime before they become sexually mature no ifs, ands or buts. I also trap and spay or neuter my feral cats that irresponsible animal owners so stupidly dump at my house.

 

[schellie69]

I have rescue dogs also and they are neutered, I have one cat that is allowed outside the house and he is also neutered (to many Ferrell female cats around) not to be responsible to get him fixed he was over 2 when i got him fixed I do have 2 male dogs that are intact but will be getting neutered soon they are over 2 years of age. I just can't think of all the unwanted animals out there and breed more dogs if you have show dogs that is one thing but just pets I think they should be fixed at what age is the owners choice I know I had to put one of my dogs to sleep due to cancer she was used for breeding then thrown away the vet was worried about her age to be fixed so I had my male fixed I hated losing her but that was what had to be done I will get all my animals fixed so that I do not have to add to the unwanted animals already in shelters I don't think a male dog that is neutered really misses something like that I know that the 2 males I got fixed early don't seem to have the problem with it they are happy healthy fun dogs the other 2 I got older and do have some behaviors to work on once they are fixed like marking which will still be there once they are fixed but hopefully not as bad and can be fixed with alot of work.

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:

I couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[mekasmom]

We have both altered and unaltered dogs. My tiniest chihuahuas are altered at 7-8mo simply because I do not want them to reproduce. I know people who choose to breed 2-3lb chihuahuas, but I won't do it. I won't keep an unaltered male dog in the house unless I am showing him, but even then, it's rarely worth the hassle to me personally. I just prefer housedogs to be female. I have one female chihuahua that will remain intact for a few more seasons. She had one litter in 2008, and will probably have one this year and next or the year after depending on when I find an acceptable sire. Then she will be spayed. I don't like for the females to remain intact after age 7-8years because pyometras become more common at older ages even in dogs that have given birth previously. And I don't like for them to have more than 2-3 litters.

My male LGD is not neutered because he needs the drive to protect the flock.My St Bernard is not altered because I wanted a puppy from her, but I will have her spayed after a litter or two. That is just my personal preference because it is easier than dealing with puppies repeatedly. The St. B stays in the house rather than with the flocks. She prefers to be inside with us while the pyr likes to be outside laying in the field watching the animals. If I bring the pyr into the house, he paces from door to door wanting to go back outside and guard the property.

I have nothing against anyone who chooses to breed their dogs as long as they have nice temperaments and are healthy, and the owner finds them good homes. I have no problem with altering the small (5lb) dogs at 7-8mo of age. I would NEVER alter a giant breed dog at less than 18-24 months or later. That is irresponsible as it causes life long orthopedic issues and greatly increases the risks of some cancers. I have no problem with breeders who choose to produce pets as opposed to show dogs. Pets are an important part of our society and so are working LGDs. Being show 'quality' has nothing to do with being a good pet or a good working dog. Neutering has nothing to do with improving temperament. Temperament is genetic/behavioral. Spaying and neutering are usually done for the convenience of humans. And that is fine as long as they take the dog's health into consideration.

But it's wrong to knowingly reproduce health defects and even worse to breed dogs with poor temperaments. Dogs with genetic health defects should be altered, same with questionable temperaments. In fact, very poor temperaments should be humanely culled to prevent bites to humans.

 

[Equus5O]

I've always had my cats done. I have never wanted to deal with a cat in heat or a male cat marking. I've had one male dog, and had him done when he was about six months. I had spayed one female dog, and never got the chance to spay the other (she died of a systemic infection). I do believe that spaying a female helps in decreasing the chances of health problems in the future. Now, I live out in the middle of nowhere, but I don't have a dog at the moment. When we do get a dog, I will have him done. And one reason I prefer a male is so as not to have major surgery done. It's a lot less invasive to alter a male dog than it is to spay a female. My mother hasn't had her female Jack done. We've been fortunate in that we haven't had any stranger dogs coming up, and both my deceased altered male and my mothers female have been great about not straying. But, I've told my mother time and again that she should spay her dog. But, she's a former Jack breeder and she can't bring herself to do it.

If she breeds that dog, I swear I'll ....... (if I say anything more about what I would do, and something happened to my mother I think I'd be indicted!!) The dog's obsessive compulsive and has luxating patellas. My mother would be so irresponsible if she bred that dog, just so she could make money from the sale of the puppies. My step-daughter had a pet shop male Chihuahua. I had asked her when she was going to have him done, and she said that she was going to breed him so that she and her boyfriend could make lots of money from selling the puppies! She said "But he's registered and has papers!" Papers from what, the Puppy Mill Registry of America?!

 

[babyblue]

I feel that only high quality, well behaved, well trained purebred dogs should ever be bred. anything less should be fixed as soon as its healthy enough to do so. my parents lab was a perfect dog, great hunter- perfect conformation- perfect with kids and all animals-great guard dog. but they never got around to breeding her and she eventualy died at 14.5 not fixed. responsible pet owners can have intact unbred dogs. my parents boxer is not fixed yet, though its comming up. he is never let off the leash outside...ever ever ever. so puppies are not even a possibilty from him. someday dh and I will have another dog, after the kids grow up. depending on what we get, if its good enough we may breed her. if the dog is flawed in any way it will be fixed.

 

[Bleenie]

I am taking my rescue girl, Layla, in this morning to get spayed. She is only about 9 months old and already had a litter of 9 puppies. it's different if they're purebreds and not mutts, but i know there are aso some yucky breeders out there too.

My 9yr old Rottweiler was Never spayed and only had 2 litters of purebred puppies. It's mostly a matter of keeping an eye n your animals and taking care to avoid unwanted litters.

We have spayed all of my mothers dogs since she's always had boys and they wandered (for a female in heat)if someone let them outside without her knowing. As far as mellowing them goes...her pitty boy, Bishop, is wild as can be and was neutered at about 7 months old.