[SallyintNorth]

I have always believed that responsible dog ownership meant castrating any males not required for breeding.  However careful the owner, escapes will happen when an entire dog knows of a bitch in season in the vicinity!   There are more than enough puppies without unplanned litters.

When I got working collies I was advised to not castrate them as they may become less interested in work if I did.  I have had to castrate Skip on veterinary advice (testicle not descended, could be a cancer risk.)  His desire to work is undimmed and he is less distracted by the need to dominate any other male collie nearby.  The other dog remained at my previous farm, stayed entire - and has sired an unplanned litter on their young collie bitch.     Mind, they've homed all but two males (anyone want a male collie pup, working parents, dad rather aggressive with other male dogs, though...?) and have enjoyed the process so much they are planning to do it again.

[waterhouse]

Sally, I don't know how you find the time to write about so much interesting stuff in such a thoughtful way.  It's exhausting even failing to keep up!

[SallyintNorth]

You made me laugh waterhouse - but I'm not sure how to take that!  (I do type fast, though!)

[waterhouse]

Take it as the compliment it was meant to be. 

[SallyintNorth]

Take it as the compliment it was meant to be.

Well thank you kind sir.    

[doganjo]

I can see your point Sally but to be honest escaping males is not an issue.  It is far better to make sure that your bitches are not accessible in my opinion.  That is where the responsibility kicks in. I see no need to castrate males.  I have never castrated any of my males, and haven't done so with my young dog in case I might wish at some stage in the future to use him at stud.  He has just turned 2, has a lot to offer the breed - excellent French kennel working background, natural bobtail, excellent conformation.  just doesn't like being on a lead so I can't show him - he leaps out at other dogs when on the lead but is quite friendly off lead.  I may never use him or be asked to use him but my goodness would I be mad if I castrated him and I was then asked for him.  However, the bitch he lives with has been spayed and my other bitch (his mother) will also be spayed next year.

[jaykay]

When I used to work at the vets, the advice generally given was that castrated males were less likely to fight, wander after bitches, be overly dominant etc, so in general made easier pets. They need doing before they're 18 months to see the changes but after they've grown well, so 9 months +

That said, we've never castrated dogs and have had assorted collies, GSDs, Springers and a Lakeland terrier at various times.
I did have my cat Jethro done when he was 6 months, and I think that probably was the right thing to do.

[lachlanandmarcus]

I looked at all the dogs I couldnt take when I adopted my rescue dog.....and the cats too......my policy is castrate/spey unless you are a top quality breeder and even then be mega mega selective.

The litter that one manages to find homes for represents a litters worth fewer homes for dogs thart have no home and may be PTS.

[Sylvia]

I would not castrate a dog unless it were for that dog's benefit. Bitches are in season for such a short time and it's not difficult to keep them separated.
Your vet will tell you that castrating will prevent prostate cancer in later life and this is true, But not all dogs, as in humans, develop cancer of the prostrate. You can have them castrated(your dog, not your husband  ) if symptoms of  prostate trouble appears.
Having said that, I have , with great reluctance, had a young whippet castrated recently. He could detect a bitch coming into season a good two weeks before even she knew about it and would then fret himself to a hat-rack and as I have mainly bitches he was a permanent skeleton! And didn't we know about it with his constant wailing.
Our other boys only get interested when the bitch is absolutely ready, a matter of a few days.
So, for his and our sanity and for his well-being he was "done".
And, yes I dare say there will be the odd accident and a litter of mongrels (not designer dogs) will be born and will have to be found good homes or kept. This will only make people increase their vigilance.
In nearly fifty years of keeping and showing dogs I have had one mishap, a litter of pug/whippet cross. The ugliest dogs you have ever seen but all found permanent homes and lived to a happy old age.

[colliewoman]

I looked at all the dogs I couldnt take when I adopted my rescue dog.....and the cats too......my policy is castrate/spey unless you are a top quality breeder and even then be mega mega selective.

not castrating does not automatically mean puppies though.
my dog pi (see avatar if you want to see his nose ) isn't castrated. He is very well mannered and is NOT allowed to roam.
He has encountered an in season bitch once (brought to my place with a visitor without telling me) and although he showed interest I told him to go lie down and he did, the owner then took the bitch back to the car.
Will I breed him? No, there are enough good working collies avaliable without him adding to the pet market. Will I castrate him? Not unless he suddenly turns into mr testosterone!
I agree there is a huge problem with unwanted dogs and have worked in rescue since i was 13, done many pound runs, saved many had to walk away from more
But the solution lies with the IRRESPONSIBLE owners and the money makers, not the RESPONSIBLE owners who generally are the ones considering and investigating neutering surgery.

[lachlanandmarcus]

The male unneutered dogs I have met have included some who have been capable of jumping straight out (through the glass) of a first floor window to get at a bitch being walked past....

I do believe that companion dogs (as opposed to breeding studs) generally have a happier and less restricted life if they are castrated/neutered. Partly cos many owners are not up to the standards of vigilence of TAS posters, and it would prevent the inevitable accidents.

[Hopewell]

Partly cos many owners are not up to the standards of vigilence of TAS posters, and it would prevent the inevitable accidents.

I agree with lachlanandmarcus that many owners are not up to the necessary standards of vigilance. Just by way of example - I was talking today to someone who has a large breed of dog that is pregnant for the second time - presumably having been mated on both her first and second seasons. To my mind unless that bitch is spayed she will be pregnant following her next season as well, and all before she should have had a litter at all. It has obviously not had any effect on the vigilance of the owner

[Hopewell]

I have had to castrate Skip on veterinary advice (testicle not descended, could be a cancer risk.) 

Your vet will tell you that castrating will prevent prostate cancer in later life and this is true, But not all dogs, as in humans, develop cancer of the prostrate.

There are other health related reasons for castrating, but a few years ago a scientific paper was published that analysed the risks associated with anaesthetics and surgery, and the likely occurrence of the health issues prevented and compared that to the benefits from purely a health viewpoint (ie not behavioural or family planning issues) and the conclusion of the paper was that unless the dog was likely to live to about 16 then the likely benefits didn't outweigh the risks of the anaesthetic and surgery. Even for breeds that are prone to cancer or for retained testicles that have an increased risk of cancer the dog still needed to have a life expectancy of (if I remember correctly) about 14 years.

[doganjo]

Partly cos many owners are not up to the standards of vigilence of TAS posters, and it would prevent the inevitable accidents.

I agree with lachlanandmarcus that many owners are not up to the necessary standards of vigilance. Just by way of example - I was talking today to someone who has a large breed of dog that is pregnant for the second time - presumably having been mated on both her first and second seasons. To my mind unless that bitch is spayed she will be pregnant following her next season as well, and all before she should have had a litter at all. It has obviously not had any effect on the vigilance of the owner

Sorry, but that is wrong - there has been NO vigilance by her owner and that is a damned disgrace.  Have you said anything to the owner?  If I knew them you can be sure I would.

[Rosemary]

Both my bitches are spayed. If I ever get another dog, male or female, I will have it neutered. I'm not an irresponsible owner (at least I don't think so) and I take reasonable steps to make sure the dogs don't get into trouble, but accidents happen so, for me, I'd prefer to make sure that at least one risk is eliminated.