Neuter - Page 2

The article wasn't written or put out by NAIA, it's on their web site as well as several other web sites.  I just think people should do some research first rather than automatically believing that dogs are healthier when neutered before maturity.  The older I get the less I automatically believe and the more questions I ask.  Heck there was a time when I believed in giving my dogs annual vaccinations and feeding them processed kibbles, but those days are long gone. 

Here's a blog that's caused a bit of discussion recently:
time4dogs.blogspot.com/2010/12/rethinking-spay-and-neuter.html

Here's my boy, Reiker. He'll be 9 in March. Intact, no problems whatsoever. No problems with other males. Only been in one fight, a Mondo-Ring (?) titled Mal. (Reiker won) My preference not to spay/nueter. My animals are either with me, crated or kenneled. They don't roam free.

I'm on a diiferent laptop then mine. I'll download a pic a little later. (Or you can look at an old thread of mine; "Here are my GSDS".

 I'm not against neutering, but I think you should wait until the male is mature because testosterone plays a role in bone and joint development.  What I was saying in my earlier post is that police/military male dogs are usually intact for a reason.  Here's an article by a veterinarian--read the section titled "Hormones."   Intact males bite sooner, harder, and for a longer period of time--this explains why dogs used for police/military work or personal protection are usually intact:  http://www.milfordanimalhospital.com/articles/canine/aggression.htm.  The OP started this thread because they wanted to know if they should neuter their personal protection dog.  

RE Dunringill, thanks for that link

Trust me, there is bias.  That "Pros/Cons of spay neuter" article, the precis, or summary, was written by Larry S. Katz, PhD-- he's on the board of directors for NAIA!  http://animalsciences.rutgers.edu/faculty/katz/larry-s-katz.html
NAIA supports dog breeders, hunting, circuses, zoos, animal testing, agriculture, etc, they are basically the anti-PETA.

Well since I am anti-PETA too (and graduated from Rutgers, and went to high school with a Larry Katz and bought my house from the parents of a Larry Katz tho I don't think it's the same one) I guess I didn't notice that as anything bad. 

There's bias in every one of the articles.  In a former life I worked for a large corporation, in one group I worked with financial data and in a marketing group I worked with demographics data. Trust me it's very true, with statistics you CAN twist things to get any answer you want.  So read everything you can, question everything, and put absolute trust in no one.  Yeah that sounds jaded, guess I'm getting old.

 And being anti-PETA is a bad thing????

I would not ever neuter a dog, and I say anyone who feels they need to neuter a dog as a last ditch effort in order to attempt to control behavior need not own an animal. Owning an animal is not a God-given right; it's a privilege, IMO, and if you are not able and willing to maintain the animal in a manner conducive to OPTIMUM health and happiness for that animal, then stick to pet rocks. 

Anyone who says dogs don't need all the body systems they were born with in order to function properly hasn't done enough with a dog to see how wrong they are. Admittedly, most people never will, but does that make it ok?

Hodie, so glad you're back so I can respectfully disagree with you;-) LOL

www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/spay_neuter_risks_benefits.aspx

 Hi Jenni78,

I just wonder how you feel about humans who have some surgical procedure for whatever reason that affects any body function, including fertility?....... LOL

Though I agree with allowing certain people to have unneutered animals and, in general, I subscribe to allowing them to mature before spaying or neutering, yes, I guess we will have to disagree about whether to neuter or spay or not for the average pet owner.

Regardless of whether one does or does not, there is NO science behind suggesting dogs bite sooner, faster, harder etc. when not neutered....that is pure bunk and I personally would not ever take anything Frawley said as indicative of anything. He is .....well, I will keep my opinion to myself. But certainly he is not an authority on anything.

But don't worry, I won't waste our time trying to convince anyone of anything........so you might not get to disagree as much as you would like LOL

Although the question was in regards to Protection, I have worked with a male dog in detection training before and after being neutered. There was a huge difference in search behavior after neutering. Overall intensity in the search dropped dramatically. I also noticed he was generally less interested and less alert in his environment.

However it seems that the majority here conclude that neutering has no effect on working ability of a dog so.....happy slicing and dicing ;)

 Where did I say anything about Ed???? You lost me, lady. Oh well....

I think there are enough studies on how low testosterone negatively affects men that using the human argument is not really a practical idea; we know how terrible the affects of low T are for men; it affects literally almost everything in one way or another. 

I will staunchly disagree about protection training a neutered male. So much of how a dog interacts with his environment has to do with instincts and hormones that I don't see how anyone can believe it doesn't affect them negatively; you're asking them to behave in a natural manner when they are now an unnatural being. I maintain that people who have REALLY used their dog for a dog's natural abilities (some MWD handlers, etc.) will vouch for this; you're taking away a HUGE piece of the pie that the dog uses to decide how to interact w/everything in its surroundings. 

The average pet owner will not notice a big difference, however, but these are usually the same people who also don't notice when their dog is in heat and has oops litters, lol. 

If you're really worried about a dog having unplanned litters because you're incapable of responsible management, then get the dog a vasectomy. 

I know I'm extreme, but I really think we have to be; there's entirely too much apathy in the world regarding how animals entrusted to us are cared for. 

Happy New Year! I gotta go clean now, so no more disagreeing;-)

One of my late males had prostate issues and had to be neutered at age 7.  He was a dominant tough guy, and my vet told me that neutering him should result in calmer, less rambunctious dog who would be less aggresive in general and also calmer toward my other male dog.

And I was in fact looking forward to less hostility during feeding time, play time etc.  Never happened, though: he remained the exact same territorial, surly SOB right up until the day he died.