Should I get my dog fixed?

Question

This is my first dog, she is a Rat Terrier, she's now a year old and super cute :)) and I dont want to add to all the homeless dogs and the dogs that have to be killed (put to sleep) just because they are unwanted or couldn't find a home in time. and yet...my dog is so perfect right now, energetic and playful and super obedient, plus really healthy. I've heard so many times that fixing a dog ruins them, and changes them and stuff. I really dont want to ruin my dog, so maybe if i kept her away from male dogs at all times? or is there an alternative to fixing your dog without ruining them?

Thanks, and sorry if i should know the answer, but again this is my very first pet :D

Answer 1

Unless you breed irresponsibly or abandon your dog, you are not "adding to homeless dogs" Yes, fixing your dog can cause them to become more lethargic, b/c you are removing necessary, God given hormones needed for bodily function when you castrate your dog. I have unaltered females, and my family has been breeding responsibly and selectively for three generations. This is very unpopular these days, as people need to feel morally right, and neutering dogs is the "easy" answer to our society's cruel treatment of pet animals. The population of abandoned,neglected, abused dogs has not decreased, it has INCREASED, and to say that all we must do is fix a dog is actually shutting down much needed discussion on how to protect our dogs! Also, while if a dog has no testicles, it cannot get testicular cancer, that is a skewed statistic, b/c had the dog been left intact there is no way to determine that dog's risk. This being said, as a breeder I must tell you that a very small number of intact dogs are suitable for breeding. To breed your dog, you must know about genetic, temperment, and confirmation defects, what you desire in your line, and a legal contract protecting your puppies from abandonment and abusive owners (you must follow up with your customers, and accept your puppy back at any time in its life if your customer cannot care for it, plus vet out potential owners, and if any parts of your contract are broken or the dog has been sold, abandoned, given away or even bred, depending on your contract, you can be awarded damages, and many other things. Breeding without such knowledge, financial security for emergency vet care, and without the proper commitment should be one of the deadly sins. To do this is to denegrate the breed and dog species. Your dog may appear healthy, but may be a carrier for hip dysplasia, retinal diseases, and other flaws. This is why they say that breeding should be left to the pros, but there is NOTHING to stop you from becoming a pro if you are willing to put in the work! Now, I do not fix my dogs, because even if a puppy is not suitable, this will not be revealed until later in her life, and altering dogs disqualifies them for dog shows. You can spay after that fact if you wish. Also, just because a dog is intact, you don't have to breed! You must educate yourself on heat cycles, and take precaution during her fertile time, such as not leaving her outside unattended for even ONE minute, securing your doors (and windows!) and being a responsible owner. Remember, while many here on y/a will ignorantly guilt you into this surgery, with their doom prophecies, in the past not every b itch had litters! You must simply be accountable! You dog isn't going to meet an internet lover and elope, after all. She can only get out and get pregnant if you allow this! Now, they do offer birth control pills for dogs, but i for one am wary of chemicals. Vigilance is your best way to go. You will not be a bad person if you chose not to give your dog an unconsented hystorectomy! I believe that, even though this is your first dog, if you wish to keep your dog intact, with a little studying and vigilance, you will be fine. Your dog will be just as healthy, if not healthier! Remember, the people who are saying that these surgeries are necessary and "life-enhancing" are also the ones getting paid to perform them, or people who have been miseducated by people paid to perform them, just as your vet probably tried to sell you Science Diet at the height of the Hill pet food recall, because they were paid to do so! Things that are trendy, easy, and popular are almost NEVER right. Stick with thousands of years of old-fashioned wisdom on livestock raising, and you cannot go wrong. To prove my point, see how angry my response gets people who will say exactly what their vet told them to say, and watch how many thumbs down i get, as well as how many people yell at you to get this surgery done. These are WEIRD times, hon. In the end, this is YOUR decision, and hopefully you will make it in an educated, caring fashion, and not base your decision on popular pseudo-science. Good luck, and my email is on my profile if you need any other info.
AND BY THE WAY, MOST DOGS ARE VERY CLEAN IN THEIR HEATS, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL BE HARD TO EVEN NOTICE SHE IS IN HEAT. SHE WILL LICK AWAY THE FLUIDS AS THEY DISCHARGE. MALE DOGS CAN SMELL ALL THEY WANT, BUT THEY DO NOT POSESS BURGLARY TOOLS TO BREAK INTO YOUR HOUSE. AND I AM 100% AGAINST PEOPLE WHO KEEP THEIR DOGS IN THEIR YARDS, SO THIS DOESN'T EVEN APPLY TO THOSE PEOPLE. IT IS RELETIVELY SIMPLE TO PREVENT PREGNANCY, MUCH HARDER WITH HUMAN FEMALES! JUST BE VIGILANT. IF YOU LOVE YOUR DOG, YOU WILL BE ANYWAY. AGAIN, YOUR DECISION, MAKE IT FACT BASED, NOT HYSTERIA BASED. GOD BLESS YOU FOR CARING AND QUESTIONING!

