Health

Neutering often makes for a more affectionate family pet and can help prolong the life of our pets by reducing the chance of health problems in later life.  

Males exhibit behaviours which are influenced by testosterone, such as scent marking, roaming to find potential mates, inappropriate sexual behaviour, aggression towards other males, and competitive aggression towards humans.

In regards to behaviour, sometimes owners are reluctant to neuter their dog because they know someone whose dog was castrated but its behaviour did not improve. Normally this is because the behaviour was not testosterone driven. For example, an owner may be led to believe that castration may stop the dog being aggressive to other people and dogs, but they will be disappointed if the aggression is motivated by fear, which is not a testosterone related problem. Accurate diagnosis is therefore essential to determine whether castration is appropriate for the problematic behaviour.

Neutering has many health benefits. Females may benefit from spaying by reducing the incidence of uterine, mammary, and ovarian cancers. It can also reduce the incidence of infections such as Pyometra. Castrating a dog should reduce the risk of prostrate cancer, although spayed or neutered dogs might have a greater chance of developing bladder cancer. Therefore neutering dogs has many benefits, however, this should be at the right time and for the right reason for the dog. Dogs should be allowed to reach full maturity in both body and mind; both psychological and physiological.

Myths of Spaying and Neutering
My pet will become fat and lazy: It is true that in many cases dogs will tend to have a larger appetite after either spaying or neutering. We need to control their balance of food and exercise and not allow them to have a sedentary lifestyle.

It is better to let my pet either mate or have one litter first: Where this idea comes from I do not know. Dogs do not yearn for a family in the way people do. Allowing a male to cover a female does not quench his appetite for sex - it could enhance it and he could subsequently become a roamer.

Neutering may affect my dog's emotional identity: Dogs do not cognitively possess a macho identity- this is usually the owner's fear rather than their pets'!

I want my dog to be protective in the home: Spaying or neutering does not affect the natural instinct to guard and protect.