I'm frequently asked "Should I get my dog fixed?" This is a really big question, and I'll try to address it- but the truth is, I don't know. The answer really depends on who I am talking to because every situation is going to be different.
Believe it or not, you do have a choice of whether to spay/neuter or keep your dog intact! And as long as you are making an informed and responsible choice, I support you and consider you to be a good dog owner. Many times new clients have told me, overly apologetically, that they have not had a chance to get their dog fixed yet. They speak as if it is a criminal offense! People are always surprised when this is not a problem for me- I just take the opportunity to have "the talk" about the birds and the bees with them.
The fact is that millions of animal lives have been saved as a result of the fix-them-all-or-you're-a-bad-person campaign. The fact is also that spay and neuter is the right option for the majority of deserving dog owners who provide the perfect loving home. Having intact dogs is a huge responsibility and is not something that should be taken lightly.
However, if you ask me, we're taking the snatching of dog and cat organs a little too lightly. Most of us take this fact of life for our animals for granted- not realizing that this is a major surgery that results in huge hormonal and emotional changes for our dogs. Sex organs produce important chemicals and have a butterfly effect on every body system. It's really important to understand exactly what a major organ removal will do and what it will not do for your dog or cat.
For instance, it has long been the mantra of society, from Uncle Bob who has had dogs his whole life to your veterinarian, that spaying/neutering is what makes dogs "good" and fixes problem behavior. Let me tell you-this could not be further from the truth! Probably 80% of the dogs I work with that have moderate-severe behavior problems have been spayed or neutered for a long time.
Another popular myth is "Spaying/Neutering will prevent health problems." Let me give you an enormously obvious truthbomb. You ready? Your dog cannot get an organ cancer if he or she has already had that organ removed. You cannot have uterine cancer, or other maladies that affect a uterus, if you do not have one! Sure, some breeds, lines, and individuals may have certain risk factors that make it truly better for them not to have the equipment that they were born with- equipment that nature very intentionally put into a "complete" animal- but I would say the health benefits of spaying/neutering are grossly exaggerated.
I want you to think back to puberty. Think about when you were just starting to see major changes in yourself and others. Some of you had this happen around 12. Others at 14. Hey, if you were a late bloomer maybe even 16! But I want you to think about how much growing and changing you still had to do when you were that age. Unfortunately, it is common practice to sterilize puppies and kittens, barely on the brink of puberty, at an equivalent age, and it does have an effect.
Personally, I prefer to have people wait as long as possible to spay/neuter- or follow the specific recommendations of their vet as it relates to breed and risk factors and not behavior. Generally, dogs are not at peak adulthood until around two years of age (although this varies by breed and is still a hot topic of debate among scientists). There is actually new evidence showing that both pediatric and early spay/neuter can have an adverse effect on growth, hormonal health, and behavior. There is plenty of existing evidence that spay/neuter can have adverse affects on physical health, especially in terms of weight and metabolic problems. I have personally witnessed many dogs suddenly become very fat with no change in diet not even a year after their surgery. I want to make it very clear, however, that most dogs and cats live totally happy healthy lives when spayed/neutered.
It's just that we should at least be having an informed conversation about whether or not it is going to be necessary or helpful.
Often, the problem behaviors one may be hoping to annihilate such as biting, nipping, trash eating, digging, reactivity, aggression, jumping, barking, pestering other pets, etc magically persist after this supposed fix-all procedure. Why is that? Well, if you think about it, the sex organs and their respective secretions primarily govern... sex. So unless a behavior is related to mating and mating-related territorial behaviors, it ain't going anywhere! One of the reasons that spay/neuter can appear on the surface to fix some behavior problems is that dogs may be staying in the yard better (not roaming to find a mate), sleeping more (instead of digging, destroying, mouthing people, etc), and being generally less wild. Basically, they are less energetic and driven. The reason for this is actually that spaying/neutering accelerates your dog's hormonal age. Think about it: a 60 year old man whose testosterone and androgens are declining is not going to have the same level of drive and energy physically as a 25 year old man. When we suddenly cut off all those hormones, our dogs tend to "mellow out" a lot faster than they would have it they had aged naturally. One of the biggest things to consider when trying to understand how spay/neuter will affect your dog behaviorally is asking yourself which behaviors have become habitual. If your dog has had a lot of very rewarding repetitions of a behavior, you have purchased season tickets to it and unfortunately your only way out is- drumroll please- training!
Both of my dogs were fixed before I got them, but I have put a great deal of thought into what the outcome will be for future dogs that I have. I may fix them, but I likely will not. I have the means and knowledge to responsibly own an intact dog over the average joe, but depending on what my life circumstances look like, spay/neuter may still be the best option for me. If I can avoid it, I would prefer to leave my own dogs intact for their overall wellbeing, or spay/neuter later in life. I will make the decision that is overall best for me and my dogs.
For many people, the overall best choice is different than mine! And that is okay. If you are not sure that you can keep an intact bitch properly contained and separated from other dogs while in heat, or keep your stud from escaping the yard to visit the sexy-smelling adolescent pup down the street, go ahead and get your dog fixed. It is totally okay to admit that you do not have the timing, knowledge, equipment or financial resources to manage this extremely strong drive. If you do not plan to health test (at a vet, not through popular at home genetic kits) and provide prenatal and postnatal care, please do not breed! Breeding is a very special stewardship and heritage of animals- and people are depending on you to produce a best friend that is the happiest, healthiest, and most stable it can possibly be so they can enjoy their best friend as long and as well as they can. I have too many heartbreaking stories about how irresponsible breeding has led to completely unsuspecting owners watching their dogs suffer and even die because of preventable conditions both physical and behavioral.
My point is, it's just really important to make an informed decision about permanent surgeries and medical care for your dogs and cats. It's 2024! Trainers, owners, and medical staff need start working together to move beyond the old-wives-tales about spay and neuter and understand what really affects behavior. Rescues need to open their mind to intact dogs, and understand the nuances of our sheltering problem. Usually, having an intact dog is not something shameful! I'd also be so bold as to say that there is a lot more to be understood about our societal pet overpopulation and sheltering problems than simply "spay/neuter" as the solution. My strong belief is that when we start to ask ourselves these kind of questions when making key decisions for our beloved animals, we will be entering the new paradigm of animal welfare.
If you're having difficulty deciding what is best for your current or future dog, I'd love to meet with you and discuss your situation in detail. Don't hesitate to call or text me at 385-220-5403!
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