Do I really have to neuter our dog?!

[Anonymous]

If you are really a vet then please explain why more and more research is showing that neutering can cause and not solve behavior issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are really a vet then please explain why more and more research is showing that neutering can cause and not solve behavior issues.

Really?

The best predictors of a dog’s behavior are his genetic background combined with the social learning and training he receives. Reproductive status does play a role in behavior, but it is not the dominant influence over animal behavior.

Testosterone influences sex drive and sexual acts, searching for mates, territorial behavior such as urine marking, and aggression between males. Testosterone may also affect confidence and the role of the experience of fear in some dogs. Neutering will result in a reduction in sexual behaviors (breeding attempts and masturbation), seeking mating opportunities, and urine marking. Some of these sexual behaviors can be dangerous, resulting in fights between dogs, roaming and being injured by cars, fences, poisons, and other threats, and neutering will decrease these risks.

There is conflicting evidence at this time, but it is possible that neutering males before puberty may correlate with increased aggression directed toward strangers and strange dogs. However, further research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn in this situation. Neutering was historically considered a crucial part of therapy for all dogs displaying unwanted aggression. A more careful examination of the aggression with a veterinarian experienced in treating behavior disorders is now recommended prior to neutering, as neutering may worsen fear-related behaviors in a small subset of dogs.

So, if your dog is aggressive, neutering him is not the cure.....

I am not going to try to prove to you that I am a vet by placating your silly demands.... suffice it to say that recommended remedies for all sorts of diseases and maladies have changed over the years as more is known about the conditions and as science has advanced.

[Anonymous]

But you are missing the point. If you have a dog that doesn’t display any of the unwanted behaviors (humping/roaming etc) and has a great personality and is calm and you are not worried about getting f dogs pregnant because you are confident in keeping them away from escaping etc. Why then would you neuter? I am not trying to argue but to understand? The fear is that neutering a well behaved dog could change his personality. I feel like that is getting lost. We are talking about looking at a dog as an individual and not as a group.

[Anonymous]

f was a typo

[Anonymous]

Vet here - Then continue to look at your dog as an individual....and don't get him neutered. Wait and see if he has prostate issues and neuter him then if he does. I cannot predict the future....I dont know your dog. You do. And so does your vet. No one is making you neuter your dog. I can just tell you the pros and cons and YOU have to make the decision. That really is the point. No one can make that decision for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vet here - Then continue to look at your dog as an individual....and don't get him neutered. Wait and see if he has prostate issues and neuter him then if he does. I cannot predict the future....I dont know your dog. You do. And so does your vet. No one is making you neuter your dog. I can just tell you the pros and cons and YOU have to make the decision. That really is the point. No one can make that decision for you.

This is what several of us have been trying to tell OP. No you do not have to neuter your dog. It is your decision to make. Many people here just don't seem to understand that and think it's their right to shame OP.

[Anonymous]

Are you really 100% committed to no dog park, not letting go for a second and making darn sure your fence is 100% dog proof? Because otherwise you're just planning on creating unwanted puppies.

Your dog is not a person, he's a dig. And the vast majority of pets are fixed.

The one stud golden I knew (owned by an aunt who shows/breeds registered goldens) annoyed every (fixed) female dog in my family because he wouldn't leave them alone. He was not a good family dog.

[Anonymous]

Yes! It only takes one humping session at the dog park to get another girl dog pregnant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But you are missing the point. If you have a dog that doesn’t display any of the unwanted behaviors (humping/roaming etc) and has a great personality and is calm and you are not worried about getting f dogs pregnant because you are confident in keeping them away from escaping etc. Why then would you neuter? I am not trying to argue but to understand? The fear is that neutering a well behaved dog could change his personality. I feel like that is getting lost. We are talking about looking at a dog as an individual and not as a group.

Neutering a well behaved dog will not change it into an ill behaved dog. There is absolutely no reason to make that claim. You aren't worried about accidents because it won't be you dealing with them, be honest about that. Do what you want, but don't ask for everyone to applaud your decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes! It only takes one humping session at the dog park to get another girl dog pregnant

I'm not in the DC area, but the rules at most dog parks in my city state no females in heat. There are no rules saying that the dogs need to be fixed. I take my intact male and he never tries to hump the other dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! It only takes one humping session at the dog park to get another girl dog pregnant

I'm not in the DC area, but the rules at most dog parks in my city state no females in heat. There are no rules saying that the dogs need to be fixed. I take my intact male and he never tries to hump the other dogs.

Nobody seem to follow the rules at.the dog parks.

[Anonymous]

Mine isn’t neutered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! It only takes one humping session at the dog park to get another girl dog pregnant

I'm not in the DC area, but the rules at most dog parks in my city state no females in heat. There are no rules saying that the dogs need to be fixed. I take my intact male and he never tries to hump the other dogs.

Nobody seem to follow the rules at.the dog parks.

Dogs in heat also upset neutered dogs and other females. If someone brought a female in heat to a dog park, they would figure out pretty quickly that something wasn't right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! It only takes one humping session at the dog park to get another girl dog pregnant

I'm not in the DC area, but the rules at most dog parks in my city state no females in heat. There are no rules saying that the dogs need to be fixed. I take my intact male and he never tries to hump the other dogs.

Nobody seem to follow the rules at.the dog parks.

Dogs in heat also upset neutered dogs and other females. If someone brought a female in heat to a dog park, they would figure out pretty quickly that something wasn't right.

Gonna guess that people are not unaware, they just do not care at all. There isn't anyone monitoring or enforcing, so the rules are just another thing on a sign that they can ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But you are missing the point. If you have a dog that doesn’t display any of the unwanted behaviors (humping/roaming etc) and has a great personality and is calm and you are not worried about getting f dogs pregnant because you are confident in keeping them away from escaping etc. Why then would you neuter? I am not trying to argue but to understand? The fear is that neutering a well behaved dog could change his personality. I feel like that is getting lost. We are talking about looking at a dog as an individual and not as a group.

Neutering a well behaved dog will not change it into an ill behaved dog. There is absolutely no reason to make that claim. You aren't worried about accidents because it won't be you dealing with them, be honest about that. Do what you want, but don't ask for everyone to applaud your decision.

Exactly. And be prepared to be judged about NOT neutering your dog if you do take it out in public, because it will be obvious, it will be noticed and it's depicted as low class. Can't say if that's justified or not but that's going to be the perception of you and your dog.