Answer 2

I own 3 dogs right now and 1 cat. All 4 are rescues and they interact with the family members of children and grandchildren that also have pets (males, females and both dogs and cats) ALL are neutered or spayed. 60 plus years ago kids ran around with their dogs in tow and having them spayed or neutered wasn't really done. Of course at that time most family animals were allowed to run free and the dog license was the right to keep the dog catcher from picking them up. What happened some were hit and killed by cars, even had "wiggles" the dog hit by a passenger train back then;. Mostly they had distemper and it would wipe out a whole mass of dogs since most were not given the human qualities they conjure up now a days. I help with a rescue and have seen horrible conditions of animals that were not even given love or petted or anything. If it were not for the rescues these creatures would come into the world without ever knowing what kindness and protection or even food. Back in the day I did not see skinny dogs or cats, or abused animals it just wasn't something that happened. I am sure there were cases but not to the degree as goes on today. Society as a whole appears to have gotten meaner. The weaker and less able to protect themselves be they human or animal are disposeable and clateral damage. What a sad comentary in a time that medical advances, knowledge of cause and effect are better known now a days more so than any time in the history of the human race.

Answer 3

It doesn't do anything to them and certainly doesn't ruin them, but it makes you more happy. Your Female is a little dog , big dogs can get to them and if that happens she can die trying to have big puppies. Usually small dogs come in heat around 6 or 7 months, they come in before big dogs do. You say keep her away from dogs, how are you planning on doing that, you can't, they can smell that scent for miles. If you keep in the yard big dogs can climb those fences or dig under to get to her. The only way you can keep her from any dog is keep her in your home with these little covers and panties that you can buy at the pet store because you would get that blood all over your carpet or floor and that is nasty. If only problem is she will change her sweetness , it will not change a thing , get her spade while the getting is good. You'll be happier and so will your little dog. if something happens before you get her spade you can get a day after pill from your vet , just one is all they'll give you

Answer 4

Whoever told you spaying/neutering 'ruins' a dog doesn't know what they are talking about. Your dog will be just as obedience and energetic but you will make her MUCH healthier as she will be less likely to get mammary cancer and will not get uterine cancer at all. It will also prevent her from getting pyeometria which can kill her as well. You often can't keep dogs away when a b*tch is in season and then you run the risk of her being injured or killed by stray dogs attempting to breed her or dying during whelping as well as adding to the overpopulation. Your instincts are right -- have her spayed and enjoy her!! Keep her active - they are real fun in agility, obedience and rally!!

Answer 5

Fixing a dog doesn't alter theri personalities really. Having babies doesn't protect them from cancers or ovarian cysts or anything. Since this is your first dog, I'd recommend fixing her. If she were to get pregnant, birth is traumatic on dogs just like it is on humans and you have to know what you are doing if there's an emergency. Maybe on down the road if you plan on breeding this type of dog and have researched then having an un-altered female is ok for that purpose, but just that you want to have a dog and this is your first one, and you don't want to add to unwanted litters... have her spayed, you'll save yourself alot of heartache and frustration... in heat females also bleed everywhere for about 2 week straight, so that's a bad part of having a non spayed female as well. :-) Good luck!
-Welsh Corgi Breeder

Answer 6

fixing them does not "ruin" them. Actually getting a dog fixed makes them a better pet. They pay more attention to YOU because they are less concerned with sex. Females dont have to go thru the heat cycle every 6 months, which can make them moody and tempermental.

Spaying also prevents certain types of cancers. Spaying also prevents pyometra in the female dog.. which is a serious and fatal uterine infection.

Spaying does not make them less playful, lazy or fat. I had my female spayed a year ago, and she still runs around the house like crazy.. she has no fat on her body at all.

Answer 7

You can successfully keep your dog from reproducing even if unspayed. That said, however, myself....I don't like to deal with the semi-annual mess of a b*tch in heat. And really, the surgery will not be a huge deal. Both of my little JRTs were spayed very young....one at 10 weeks, the other at 11....and they're still everything you say your dog is now...fun loving, extremely playful, energetic....not so sure about obedient...but hey....they're JRTs....they weren't obedient in the first place. :O) And yeah...they sure are healthy. I don't feel like they were "ruined" at all. I'd go for the spay. :O)

Answer 8

You have absolutely nothing to worry about if you have your now perfect dog spayed ... it won't change her personality or make her any less cute. I felt the same way when I had my first female spayed, she was also my idea of the perfect pup and I fretted the whole time she was at the vet's office having the procedure done and recuperating. Just make up your mind that it's better to do it, bite the bullet and go for it. Good luck.

Answer 9

She will not be ruined don't worry, she is not a working dog. She might be more tolerant of other dogs, and that is prob a good thing. It will be a pain to have her go into heat regularly, and many health issues can be avoided other then pregnancy. Talk to your vet about what to expect and explain your concerns with spaying, and I am sure you will see why spaying her is the best thing for both of you.

Answer 10

hutting down much needed discussion on how to protect our dogs! Also, while if a dog has no testicles, it cannot get testicular cancer, that is a skewed statistic, b/c had the dog been left intact there is no way to determine that dog's risk. This being said, as a breeder I must tell you that a very small number of intact dogs are suitable for breeding. To breed

Answer 11

you should definitely get her fixed. The only way spaying or neutering a dog changes them is sometimes it makes them less hyper and less territorial around other dogs. There are too many pets in this world that don't have homes and we dont want to make the problem worse..