Fixing vs. Not Fixing your dogs

[TwistedTayy]

With regard to my own dogs and experience, I am all for spaying and neutering but I only do it after the dog is 1-2 years old. I try to let the females fo through 1-2 heats. Before that though, I recognized that I have a responsibility to take even greater care to prevent unwanted pregnancies. I feel that the hormones are essential to the growth of a puppy. Humans that are "neutered" before they go through puberty there are visible differences in development. I don't see why dogs wouldn't be the same and there have been studies done about this topic in dogs. Some breeds are more sensitive to this, Bully breeds I know for sure are. After that, I believe that if you're not trying to breed with intention (other than making money) the responsible thing to do is to spay/neuter as soon as they're "adults." If you can't take care of an unfixed dog for 1-2 years with the behavioral issues that come with it, I'm not sure you're ready for one.

 

[Weeg]

With regard to my own dogs and experience, I am all for spaying and neutering but I only do it after the dog is 1-2 years old. I try to let the females fo through 1-2 heats. Before that though, I recognized that I have a responsibility to take even greater care to prevent unwanted pregnancies. I feel that the hormones are essential to the growth of a puppy. Humans that are "neutered" before they go through puberty there are visible differences in development. I don't see why dogs wouldn't be the same and there have been studies done about this topic in dogs. Some breeds are more sensitive to this, Bully breeds I know for sure are. After that, I believe that if you're not trying to breed with intention (other than making money) the responsible thing to do is to spay/neuter as soon as they're "adults." If you can't take care of an unfixed dog for 1-2 years with the behavioral issues that come with it, I'm not sure you're ready for one.

Good post, I think this is a great way to look at it. Thanks for adding!

 

[Halfpasthen]

With regard to my own dogs and experience, I am all for spaying and neutering but I only do it after the dog is 1-2 years old. I try to let the females fo through 1-2 heats. Before that though, I recognized that I have a responsibility to take even greater care to prevent unwanted pregnancies. I feel that the hormones are essential to the growth of a puppy. Humans that are "neutered" before they go through puberty there are visible differences in development. I don't see why dogs wouldn't be the same and there have been studies done about this topic in dogs. Some breeds are more sensitive to this, Bully breeds I know for sure are. After that, I believe that if you're not trying to breed with intention (other than making money) the responsible thing to do is to spay/neuter as soon as they're "adults." If you can't take care of an unfixed dog for 1-2 years with the behavioral issues that come with it, I'm not sure you're ready for one.

Yes. And an unaltered animal takes a while to mature. There is a reason show dogs are unaltered and it's not just for breeding purposes. Their body composition is completely different.

Im not well educated on the matter, but it's my understanding that lost of European countries tend not to spay and neuter but also don't have an over pet population like we do in the US. A difference of opinion regarding husbandry I guess. I live in an area with a ridiculous over pet population. I regularly look at our local shelters website and they're absolutely swamped with purebred dogs no less. Any given day there are purebred shepherds, labs, huskies, rottweilers, dobermans, Yorkies, shih tzus, Chihuahua, doxies, Aussies. There is a purebred freaking Akita in the shelter right now. It blows my mind.

 

[TwistedTayy]

Yes. And an unaltered animal takes a while to mature. There is a reason show dogs are unaltered and it's not just for breeding purposes. Their body composition is completely different.

Im not well educated on the matter, but it's my understanding that lost of European countries tend not to spay and neuter but also don't have an over pet population like we do in the US. A difference of opinion regarding husbandry I guess. I live in an area with a ridiculous over pet population. I regularly look at our local shelters website and they're absolutely swamped with purebred dogs no less. Any given day there are purebred shepherds, labs, huskies, rottweilers, dobermans, Yorkies, shih tzus, Chihuahua, doxies, Aussies. There is a purebred freaking Akita in the shelter right now. It blows my mind.

