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NEUTERING
Many people seem reluctant to neuter their pet, even though the
same people are often horrified by stories of how many unwanted animals are
destroyed each year. There seems to be an attitude that it is someone
else who is irresponsibly letting their pet get pregnant. The owners
of male cats and dogs often say that it is the fault of the females owner!
It is the responsibility of every pet owner to ensure that their
pet cannot breed irresponsibly. However careful you are, many thousands of
dogs and puppies are destroyed every year in rescues.
MALES
For dogs, castration can help to control, reduce or even eradicate antisocial
behaviour. Male dogs who are castrated are less likely to develop
aggression problems, wander off in search of a bitch, mount visitors and
fight other dogs. It does not change their character in any other way or make
them "soft".
FEMALES
Females in season can attract admirers from miles around. Seasons are also
messy, especially in dogs, and female cats and dogs can be very determined about
escaping to find a mate! It can also be extremely difficult to home an entire
litter properly no matter how many of your family and friends claim they will
definitely have a puppy. You can also be sued if you breed dogs who
develop health or temperament issues.
MYTHS
It is not better to let your cat or dog have a litter before spaying.
The idea that she will be more fulfilled is an entirely human emotion.
Pregnancy in any creature has its associated health risks. The same applies to males. A dog who is allowed to mate even once
can be difficult to control, even after castration. In the wild only the
top dog and bitch breed, the others do not. Therefore breeding gives your
dog a top dog status that neutering does not solve. What used to be your
lovely family pet now wants to fight every dog it sees, won't be handled and
becomes unmanageable. This applies to dogs and bitches.
Your pet will not get fat from neutering. The only thing that makes
pets fat is over-feeding. The need of your pet can change after
neutering, so adjust feeding accordingly. Females are no longer preparing
their body for young so they need less food.
AGGRESSION CONTROL
It is worth mentioning that where castration is used as a treatment for an
aggressive dog it has very little, if any effect after the animal is two
years old apart from very specific behaviours. At that point the behaviour has become a learned response
and is more difficult to solve.
In general it is the bottom dog in households with fighting males that should be
castrated.
Spaying does not have any effect on the dominance of bitches unless the
aggression is directly related to inter-bitch fighting or aggression only
apparent around the time of the season.
Neutering is not a cure-all for problems but it plays its part in some issues.
There can be serious health and behaviour consequences for un-neutered animals.
If you think "just one litter" is ok, your dog and its offspring will be paying
the price, look round any rescue centre and see the consequences.
DO YOUR PET AND ALL DOGS A
FAVOUR - NEUTER!
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