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This is an argument in the sense of differing opinions appropriately expressed.
We have heard for years and years that one of the main reasons to neuter is that intact dogs are more likely to roam. I think we buy into this, especially since their olfactory is so much better than our own. However, I am not so sure.
In too many cases, the terms "responsible dog ownership" and "spay/neuter" are intimately connected. However, I believe that responsible people mayb be as resoponsible if not more responsible by not neutering their pets. If their purpose in not neutering is to responsibly add an exemplary specimen to the gene pool, or because they want their dog to grow and mature properly, or because they are not convinced that neutering is as safe and does not negatively affect the dog's health, or that they want to use the dog for certain working/performance events where keeping the hormones intact makes sense, they are not in my opinion being irresponsible.
However, irresponsible people almost NEVER neuter a dog. This is not true of spaying bitches. People spay bitches out of convenience probably as often as out of a sense of responsibility. But irresponsible people generally do not see the need of neutering a dog.
To get to the logic. The shelters and humane societies claim that the majority of dogs that come into shelters as strays are not neutered. But I would counter that the majority of dogs that come into shelters as strays are owned by irresponsible people.
The responsible owners either have their dogs neutered and contained, or are keeping their intact dog contained. Where the irresponsible owners are not neutering, and some of them do not bother to keep their dogs contained. For this reason, a higher sample of roaming dogs are intact.
Now, everyone who has bitches, knows that the dogs come around when they whiff the scent of an in heat bitch. But how do we know that a neutered dog would not be just as likely to show up? I mean, mmmmm -- smells like vanilla, what is grandma baking -- brings us to the kitchen, how much moreso does a dog smell a female and go to check it out, with or without hormones. Those without hormones, generally do not have the opportunity, but if they did, when we peer out our window, how can we measure their sexual status?
In fact, a young boarder collie showed up at my place a few years ago, and his owner said he was afraid of this and he would get him neutered. He got him neutered. He still roams, I seem him regularly.
So maybe that only works if you neuter young enough. I do not know, but it seems to me that the responsible owners are keeping their animals home whether they are intact or not, and those that really do not care are not bothering to get their dog neutered and are not bothering to contain them.
So while the numbers may say that intact males are more likely to roam, we could just as easily make the statement that irresponsible owners are more likely to let their dogs roam and are more likley to have intact dogs.
This is an argument in the sense of differing opinions appropriately expressed.
We have heard for years and years that one of the main reasons to neuter is that intact dogs are more likely to roam. I think we buy into this, especially since their olfactory is so much better than our own. However, I am not so sure.
In too many cases, the terms "responsible dog ownership" and "spay/neuter" are intimately connected. However, I believe that responsible people mayb be as resoponsible if not more responsible by not neutering their pets. If their purpose in not neutering is to responsibly add an exemplary specimen to the gene pool, or because they want their dog to grow and mature properly, or because they are not convinced that neutering is as safe and does not negatively affect the dog's health, or that they want to use the dog for certain working/performance events where keeping the hormones intact makes sense, they are not in my opinion being irresponsible.
However, irresponsible people almost NEVER neuter a dog. This is not true of spaying bitches. People spay bitches out of convenience probably as often as out of a sense of responsibility. But irresponsible people generally do not see the need of neutering a dog.
To get to the logic. The shelters and humane societies claim that the majority of dogs that come into shelters as strays are not neutered. But I would counter that the majority of dogs that come into shelters as strays are owned by irresponsible people.
The responsible owners either have their dogs neutered and contained, or are keeping their intact dog contained. Where the irresponsible owners are not neutering, and some of them do not bother to keep their dogs contained. For this reason, a higher sample of roaming dogs are intact.
Now, everyone who has bitches, knows that the dogs come around when they whiff the scent of an in heat bitch. But how do we know that a neutered dog would not be just as likely to show up? I mean, mmmmm -- smells like vanilla, what is grandma baking -- brings us to the kitchen, how much moreso does a dog smell a female and go to check it out, with or without hormones. Those without hormones, generally do not have the opportunity, but if they did, when we peer out our window, how can we measure their sexual status?
In fact, a young boarder collie showed up at my place a few years ago, and his owner said he was afraid of this and he would get him neutered. He got him neutered. He still roams, I seem him regularly.
So maybe that only works if you neuter young enough. I do not know, but it seems to me that the responsible owners are keeping their animals home whether they are intact or not, and those that really do not care are not bothering to get their dog neutered and are not bothering to contain them.
So while the numbers may say that intact males are more likely to roam, we could just as easily make the statement that irresponsible owners are more likely to let their dogs roam and are more likley to have intact dogs.
