Neutering

Paradigm

Person_one wrote: »

I would hope the number of dogs who spend their entire lives without ever being let off the lead even rarely, is very small.

I'm afraid it's likely true, the vast majority of dogs are likely kept in areas where the chances of off lead exercise is virtually nil. My local council has banned all off lead dogs in the parks... all dogs must be on lead!

Person_one wrote: »

I don't understand your last sentence I'm afraid.

What is the point of neutering a dog that is always on lead when there are possible long term health risks?

Person_one

Paradigm wrote: »

I'm afraid it's likely true, the vast majority of dogs are likely kept in areas where the chances of off lead exercise is virtually nil. My local council has banned all off lead dogs in the parks... all dogs must be on lead!




What is the point of neutering a dog that is always on lead when there are possible long term health risks?

There are possible long term health risks to not neutering.

The point though is that whatever happens to a neutered dog, if it escapes the back garden, if it gets stolen, if an off lead b**ch in season comes bounding up to it while its on lead, it won't be siring any puppies and adding to the massive dog overpopulation problem we have that is resulting in thousands of dead dogs every year.

Paradigm

Person_one wrote: »

There are possible long term health risks to not neutering.

Which are? If you read the links I posted above you might find that things are not quite what you you think.

Person_one wrote: »

The point though is that whatever happens to a neutered dog, if it escapes the back garden, if it gets stolen, if an offload b**ch in season comes bounding up to it while its on lead, it won't be siring any puppies and adding to the massive dog overpopulation problem we have that is resulting in thousands of dead dogs every year.

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous... puppy farms who churn out endless litters of puppies (with no health checks) to owners who have no idea how to deal with them, but thought it was a good idea at the time, are the problem!


The chances of Rover down the road escaping & impregnating numerous females is as remote as me becoming president of the US... it really doesn't happen!

Person_one

Paradigm wrote: »

Which are? If you read the links I posted above you might find that things are not quite what you you think.




I'm sorry but that's ridiculous... puppy farms who churn out endless litters of puppies (with no health checks) to owners who have no idea how to deal with them, but thought it was a good idea at the time, are the problem!


The chances of Rover down the road escaping & impregnating numerous females is as remote as me becoming president of the US... it really doesn't happen!

Of course it happens. Accidental litters might not be as common as they once were (in part because neutering is far more prevalent) but they definitely still happen and they shouldn't.

Puppy farms are a huge part of the problem too, as are hobby and backyard breeders, and idiots who think their dog should have 'just one litter'. There are lots of contributing factors, but I agree with missbiggles that responsible pet owners neuter their dogs and ensure 100% they aren't part of the problem.

missbiggles1

Paradigm wrote: »

So you say! Only recently have studies been undertaken to show how chopping bits out of our pets actually affects their health... just because it was always thought it was right doesn't mean it is right, knowledge moves on!

Fortunately, virtually all the dog rescue centres disagree with you and make neutering/spaying a condition of adoption.

missbiggles1

Paradigm wrote: »

I'm afraid it's likely true, the vast majority of dogs are likely kept in areas where the chances of off lead exercise is virtually nil. My local council has banned all off lead dogs in the parks... all dogs must be on lead!




What is the point of neutering a dog that is always on lead when there are possible long term health risks?

Keeping using the word "likely" doesn't make it so. The majority of parks IME have areas where dogs are allowed off lead - even the Royal Parks (including those in central London) have this as policy.

In addition, the vast majority of the country's beaches are dog friendly for more than half the year so that's another option. I've lived in a variety of areas around the UK, always with dogs, and I think that the majority have the opportunity to run off lead on a regular basis, even if not every day.

catkins

Person_one wrote: »

If you leave a dog un-neutered though, you can never let it off the lead (unless you have acres of completely secure private land I suppose). That to me is possibly the worst consequence. I can't imagine being happy to let a dog live its whole life with that restriction, every dog I've ever had has shown such immense joy in running free, I'm sure if you could ever ask them they'd choose that over keeping their puppy-making bits.

My present dog (unneutered) cannot be allowed off lead because he has very poor recall. The only place he can run free is a field owned by a dog training school.


It makes me sad that he can't be allowed off as all my previous dogs could but he just can't be trusted.

Person_one wrote: »

I would hope the number of dogs who spend their entire lives without ever being let off the lead even rarely, is very small.

Sadly I think you are very wrong here. I know numerous dogs who never ever run off lead. Lots of my friends have ex racing greyhounds and almost all of them cannot be let off lead.


Also when I think of my neighbours with dogs, out of 8 of them 5 of the dogs are never allowed off lead.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

An urge to mate to breed is a sexual urge and most intact dogs will regularly encounter females in season.

If I were being anthropomorphic about it, as you suggest, I'd tell him to have some self control, but, as he's an animal, it's best that those urges should be removed, or at least reduced, unless the owner plans to breed from him.

A responsible pet owner neuters or spays their pets.

You can be a responsible owner and not neuter or spay your pet. I am a responsible owner and, in the past, always had my dogs done but I am not getting my present dog neutered unless some problem changes my mind.


Also if all the owners of females got them spayed there wouldn't be the risk of a male getting to it would there?

catkins

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Keeping using the word "likely" doesn't make it so. The majority of parks IME have areas where dogs are allowed off lead - even the Royal Parks (including those in central London) have this as policy.

In addition, the vast majority of the country's beaches are dog friendly for more than half the year so that's another option. I've lived in a variety of areas around the UK, always with dogs, and I think that the majority have the opportunity to run off lead on a regular basis, even if not every day.

More and more parks are banning off lead dogs. I think somewhere like Manchester or Birmingham has almost all the parks with a dog ban.


I've found over the 30 odd years I have had dogs that this country is becoming less and less dog friendly. 30 years ago I had a wonderful holiday in Cornwall with my dog. Every day we went to the beach at least twice and she ran and ran. 5 years ago I went back to the same place and loads of the beaches didn't allow dogs on at all. The closest beach had part of it as supposedly dog friendly but in order to get to it you had to clamber over a massive pile of huge rocks. I couldn't manage it and I would think only fairly fit people could.


One of my local parks has totally enclosed tennis courts and I used to take my dog there as did quite a few other dog owners. I would give him a walk first so it would be unlikely for him to want to poo there but, obviously, if he did I would clear it up. I would keep an eye open for anyone that looked as though they wanted to play tennis on the courts. Recently the park has started padlocking the courts and has put up a large notice saying dogs are not allowed on them.


I asked a park attendant why - the courts are empty most of the time particularly through the winter so being wasted really. For anyone with a dog with poor recall it is ideal and I personally would be willing to pay to use them. The attendant said it is because the dog will more likely wee and then a child may fall over in it!!!!! I told him I had never heard such nonsense in my life. Dog poo can be dangerous but dog pee and what dog is doing such large pees that a child could fall in it? As soon as it rains, which it does most days in winter, the wee is washed away.

Person_one

catkins wrote: »

Also if all the owners of females got them spayed there wouldn't be the risk of a male getting to it would there?

I do think that the majority of females should be spayed too, but I think that's a rather odd way of looking at it!

Some can't be spayed for medical reasons, some do still need to breed or we'll run out of dogs very quickly, some will have their first season unexpectedly early before the owners have got them booked in.

Not to mention that its a much less invasive and risk op for male dogs, and that its very sexist to put all the responsibility for contraception onto the woman's shoulders!

Person_one

catkins wrote: »

More and more parks are banning off lead dogs. I think somewhere like Manchester or Birmingham has almost all the parks with a dog ban.

Its definitely not Manchester!