Why do people hate un-neutered dogs...?

Question

I have a golden-ret that has not been neutered. He is a very well behaved dog. No problems with humping or aggression, but when I bring him to the local dog park there are a couple of dogs that are really aggressive towards him. The owners say it's because my dog is not neutered, and that I should neuter him. I don't understand why people think I should neuter my dog because they can't control theirs. Why should I neuter a well behaved dog? He is calm. He listens, He is not aggressive towards other dogs or people. I have a 4 year old that hangs on him all day long. Why should I have his nuts cut off? I just don't get it. When I read about why. I read all of these ridicules stories. I can't find any real facts. No studies. No statistics. Nothing. Just horror stories about uncontrollable dogs, and possible medical conditions, but even with the medical conditions there are no stats. Just always says possible... SoOoOo possible as in 1%.. 15%...50% why so vague..?

Answer 1

I don't believe its because your dog isn't neutered the reason I'm thinking other dogs are showing aggression towards your retriever is because they see him as a threat not in a bad way but your dog is more dominate then the other dogs that its playing around with.

Like you said he dosen't show any signs of aggression it's the other dogs because they see him as the domminate dog there just trying to protect them selves, usually when you have a dog that's not neutered u tend to get all these problems but with your dog its a different situation.

My suggestion is keep him intact u might concider breeding him later on but just keep an eye on things if things develop further I'm sad to say this but get him neutered

any problems email me [e-mail]

dog trainer and lover

Answer 2

The other dogs may act aggressively towards him because of his scent, and testosterone. I don't like seeing un-neutered dogs at dog park either because if someone brings an unspayed female it can spark a nasty dog fight between him and another male. They don't know any better, they react to their hormones. And yes, there are real medical conditions that can affect un-neuterd dogs. The can get testicular tumors which can be cancerous. They are also much more likely to get prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. I don't have statistics of the top of my head, sorry, but I can tell you that I see it pretty often at the vet clinic I work at. Also neutering is not such an awful surgery. It takes around 10-15 minutes to actually perform the surgery and requires a very small incision. Most dogs walk out as though nothing has happened. And for the people that are imagining this horrble pain as though you've been kicked in the crotch, there are no testicles there to throb and hurt. Just an incision, the same as if you've ever cut yourself an needed stitches.
And besides have you seen how saggy the balls get when they get old? Not a pretty sight.

Answer 3

The real deal is that as long as your dog isnt around females it should be ok. However at the dog park, you run the risk of him meeting a female therefore making other dogs aggressive. Also dogs can develop testical cancer. Neutering cuts off this risk. Talk to your vet about your concerns and he or she may be able to help you. It may be worth it as your dog is just at the age where they begin to start breeding well they start a bit younger but still. I personally think you should fix him. To make yourself comfortable, find the best vet around. It is a very routine surgery so that shouldn't be hard. The thing is that animals are killed every day and it's so sad. They are young.

Answer 4

It doesn't matter if he is sweet tempered or not. If another un-neutered dog is at the dog park and there is a female who is in heat or just coming into heat (yes there are irresponsible owners of female dogs too,) there will most likely be a fight. When fighting over a female in heat, there will be bloodshed.
Most people have a problem with un-neutered dogs because they have the ability to produce hundreds of unwanted puppies. If you are not going to put the time and expense into a valid breeding program, just get him neutered.
As for statistics, how about first hand experience? My retired show dog had an infection in one of his testicles. Once that was treated, both testicles started to shrink until they were the size of garbonzo beans. One of them became hard. I had him neutered and the testicle biopsied. It turned out to be a benign tumor. We were lucky. I've known others who weren't so lucky. Dogs do seem to handle chemo better than humans, but it is very expensive.
If it's a matter of not being able to handle seeing your dog as a unich, you can get him implants. http://www.neuticles.com/index1.html
You could even get him a bigger pair than what he's got.

