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I’d like to know your opinion about neutering male dogs. I have a lovely, sweet tempered male Belgian of 14 months and have read a number of articles on neutering some of which advise that is not needed for health. We grew up when none of male dogs were neutered and I don’t remember any problems with fights or illness. What do you think?
We are convinced by recent vet research that intact dogs generally lead healthier lives than neutered dogs. They are less prone to obesity and at less risk for certain ligament injuries and some cancers. The case for keeping bitches intact isn’t as straightforward. They do indeed have lower risk for some conditions, but are at greater risk for certain reproductive diseases. We have a discussion about castration/spaying with every person that buys a puppy from us. We provide them the research papers about neutering and we explain the issues and responsibilities of owning an intact, adult dog. In the end, we leave the choice up to the buyer. We do recommend that they wait until puppies are at least 18 months before castration or spaying. I wish I could recommend that you take this discussion up with your vet. However, neutering is one of those issues where most vets only consider the risks to society (homeless dogs), rather than being an advocate for their patient’s health. To be fair to the vets, few American families are prepared to own intact animals. But if you are a dog owner that is already committed to ensuring your dog is socialized, has a high level of obedience training, and is a member in good standing within your neighborhood–then you are up to the responsibility of owning an intact dog.