Vasectomy vs Neuter

[Piper's mom]

The neuter is so simple and if done right has been done for eons. I think with cancers, what the dog is exposed to throughout their life (do you use lawn chemicals) would increase chances of cancers far more than neutering. And don't get me started on forced, un-necessary annual vaccinations..... I can't imagine why, for a family pet, you'd want to do away with the ability to procreate but keep all that yucky male behavior. But, to each their own....

Just because it’s been the main choice for a long time doesn’t necessarily make it right. The government used to also do forced hysterectomies on people with Down’s syndrome....just saying attitudes and information changes.

 

[SteveEisenberg]

Ok, I have to ask- what is the point of a vasectomy in a dog?

Finchley has none of those obnoxious male dog issues. I'm not saying others should follow!

As for doing nothing, as in Germany and Sweden, our contract requires neutering between 12 aand 18 months. While vasectomy is a technical violation, we could be truthful with Finchley's breeder if we talked afterwards. And dog desexing is almost a social norm, where I live, if you are not a responsible hobby breeder, or working with one.

Then there is the small risk of contributing to an unwanted dog problem.

Plus, the supply of mixed-breeds may contribute to the lamentably declining number of well-bred Shelties.

This is just my opinion, for the U.S., as our AKC no longer publishes the number of registrations. In Britain, Shetland Sheepdog registrations are down by 47 percent in the last 9 years available. It makes me a bit sad to think that my grandchildren might not be able to have a Sheltie like Finchley when they are our age.

If I am right that Shelties are in decline, it might, almost all, be because good breeding is expensive and hard, and hardly at all because of competition from carelessly bred dogs. Still, we won't risk contributing to a problem.

 

[Piper's mom]

Finchley has none of those obnoxious male dog issues. I'm not saying others should follow!

As for doing nothing, as in Germany and Sweden, our contract requires neutering between 12 aand 18 months. While vasectomy is a technical violation, we could be truthful with Finchley's breeder if we talked afterwards. And dog desexing is almost a social norm, where I live, if you are not a responsible hobby breeder, or working with one.

Then there is the small risk of contributing to an unwanted dog problem.

Plus, the supply of mixed-breeds may contribute to the lamentably declining number of well-bred Shelties.

This is just my opinion, for the U.S., as our AKC no longer publishes the number of registrations. In Britain, Shetland Sheepdog registrations are down by 47 percent in the last 9 years available. It makes me a bit sad to think that my grandchildren might not be able to have a Sheltie like Finchley when they are our age.

If I am right that Shelties are in decline, it might, almost all, be because good breeding is expensive and hard, and hardly at all because of competition from carelessly bred dogs. Still, we won't risk contributing to a problem.

I’m not sure if CKC publishes how many Shelties are registered here but we do have at least 4 reputable breeders just outside of city limits and people are always waiting for one. Interesting that they’d be on the decline in England.

 

[Caro]

It's pretty normal to desex in Australia (actually law requires it by 6mths but most vets wait) and it hasn't affected the longevity of dogs over here. Personally, I'd just go with a neuter, so quick and easy unless the dog is a cryptorchid.

For many years Shelties had been out of favour in Australia, they were hugely popular in the 70s and 80s and then disappeared. Just 14 years ago when I got Deska and Tully I only knew 3 other Shelties, and Tully was related to 2 of them. Now there's lots of Shelties - at the Club, at dog sports, in my neighbourhood and we've got a big local Sheltie walking group. The big demand for Shelties is younger people with smaller homes who want a working breed dog - and usually their grandparents had a Sheltie years ago.

Sadly those original breeders have been retiring lately, new breeders aren't coming up and they aren't breeding as much. Laws meant to target puppy farms have made it harder for registered breeders (while the puppy farmers find a way around the law or ignore it). As yet not a lot of puppy farmers in Aust have been breeding Shelties - everyone wants a cavoodle atm and Shelties don't have profitable litters.