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Are you hunting the dog?

I have seen a few hunting dogs lose a little of their get up and go/prey drive.  Never to the point where they don't hunt any longer but still some decreases productivity in the field.

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I'm glad I found this thread.  I picked up a russian street dog.  He is a East European Shepard for the most part.  He is verrrry smart and damn stubborn.  The vet says he is about a year old and will get to be about 100lbs.  He is full swing in puberty and really testing his limits.  I am not hunting him yet but would like to in the near future.  I live in a neighborhood with a lot of dogs and i can see his libito boiling beneath the surface... if you will.  

I love his personality but wouldnt mind him taking a little softer approach to most things.  I dont know the benifits of neutering as ive never owned one.  Is there any input you gentelman can provide?

Mucho gracias

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And if you aren't going to be breeding, get your dog neutered.

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Look, you are barking up the wrong tree.

Neutering ANY male mammal has some predictable results related to changes in testosterone levels.  Males tend to grow bigger, grow longer, put on muscle longer and then put on fat easier, and become slightly more docile.  This is why in some middle eastern empires male slaves were made into eunuchs to guard the harem, but many relates to the practice of neutering male hogs to make barrows, sheep to make wethers,  and male cattle to make steers...in all cases for increased muscle gain for the ultimate end purpose of consumption...and also for male cattle to make oxen (an 'educated' steer if you will) for both greater muscle mass (more raw pulling power) and to increase controllability.

What does this mean for DOGS?

IF NEUTERED YOUNG they will grow a bit bigger than they otherwise would.  If you have a large breed OR a breed prone to hip dysplasia or other bone/joint issues there is the very real prospect of the extra size causing issues.  This is the same risk as if the dog was carrying extra mass from being overweight.   This can be exacerbated by the tendency to put on fat easier. There are some convincing studies that the risk of certain health complications are raised by neutering, but the overall risk of these health problems are quite low.  There are a few health risks that actually are lower thanks to neutering.

IF NEUTERED SOMEWHAT OLDER.  The size equation is unchanged so the risk of bone/joint/hip issues is sidestepped, but the easier putting on of fat is still present, and extra body weight never helps dogs at risk of hip and other joint problems.  Still, fat doesn't come from the neutering, it comes from not getting enough exercise for the amount of food given.   There are fewer health risks that are increased, and the increase is much less, but they are still present.  There are a few health risks that actually are lower thanks to neutering.

Taking that in a vacuum the risk of neutering is very small but present, and can be decreased by neutering later.  What cannot be factored in is how an intact dog may have higher medical bills due to actions that a neutered dog is less likely to take.  Fewer fights, fewer hit by cars trying to run across the street to an in-heat female, etc.  Either way, neutering vs non neutering is going to have a 0.0001% impact on your dog's health.  Genetics, proper diet, proper exercise, all have a thousandfold greater impact.


REGARDING DRIVE in a hunting dog.  Yes, they become a little bit more docile so they may have a touch less drive, but this is offset in them tending to have more focus.

BUT THE MAIN ISSUE OF NEUTERING A DOG ISN'T ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THAT ONE DOG IN A VACUUM, IT IS ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF THE DOG POPULATION AS A WHOLE AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DOGS KILLED DUE TO UNWANTED PUPPIES.  TO FIXATE ONLY ON YOUR DOG IN EXCLUSION OF ALL ELSE TO ME IS LIKE THE ANTI-VACCINE FOLKS WHO IN ATTEMPTING TO SIDESTEP A MINISCULE RISK FOR THEMSELVES MAKE THE SITUATION FOR EVERYONE WORSE

Also, to the fool who suggested you breed your dog, what the fuck are you thinking?  What are you basing your thought process on besides the fact the dog has a pair of testicles.  Do you have any thought process that allowed you to reach this conclusion?

You realize that on average a female dog has 5-7 pups, right?  So simply having every in-tact dog be a parent means that we would be awash in puppies.  That simply doesn't work.  So if all dogs can't breed, which dogs should?  Have some dog lottery where if your dog gets the lucky number regardless of how healthy or unhealthy it is, it gets to breed?  How about letting the top 25% breed?  That's what makes sense to me.

Now, this doesn't have to be only kennel club champions, but it SHOULD be decided dispassionately by an expert.  Let me tell you, this is what the serious dog people do, be it in dogsledding, grey hound racing, bird-dogging, or some guy living out in the mountains with no running water who delights in running coons with hounds.

So, owner of the in-tact dog.  Your dog isn't some special snowflake...and neither are your kids.  Before you go telling us that your dog is the bestest friend in the whole wide world or your baby is the most beautiful baby in the world, take a breath and think critically.  No, I am not saying your dog is bad, and I am not saying your baby is ugly.  I am saying you are biased.  Have you hunted with hundreds of different dogs so that you can truly take a critical eye to yours?  If not, find someone who has and get an honest assessment of your dog before you even THINK about breeding.

And if you aren't going to be breeding, get your dog neutered.

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how did a question about the health benefits/minuses of neutering turn into a breeding and leash debate?