Experiences of neutering male dogs

Katiehound

[QUOTE

I doubt very much that accidental matings account for more than a couple of % of dogs in shelters, in over 30 years I've never had one.[/QUOTE]

Well I've certainly had more than one rescue from that source. My old boy pts 2 years ago was a beagle x- obviously mother a beagle, father? a dog that got over the fence!- so lineage unknown.

Oh, and the sheep worrying comment?
If your entire dog is off hunting mates they could well be taking short cuts across farm land (if they live round here.) I am not suggesting an un-neutered male is more inclined to be sheep worrying, just that they are more inclined to be off doing their own thing if their recall is not perfect.

Paradigm

Katiehound wrote: »

Well I've certainly had more than one rescue from that source. My old boy pts 2 years ago was a beagle x- obviously mother a beagle, father? a dog that got over the fence!- so lineage unknown.

I've no doubt that they are some cases like you describe but I'll bet my mortgage that the overwhelming majority of dogs in shelters come from owners who didn't have a clue about what they were getting into & thought a cute little puppy was a good idea at the time... when things got difficult the dog got dumped.

sangie595

missbiggles1 wrote: »

It's a terrible thing to bring more dogs into the world out of vanity and greed when there are so many unwanted dogs already.

"Don't breed or buy while homeless dogs die."

It is not only naïve, as Paradigm says - it is really offensive. Vanity and greed have nothing at all to do with it. My carefully selected puppy came from a ISDS line, and his parents owners charged £350 for him. Do any google search for blue merle border collies, never mind ISDS registered, and see what most breeders (and by that I DO mean reputable breeders - not puppy farms) charge for such a dog. That will tell you an awful lot about responsible breeders who care for their dogs needs. The same will be true of my lads progeny - they will go to homes which are suitable for them, and cost will not be a factor in the decision. Do not tar people you don't even know with the same brush as puppy farmers and those who squeeze every penny out of a dog.

In my travels around, and in my practice (I am training in dog behaviouralism) I come across plenty of dogs who are neutered, so their owners must be very responsible. Even when they don't adequately train or exercise the dog (and that includes lots of people who do walk their dogs when it is convenient, but not sufficient to their needs), don't provide it with companionship or mental stimulation, and feed them c**p. Then there are the ones who don't bother with regular vet check-ups and vaccinations, and don't have insurance. And dump their dog the minute they are sick or inconvenient. How dare you compare me to them? Simply because on one issue of surgery, I happen to disagree with you? By all means disagree with me, but judging me to be somehow less than you and everyone else who neuters their dogs is insulting and, frankly, idiotic.

My dog is fed a perfectly balanced diet tailored to his dietary requirements, he is exercised and trained several times a day, his recall is perfect - and I don't see many adult dogs who can claim that, and my dog is six months old - he travels almost everywhere with me, he has "dog time" set aside for us to play or be companiable and do things together, he sees a vet regularly, and is not only vaccinated and insured, but he is also passported and has already travelled abroad.

I have also, alongside my border collies, had two abandoned dogs who we found and never got as far as the shelter, and one other adopted from the shelter. When my current dog is older there will be another adopted dog too. And as I said, I work as a volunteer rehoming dogs from a shelter.

If none of that adds up to a responsible owner, simply because he is entire, and will remain so, then I am afraid there is something significantly wrong with the definition of "responsible" being used by some people here.

sheramber

Katiehound wrote: »

[QUOTE

I doubt very much that accidental matings account for more than a couple of % of dogs in shelters, in over 30 years I've never had one.

Well I've certainly had more than one rescue from that source. My old boy pts 2 years ago was a beagle x- obviously mother a beagle, father? a dog that got over the fence!- so lineage unknown.

Oh, and the sheep worrying comment?
If your entire dog is off hunting mates they could well be taking short cuts across farm land (if they live round here.) I am not suggesting an un-neutered male is more inclined to be sheep worrying, just that they are more inclined to be off doing their own thing if their recall is not perfect.[/QUOTE]

they are more inclined to be off doing their own thing if their recall is not perfect.

Which has nothing to do with neutering and all do with training.

A friend had three collie used for breeding who were walked everyday off lead in the local country park. None ever ran off , probably because they were were well trained.

Another had a collie used for breeding who would not mate an in season !!!!! until he was told to. Again a highly trained dog.

Unfortunately, people think that neutering is a magic bullet that solves all problems.

Yesterday I read a request for a home for 5 month gsd puppy who too much for his elderly owner. He is neutered because the vet thought it would calm down his puppy ways.

sangie595

sheramber wrote: »

Yesterday I read a request for a home for 5 month gsd puppy who too much for his elderly owner. He is neutered because the vet thought it would calm down his puppy ways.

And there you have it - the irresponsible owner with an irresponsible vet. Neutering a dog of any sort, never mind a large breed, before the age of five months is against all current practice advice. And won't do a thing for its behaviour.

missbiggles1

Paradigm wrote: »

That's rather naïve to be honest, it's not vanity or greed. Responsible breeders try to improve the breed by mating animals with desired physical condition & behavioural traits whilst at the same time trying to breed out the unwanted stuff (hip dysplasia in German Shepherds being an example)


We're not talking puppy farms here where it's purely about money & there is no interest in the quality of pups they churn out!


Selective breeding isn't restricted to dogs... it goes on in birds (racing pigeons for example), pedigree cattle, sheep, pigs etc etc.


The reason shelters are inundated with unwanted dogs isn't because Rover next door still has his danglies, it's due to uncontrolled puppy farming & owners who decide to take on that cute puppy without any research or knowledge only to get rid when it starts chewing the furniture or gets ill & they find out how expensive vet treatment can be.


I doubt very much that accidental matings account for more than a couple of % of dogs in shelters, in over 30 years I've never had one.

Every additional puppy brought into this world means one fewer dog or puppy adopted from a refuge.

sangie595

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Every additional puppy brought into this world means one fewer dog or puppy adopted from a refuge.

It is quite hard to believe that someone can be so naive and so nasty all at the same time. One tired old mantra, with no rationale, and you've set the world to rights by your lights. Never mind that you are really offensive to people who are not only responsible dog owners, but spend a great deal of time helping dogs in less fortunate positions, simply because they don't fit your world view. Or the fact that by your rationale, there won't be any dogs in a few years time, if they are ALL neutered by their " responsible" owners. Or the fact that many dogs have a working role in life for which the majority of shelter dogs are not suited. You really aren't being kind to dogs with this blinkered view. You are actually wiping them out as a species. Despite your protestations, it seems clear that you have scant regard for dogs or people, but an awful lot for your own importance in life. Thankfully, the rest of the world doesn't have the same opinion as you in any of these matters.

sheramber

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Every additional puppy brought into this world means one fewer dog or puppy adopted from a refuge.

Not necessarilty.
There are people who would not consider having a rescue dog. For whatever reason they are as entitled to their opinion as you are to yours.

catkins

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I had no idea that there were people, apart from breeders, who didn't have their dogs sterilised these days - it's never occurred to me not to.

Dogs that are shown cannot be neutered so there are plenty of them around.


My dog has terrible recall and as much as I have worked on it, it just does not improve. The only time is allowed off lead is in a large private fully fenced field I hire

sangie595

catkins wrote: »

Dogs that are shown cannot be neutered so there are plenty of them around.


My dog has terrible recall and as much as I have worked on it, it just does not improve. The only time is allowed off lead is in a large private fully fenced field I hire

Instead of silly arguments - can we help? Breed, age and what you have done on recall training? Why do you think your dog won't recall - can you see a pattern?