About spay/neuter:



from:



The Kennel Club

Puppy

Handbook

Your essential guide to caring for your puppy.







Unless you are going to breed from your dog, you will no doubt consider neutering it. This has some health and behavior benefits *and some downsides too*. In bitches, spaying *reduces* the incidence of mammary tumours, *if carried out at an early age*, and it ensures no phantom pregnancies, womb infections (pyometra), ovarian tomours or, of course, unwanted pregnancies. In male dogs, castration removes the risk of prostate problems and testicular cancer and *can* reduce aggressiveness and hypersexual behaviour. On the downside neutering dogs *affect the growth rate and maturation of your dog and increases the likelyhood your dog will get fat later in life, unless you control the diet strictly and exercise it regularly*. It *may* also affect the growth and texture of your dogs coat. In *older* bitches *spaying increases the risk of urinary incontinence and in males may not reliably reduce aggression or dominant behavior*. Your vet will be able to discuss the best course of action for you and the best time to neuter. Your dog's breeder is well placed to advise you of how neutering may affect your dog's future weight and coat quality. Each dog is an individual and you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of neutering your dog carefully.







THAT IS COPIED WORD FOR WORD.







ok.. the starred explanations..



**downsides to fixing..** "oh my god! you mean life isnt guaranteed to be a big bowl of cherries if I fix Lassie?" "no, i'm sorry timmy. even though you are my son, you should jump in a well"..lol



**spaying MAY reduce mammary tomours**.. not WILL, MAY



**castration MAY reduce aggressiveness and hypersexuality**.. not WILL, MAY



**your dog MAY get fatter when it gets older**.. not WILL, MAY



next sentence too long so ill shorten it Theresa style..lol..



but fixing an older dog INCREASES the fact that your bitch cant hold it and your dog MAY, not WILL still want to go and kill other dogs (just my short version..lol). i hope this helps



PUBERTY (same book also copied word for word)



Puppies normally reach puberty any time from 6 months old and their elevated hormone levels can adversely affect their behaviour, so seek help if you are having any problems. This behaviour will not 'automatically' be resolved by neutering despite advice you may recieve to the contrary. Try not to worry-it soon passes!

Bitches are normally 'in season' for 3 weeks (and are fertile during this time) so they should not be taken outside (other than the garden) or allowed to mix with male dogs. You can tell your bitch is in season when her vulva swells and she exudes a discharge which may be blood tinged. This should happen about every 6 months, throught her life.

As male dogs reach puberty they start cocking their legs, and you may observe an increased interest in other dogs, independence, mounting behaviour and 'macho' behaviour with dogs and/or people.