I know! I always creep on pet finder even though I definitely have enough dogs and im always blown away (and have to keep telling myself I don't need any more). As a rule, people should spay and neuter (both my dogs are spayed) but if they can responsibly raise them for a couple years with them intact I feel like that makes a healthier dog. They get the hormones they need and are altered before the adverse effects of not spaying even get a chance to take hold. That being said, not many people can even do that. Much less take care of an animal that has already been altered. I have an ex-neighbor that as a rule does not neuter his babies because he wouldn't want that done to him or anyone he cared about (no other reason). In the last year, two of his babies have died because they were fighting over a young unspayed female that his son bought. And that was two separate occasions. But that's an example of someone who shouldn't (imo) own dogs. When we lived next door to him (before they got a female) we had a young female that hadn't been spayed yet (she was 6 months old so I was letting her "grow up") and I didn't allow her outside in our fenced yard without supervision and usually still on a leash because he allowed his unneutered males to wander and didn't contain them while at work (all other neighbors were his family and there was about 25acres between them with our little house in the middle but still!). I could always tell when she was in heat because two of his males would just hang around out house. Most people wouldn't take that extra care, which is fine and understandable. But I feel like that just goes with the responsibility of owning an animal. If you can't take extra care, get a pet bunny or something.

EDIT: By extra care, I don't mean to ALWAYS go above and beyond. But circumstances might arise where it becomes inconvenient to care for an animal and people need to be prepared to take care of them anyways because that's what you signed up for. Whether its some kind of a illness (owner or pet) or dealing with bloody dog diapers for a year lol

 

[pennyJo1960]

For all of the intact female dog owners, any tips for keeping them without unwanted pregnancies? I don't think we're going to spay our Labrador, she's 10 months so could go into heat soon. So far I'm planning on keeping her tight, we bought toys, planning on walking more often (on a leash) and of course, we've got a few diapers on hand. She also eats homemade raw, and I've read maybe adding root veggies can help keep her fuller. Do any of you adjust the diet when there' in heat? Thanks for the help.
Any other suggestions?

Buy a dog crate large enough to lock her in in heat cycles

 

[TwistedTayy]

For all of the intact female dog owners, any tips for keeping them without unwanted pregnancies? I don't think we're going to spay our Labrador, she's 10 months so could go into heat soon. So far I'm planning on keeping her tight, we bought toys, planning on walking more often (on a leash) and of course, we've got a few diapers on hand. She also eats homemade raw, and I've read maybe adding root veggies can help keep her fuller. Do any of you adjust the diet when there' in heat? Thanks for the help.
Any other suggestions?

You really don't have to do much. DEFINITELY diapers. And many pairs. I do disposable and then reusable over top because I found that the disposable ones slide off easily. Unneutered males can smell a female in heat (I think) 3 miles away so just be careful about keeping her secure. She might be more inclined to escape too. Homemade raw is excellent for dogs in heat but it wouldn't need to be any different than when she's out of heat.

 

[Weeg]

You really don't have to do much. DEFINITELY diapers. And many pairs. I do disposable and then reusable over top because I found that the disposable ones slide off easily. Unneutered males can smell a female in heat (I think) 3 miles away so just be careful about keeping her secure. She might be more inclined to escape too. Homemade raw is excellent for dogs in heat but it wouldn't need to be any different than when she's out of heat.

Thank you! I have 3 pairs I believe, but I do want to get more. Got it, can I put a maxi pad inside the diaper over the padding? I wanna say I've read that but it could have been a disposable dog diaper. The whole thing will be a new experience. I'll have to decide wether we want to keep her intact, or just let her go through a few cycles.
I'm glad that raw is helpful, I really love it, its so nice to know exactly what their eating and feel good about it.
Thank you!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Thank you! I have 3 pairs I believe, but I do want to get more. Got it, can I put a maxi pad inside the diaper over the padding? I wanna say I've read that but it could have been a disposable dog diaper. The whole thing will be a new experience. I'll have to decide wether we want to keep her intact, or just let her go through a few cycles.
I'm glad that raw is helpful, I really love it, its so nice to know exactly what their eating and feel good about it.
Thank you!

You can put a maxi pad. Just make sure it’s unscented.

 

[Weeg]

You can put a maxi pad. Just make sure it’s unscented.

Thank you! I will.

 

[Weeg]

Found these article/study today on Google Scholar, thought I'd share for fun-
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0093691X11003025
Also-
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1474-9726.2009.00513.x