Here are a few more web sites to check out with stats:
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/studies.asp
http://www.foxvalleypets.org/dogs/?details=19&page=136
http://etdr.doberinfo.com/health/spayinfo.html#POINTS%20FOR%20STERILIZATION
http://www.grchawaii.com/FAQ/Spay-Neuter.asp

The bottom line is if you're not going compete in conformation and/or field events, put in the necessary research and expense of a solid breeding program, or if you care about there possibly being any "accidents," have him neutered.

Answer 5

Its not un neutered dogs that we hate, its the ones that are causing problems that can be controlled by neutering. I am sure your dog is a lovely dog, but if it did have behavioural problems, most can be fixed by neutering. Its uneducated owners who ask questions like 'why does my intact male dog get aggressive with other dogs', that are ridiculous. And its simply not possible, for a dog with no balls to get testicular cancer, is it. Its a low risk, granted, for an intact male to develope certain types of cancer related to the breeding equipment, but the risk can be removed entirely, or at least lessened. I agree, its wrong for others to blame their dogs uncontrolled behaviour on yours just because its not neutered, morally wrong, and stupidly wrong. The other reason to neuter your male, is because other stupid people dont spay their females. A past neighbour of mine used to complain all the time when her male would go missing for days on end, come home looking very ratty, but satisfied, then she would have some irate owner of an undesexed female, turn up on her doorstep, complaining that her dog got theirs up the duff. She always used to use the excuse, 'well if they didnt want pups, they should have spayed their dog'. A bit hypocritical, dont you think. If your dog is well behaved and you keep him under control very well, i commend you, but not a lot of others do. It only takes one to spoil it for the whole bunch.

Answer 6

Even though your dog is well-behaved, he is emitting strong pheromones that could possibly anger other dogs around him. Maybe your dog is so well behaved because he doesn't have to be exposed to the scents of un-neutered dogs in his territory. Un-neutered dogs also tend to urinate more, which can irritate a lot of people. Also, please note that an un-neutered male can and will travel up to 100 miles following the scent of a female who is in heat. In some dogs, being unaltered can cause them to be more aggressive, but in general, your dog would lead a happier life, free of the instinct to run away and reproduce/mark his territory everywhere, if he were neutered. It is totally humane, and can greatly increase his quality of life.

Answer 7

People are weird and you should not just go get his nuts cut. As long as there are no unwanted pups--there is no issue but having them in sight. For a golden ret, I wouldn't think that is a big issue. They tend to have long hair that covers up the "stuff". I personally have 2 mini schnauzers. both boys 1 cut 1 not cut. i do hate seeing the "jiggypuffs" hanging there after they have been groomed. When I can remember, I ask the groomer to please leave extra fur around the jiggypuffs so I didn't have to see them.

Answer 8

I believe there aren't any stats as it isn't really studied. I personally ahve seen 5 dogs that had to be put down in vets offices I'v worked at due to the cancer.
Also I don't know if you realize a male can smell a female u[p to 5 miles away if he should decide to go for it sort to say. he can keep going. he coud be hit by a car of something
i can only speak for myself but if he isn't being used fo breeding why take the chances.
But to each his own Idea i just thought I would let you ;know wht I've seen and heard about you make you own decision and good luck

Answer 9

dogs have pheromones that bring out aggression in other dogs. it's not a training issue, it's just instinct. it's not that they can't control their dogs, the dogs can't really control themselves no matter how trained they are.

but for me i think it's irresponsible because if your dog got loose, got out of the house/yard, if he somehow got away from your supervision, he will get another dog pregnant. there's just no need for more unplanned puppies in the world. you can't ever be %100 sure he can't escape.

and if you've done research i'm surprised you haven't come across the fact that if a dog has testicles he can get testicular cancer. this is common in dogs as they age, especially purebreds. get him neutered. there's just no reason not too. you're projecting your feelings about keeping your nuts onto your dog.

dogs don't care if they lose their nuts. they don't get lazy and fat. they just don't have the hormones that can (potentially) cause problems. unless you plan on breeding him, he should be neutered.

Answer 10

The other dogs act that way toward him because they feel your dog is more threatening to them non-neutered - they just sense it. My dog can find a non-neutered male quickly out of a group. I guess they come off more viril or something.
I agree the others need to control their dogs, but keep in mind - he will attract more attention being intact