Misconceptions about Neutering

Many pet owners won�t neuter their male dogs. Some transfer their emotions about
the procedure onto their dogs, and decide that it�s a cruel and unusual punishment.
But most avoid neutering their dogs because they�ve heard one or more of the many
misconceptions about neutering. Despite all these rumors and myths, neutering is a
responsible procedure that won�t harm the health of your dog. Here are some of the
corrected misconceptions that keep many from having their dogs neutered.

Your dog will not become depressed for lack of sex. Dogs aren�t humans, and don�t
feel the same way about sex that humans do. They won�t miss the intimacy or the
romance, like some people believe. As much as some people seem to think otherwise,
dogs are animals, and their drive for sex is only instinct. Not having sex will
not harm, or depress, your dog.

Your dog will not become weak or effeminate. Neutering does not affect a dog�s
physical abilities or strength. In fact, neutering removes the sexual instinct
that has some dogs climbing the walls. Neutering can correct many behavioral
problems cause by the sex instinct in some dogs, especially in households with one
or more pets and in a household with female dogs as well as people.

Your dog will still bark at strangers, if it does now: The belief that a neutered
dog will no longer make a good guard dog is ridiculous. It�s a clear case of
humans passing off misguided beliefs about masculinity and strength onto dogs. If
the dog happened to be born sterile, would that make it less a dog, or less suited
to be a watch dog?

Neutering is a responsible and loving thing for a pet owner to have done: Many
people use the argument that neutering an animal is unnatural. But if you follow
that to its logical conclusion, then having a dog as a pet isn�t natural either.
Dogs used to be wild pack animals, so humans keeping a dog and providing for all
its care is just as unnatural. Look at it another way. Your dog relies on you to
take care of it. You feed it, pet it, and take it to the vet when necessary.
Neutering your dog can protect it. A female dog in heat can make a male dog run
from its owner to reach her, possibly getting the dog lost or putting it in danger
on a busy street. Male dogs act different and more aggressively around females.
Neutering your dog eliminates these dangers.

Your dog won�t get fat or stop being active: If you don�t overfeed your dog and
neglect to take him for walks, your dog can�t suddenly bloat up after being
neutered. This is a popular misconception because it does happen sometimes�but it�s
not because of the surgery, but rather the habits of the owner. Just be sure to
feed your dog the proper amount of food, and make sure he gets plenty of exercise.