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<p class=MsoNormal>As a breeder, I keep the males and my counter-part, Pat
keeps the females. Because we breed, our dogs are all intact until they
are no longer going to be bred. At that point, we spay or neuter but
these dogs remain a part of our family for the rest of their lives. So,
why do we spay or neuter a dog who is going to live with us? To avoid
future health problems. In the females, this includes false pregnancies
and possible mastitis (just had a female spayed because her false pregnancies always
ended up with nasty mastitis), breast cancer (we have lost one after surgery
for this) and pymometria. For the males, testicular cancer, prostate
cancer and recurrent prostate infections (we have had three older males that we
neutered for this reason). Yes, surgery is surgery and no one is more nervous
about surgery than Pat & I are … but it is a calculated risk.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Regarding spaying/neutering of young dogs. When we
sell a dog as a pet, our contract includes spaying/neutering before 1 year of
age. I have had spayed females before I started showing. One I
decided to wait until after her first heat cycle. During her first heat
cycle at age 9 months, a LARGE dog jumped our fence and bred her (I could not
get them separated). Our vet did hormone injections to cause her to be
unable to support any fertilized eggs (essentially extended her heat cycle).
She was spayed 3 months later and almost died. She likely had VWD, but
this was before it was recognized and tested. Another female I purchased
from a breeder as a pet was 7 months old when she was spayed. She
developed like her unsprayed littermates, was of the same size and structure as
her littermates, did not have any bone problems and lived to be 14. Every
female puppy we have placed in pet homes has been spayed before their first
heat cycle. None of them are any different in size, structure, bone,
height or weight than their littermates. Every male puppy we have placed
in pet homes has been neutered by 9 months. All of them are similar to
their littermates in size, structure, bone, height and weight.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>If your dog is not going to be bred, spay and neuter. From
my perspective, I don’t see a problem with a spay or neuter after six
months. Based on my experience, I wouldn’t wait until after the
first cycle – accidents can happen – I know since I was right there
when that dog jumped my fence. That male was very large and very
determined. My female, like any female who is at the breedable point in
the cycle, was more than willing. The male’s hormones are at their
peak at about 7 months . Delaying neutering past 9 months may result in
development of some of the more objectionable male behaviors, such as humping
and marking, especially if it is a multiple dog household. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Just my opinion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Sandi Wittenberg - Red Bay Bassets<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>sandi@redbaybassets.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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