Honestly, do you think that spaying/neutering your pet changes his/her personality? I know everyone says you SHOULD spay/neuter your dog, but could it be just one of those things "they" feed us into believeing? We don't live in town, have no neighbors....I don't want to change my little dog....I love her the way she is. I would never cut my ovaries out....
2007-09-24 04:34:13 · 19 answers · asked by EarthGirl 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
My dog's personality did not change after spaying her. She is still the same, happy, playful dog that she always was.
On the other hand, when she was in heat, she was depressed, had not energy, and couldn't concentrate. So I think it's much better for her not to go through that twice a year. IMO, heat changes a dog's personality, but spaying does not.
2007-09-24 04:44:34 · answer #1 · answered by Carrie O'Labrador 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have control over whether or not to use the products of your ovaries. Your dog doesn't. You can experience romantic love and create a child that will love and interact with you its entire life. Your dog cannot. You can take birth control or pain killers and be relieved of unpleasant menstrual symptoms. Your dog cannot.
When your dog is in heat, all she knows is that she is uncomfortable and irritable and she wants to get out. Even if she is well trained not to stray, she might when she's looking for that male, and get killed by a car along the way. She might pick up a disease from a visiting Romeo who's never been vaccinated. She might mate with a dog considerably larger than her and then suffer a dangerous and painful birth in which most of her pups die.
Spaying is a one time procedure with so many wonderful benefits- to health, temperament, (oh yeah, the only thing spaying does to temperament is to sometimes help calm a very excitable or dominant dog) and to help control the pet overpopulation problem.
It is, of course, your choice. But why not? The benefits far outweigh the risks of not doing it. If she could, your dog would thank you for thinking of her well-being.
2007-09-24 15:45:21 · answer #2 · answered by howldine 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had many dogs (rescues and our own) over the years and have never noticed any negative changes in personality after spaying or neutering. Females and males that are altered at a young age tend to be healthier as some types of cancer have been eliminated. Also males do not get into potentailly serious fights with each other over a female in heat and females do not run the risk of complications if an unwanted pregnancy developes.
Ultimately it is your choice as to what you decide to do. It is your pet and you have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself.
2007-09-24 13:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by cameoanimals 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it does and for the better 99% of the time. My wee guy was a rescue boy and I got him at just under 6 months. He was hard to housebreak b/c he wanted to life his leg and mark. He was very ornery.
he has been neutered just over a month and boy oh boy I see changes, he is calmer and he is housebroken. he no longer lifts his leg and squats to pee mind you that could be from watching my other male dog squat.
My other boy I can honestly say I didn't notice anything, but he was neutered 2 days after getting him. either way Quincy is a calm more laid back boy than Laddie is.
As far as you thinking that spaying is harmful or cruel, it is one of the best gifts you can give her. You will be eliminating any chance of several cancers that affect dogs who are not spayed. You are preventing many other diseases and illness's as well. If you love your girl as much as I think you do, than do this for her, please. She will live longer and she will be a happier, healthier pet.
2007-09-24 12:04:28 · answer #4 · answered by zipperfootpress 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs are different than people.. People have kids to create family. Dogs then they have puppies and create a litter, they don't stay together for life. Even in the wild they would break into different packs.. They don't have that family thing people have..
It doesn't change them to be spayed/neutered. It takes away those unwanted traits dogs have.. Roaming looking for someone to breed with, male dog aggression, coming into season etc.. It doesn't change their personality to be spayed or neutered.. If they are happy and spunky and playful they will be the same way after surgery.
If you are having problems it's not going to miraculously fix things. You will still need to train your dog not to lift his leg etc.
2007-09-24 12:02:47 · answer #5 · answered by DP 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does spaying or neutering make pets fat and lazy? Spaying and neutering does change the metabolism of companion animals, so in most cases, they do not need as much food to maintain their weight as unspayed/unneutered animals. The problem is not with the animal – it is us. We just tend to overfeed our pets and neutered/spayed dogs and cats are more apt to put on weight because of that.
As for laziness, again, the amount of exercise and activity of our pets is often dependent on us. If we do not give them opportunities for play and exercise, they can become couch potatoes just like some people. Many spayed/neutered dogs are field dogs, are entered in agility shows, become service dogs or are trained in search and rescue. These dogs are anything but lazy. Cats can get lots of exercise with toys and 'chase' games. Some cats love to walk on a leash with their owners. Try it!
2007-09-24 11:42:26 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My little girl is spayed and she is the same pup that I had before the spay. Nothing has changed at all except that she does not go into heat. Also, spaying decreases the chances of female health problems when she gets older. You would be doing her a great service to have her spayed.
2007-09-24 11:44:17 · answer #7 · answered by sue2blues 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand what *your* ovaries have to do with spaying and neutering your dog.
Spaying and neutering does not change a dog's personality. My terrier was "trouble" before she was spayed and she's "trouble" still.
I loved her with her uterus, I love her without her uterus, if I was forced to amputate her leg or remove an eye, I would love her the same. And I will love her when she's old and blind and deaf.
2007-09-24 11:54:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe that it makes a lot of personality difference, males that hump still will even fixed, and don't neuter/spay young, does weird things to growth and development, but why allow them to reproduce? there are way too many unwanted/loved cats & dogs out there. All of the pups I sell that go to pet homes (opposed to show homes) must be nueter/spayed by 18months.
2007-09-24 12:14:40 · answer #9 · answered by dobemommy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your dog will be a better pet after she is spayed, and it will prevent her from getting worse health problems later, like cancers or GI problems. It is true that dogs will appear out of nowhere if they detect a girl in heat. Please spay her so there aren't more unwanted puppies in the world.
2007-09-24 11:58:04 · answer #10 · answered by Flatpaw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