Neutering advice

[BarbV]

But why would you NOT neuter? If you are not planning on breeding, I think everyone's life would be easier if you got it done.

Despite what your breeders feeling might be ...what are your feelings? Do you want to breed him? Should you? Does this dog have a lineage that should be continued and bred further? Tough questions, I know.

I would say if no to any of the above, then I would have him fixed.

And not because of the issues your are currently facing....these could be anything from change of diet, different water, stress of a new environment, etc.

Best of luck in what you decide.

 

[PatC]

But why would you NOT neuter? If you are not planning on breeding, I think everyone's life would be easier if you got it done.

Despite what your breeders feeling might be ...what are your feelings? Do you want to breed him? Should you? Does this dog have a lineage that should be continued and bred further? Tough questions, I know.

I would say if no to any of the above, then I would have him fixed.

And not because of the issues your are currently facing....these could be anything from change of diet, different water, stress of a new environment, etc.

Best of luck in what you decide.

Very good questions. I don't want to, nor should I, breed him. He is part of a distinguished lineage, a grand champion who sired multiple champions, and the breeder would break all my fingers if I considered such a thing. It's tricky only because the breeder is a relative who gave me two spectacular dogs for no consideration beyond a promise to give them a good home, so I need to respect his wishes.

I think it is time to revisit the issue with him, though...neutering just makes sense to me in general. The dog has been with me for over a year now, so maybe he can officially retire from all his responsibilities.

 

[Caro]

I agree with Barb, I'm of the opinion of 'why wouldn't you neuter'. I think the benefits outweight what is basically a minor surgery (in most cases - Deska was cryptoid so his was pretty major, but the benefits still outweighed that).

Recently I was discussing something similar with breeders at the dog club and its seems most breeders will neuter dogs they aren't breeding anymore, and many are using implants now for those that aren't ready to breed. And the reason why was generally that a dog without hormones is sooo much easier to handle.

 

[PatC]

I agree with Barb, I'm of the opinion of 'why wouldn't you neuter'. I think the benefits outweight what is basically a minor surgery (in most cases - Deska was cryptoid so his was pretty major, but the benefits still outweighed that).

Recently I was discussing something similar with breeders at the dog club and its seems most breeders will neuter dogs they aren't breeding anymore, and many are using implants now for those that aren't ready to breed. And the reason why was generally that a dog without hormones is sooo much easier to handle.

This is SO helpful. I have never been able to get a definitive answer re: whether neutering calms dogs down a bit. I never understood why anyone *wouldn't* neuter a dog that is now a pet, but I've gotten so much conflicting information and advice in recent months that I became very uncertain about that. I am going to seek his original owner's permission to neuter.

 

[Tagg]

Every dog that ever went out of my home went on a non breeding and neuter/spay contract. They were done at the age of 6 months. The boys looked like boys and the girls remained their feminine little selves. There were no health issues in their old age that could be attributed to being done in their first year. The only one that did have issues, the people hadn't done the neutering and it ended up with prostrate problems. My girls were spayed as soon as they were finished with their breeding and show careers. The boys didn't get done because of their bloodlines and the availability of bringing that back into the program until they were 12. By then it didn't make much sense.

 

[PatC]

The boys didn't get done because of their bloodlines and the availability of bringing that back into the program until they were 12. By then it didn't make much sense.

This is the issue I may be up against...but I'm going to ask the question anyway. I can't do anything without the breeder's permission, but given that the dog has been a pet living 200 miles from its kennel for over a year now, neutering just makes sense to me.

Question--his son is now siring champions...doesn't that make my guy less valuable to the breeder, who still has the son?

 

[BarbV]

No, your guy is still valuable in his own right.

But getting into breeding his a huge committment on your part, unless you want to fall into BYB mode.

Breeding your stud is as much a committment as breeding a bitch. You want to make sure that the right lines are there before you decide to offer your stud. This means that you need to understand your studs line and the bitche's line as well.

If this is not something you are prepared to get into, then DON'T! If your breeder truly wanted to keep him as a stud, she would have. Don't feel guilty about getting him fixed if you want to.

 

[PatC]

Breeding is way, way beyond me. Even if I wanted to, i would not dare mess with this line. My understanding of that world is minimal, but I know enough to know not to do that.

Because he is a valuable dog, I need permission to neuter. The breeder is a relative and I am not sure he felt the dog's stud career was completely over when he gave him to me, so I have to see what he's thinking about that now. I'd hate to proceed and then get a call asking to borrow him...

 

[Tagg]

Just to clarify, only the males that lived with me were not neutered as well as the one male, an offspring of our specialty winning dog that lived with, and was owned by, a breeder friend.
Just ask your breeder/relative if you can now proceed with neutering as the dog is becoming increasingly difficult to keep clean in the house. They may want the opportunity to collect him and freeze his semen.
If they say no, then you have the option of keeping him intact if that was the agreement or returning him to them - not really an option you would want to investigate but is something that you could consider.
My male, Bobby, was the son of a dog that wasn't great at "getting the job done." His owner refused to do artificial insemination. Many many bitches were sent to him but no litters. The dam's pedigree was extremely complimentary and was the daughter of the youngest westie that ever attained an English Championship and that was one of Canada's top terriers - owner handled. The result was an all champion litter on both sides of the border including specialty wins, top puppy in the breed etc. He was about 12 or 13 before another son, by frozen semen, came on the scene so he was valuable to my program. I still had most of his sons neutered because they were placed in pet homes and I don't think pet owners should have to deal with a studdy male. It can't hurt to ask and present your case. Fingers crossed they will agree.

 

[PatC]

This is all so helpful...I'd wondered if maybe the frozen sperm option might be a good compromise. Our "agreement" was very informal...I had taken one dog from the kennel and she was very lonely and confused by her strange new life, so we both thought a second was in order. The male represented a big investment, so there was some hesitation, but not much. His arrival made the first dog totally happy, and I know that their breeder is pleased with their new circumstances--he gets frequent photo updates.

I would never willingly let either of them go, so we'll figure out something...