Aaron Crawford Webboard User Reg: 07-21-2004
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What's your take. I would love to hear your opinions.
I hear "fixing" your dog will make it a better dog. They won't seek out partners and fail to realize their job.
I also hear that a male not having its testosterone production continuous will become more sublte in nature.
I ALSO heard, that if you neuter it as a pup, it'll never become workable. But if you do so after he is mature and already trainined he will retain his ability.
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
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I have worked with and worked around all kinds of dogs, altered or not, and my opinion (for what it is worth) is that if you have a dog that will do the job and you properly and effectively train the dog, then nuts and ovaries are a moot point.
I have seen dogs that needed to be altered due to health issues and they retained their ability to work just fine.
Dogs that are not workable usually do not have the drive needed for the work you want it to do.
Males, IMO, are harder to work through a female in heat than a female while she is in heat. BUT that depends on the dog also.
I also think that it is a matter of preference on the handlers part of whether they want an altered dog or not.
I should add that if I decide to alter a dog, this is not done until they are at least two years of age.
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
Mike J Schoonbrood Webboard User Reg: 04-30-2005
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Loc: Toronto, ON
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I don't believe in spay/neuter for working dogs, period (or any dog for that matter), unless its medically neccesary. And NEVER before 3 years old if you insist on it. All the behaviors that it's supposed to change in a dog, a) They can be fixed with correct training and b) If you do spay/neuter at 3 years old then by the time the dog is neutered the habbits and behaviors will already have formed so the "problems" still exist.
Working females that are spayed too young never seem to really mature and develop mentally from what I've seen.
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
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Loc: South Dakota, USA
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Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood
Working females that are spayed too young never seem to really mature and develop mentally from what I've seen.
I agree with you Mike, this is why I do not alter my females unless it is necessary.
I have seen some PSD's that have been altered and worked just fine, not sure of what the reason was for them being altered though.
I really think it is a matter of preference or health. My dogs that are altered were that way when they came to me. The pups I have raised are intact and will remain so unless there are issues to where altering would be the best thing for them.
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
I have worked with and worked around all kinds of dogs, altered or not, and my opinion (for what it is worth) is that if you have a dog that will do the job and you properly and effectively train the dog, then nuts and ovaries are a moot point.
My experience is limited to SAR, but I wholeheartedly agree with the above.
Perhaps it depends on the individual dog's temperment, your goals for the dog and your ability to accept the responsibilities that go along with having and intact dog (working or not)!
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