Neuter and Spaying Question

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by Camieth on 05 May 2010 - 03:05

Hi. I know this is probably a very, very stupid question for most of you, please forgive me. But I noticed a lot of Schutzhund, police, and SAR dogs (and obviously show dogs) are not spayed or neutered. Why is this? Does it affect their working ability? Is it uncommon for a working line dog to compete and be fixed?

Sorry again, I'm so new at this!
Cam

by GSDtravels on 05 May 2010 - 04:05

Because when one is working toward a title, it's usually because they should be titled for breeding. The dogs with titles show that they have what it takes to pass on their genes. I don't believe in altering a dog but I'm a responsible owner and my dog will not be bred. There are many health problems associated with spay/neuter that you don't hear about because if PETA and HSUS have their way, all dogs will be altered so eventually there will be no more dogs. If you're a responsible owner, there is no need to alter your dog.

by Penny on 05 May 2010 - 07:05

Regarding the police and service dogs - its a testosterone issue. Some forces i.e. Nottinghamshire dont take dogs that are beutered unless exceptional due to the fact that when neutered their testosterone levels go down, so you get - in their opinion - a more manageable dog, but not such a good worker.
I am not sure that I go with this theory on pet dogs, and we get a lot of dogs come through the training school who have been neutered, and by the advice of peoples vets for unwanted behaviour problems and aggression - and its not made an inch of difference - so I think it depends totally on the dog, and never offer the idea of neutering advice until every other route has been looked at.
Of course, there is the other way of looking at it, whereby in a pet home, with not very switched on people, the animal is much better off neutered for the sake of an unwanted population. Mo

by bazza on 05 May 2010 - 07:05

I agree with Penny on the behaviour problems and neutering, doesn'y always work. However I owned a male many years ago bought for show, did not quite make the grade. We had several females coming in and out of season and naturally it drove him nuts as he was never going to be used at stud. He became aggressive with almost everyone, standing up on them, growling, etc. etc. when visiting the kennels, the house. We tried several things that did not work, so when he started lifting his leg on everyone including the kids, we decided to nueter, knowing this was a last resort and might not work. It did, he stayed with us for 14 happy years, and was my once in a life time dog, 10 years on and I still miss that boy, sorry for rambling,lol

by pacosbear on 05 May 2010 - 20:05

IMO, Mo and Bazza have it right, neutering a male may or may not make any difference other than it can not reproduce and also it wont subsequently develop testicular cancer. Similar with spaying, we have a bitch who has been spayed but it did not quieten her down she is still 'top dog'.

If OH takes any of our intact dogs/bitches to the vets she is always asked 'have you considered having them neutered/spayed ?' , they never ask if I take them. In far to many instances vet seem keen to spay/neuter and I suspect that this has nothing to do with the dog/bitch.

by GSDtravels on 05 May 2010 - 20:05

Pacobear, of course it takes away the chance of testicular cancer (a very non-lethal cancer) but increases the risk of other, more lethal cancers. That is what they use to convince people that it's best to alter, and it's a crock. There was a thread on the general topics section just about a month ago when this was discussed in detail, I'll see if I can find it and post the link.

by GSDtravels on 05 May 2010 - 20:05

Here ya go!
www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/380532.html

by Camieth on 05 May 2010 - 22:05

" There are many health problems associated with spay/neuter that you don't hear about because if PETA and HSUS have their way, all dogs will be altered so eventually there will be no more dogs."

What health risks are associated with spay/neuter? My dogs are spayed, and called me uneducated but I haven't heard of any major risks.

by GSDtravels on 05 May 2010 - 22:05

Did you read the link I posted? Here is one post from that thread:

To neuter ot not to neuter....that is the question
by Red Sable on 18 April 2010 - 12:04

Red Sable

Posts: 1382
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 09:55 pm
Cons
Neutered male dogs face risks for certain health conditions later in life. The risk for osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, increases significantly if a dog is neutered before his first birthday. Other serious health risks that increase after neutering a male dog include urinary tract cancer, prostate cancer and malignant tumors in the heart, cardiac hemangiosarcoma. Some neutered dogs are also more prone to hypothyroidism or low thyroid levels, reactions to vaccinations and orthopedic problems...

So, in answer to your question, I'd say no.

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