Drum roll please…………rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…….SPAY AND NEUTER my friends!
Yes, it is that simple of an answer and it is just as easy to do. I continue to hear from owners that their reason for not wanting to spay or neuter their pet is so their friends can have a dog “Just like theirs”, SERIOUSLY! I, of course, say in return “Tell your friends to visit their local human society or shelter and they can choose from the 50+ dogs there waiting for their new forever home!” (majority of those dogs being a pit or pit mix, which are continued to being overbred by immature, naive, ignorant owners). I also include information such as 80% of their puppies will most likely end up at a shelter or being euthanized, which is a very sad and a true statement. Do they even understand the cost of this back yard breeding they wish to do? When a potential client told me the other day that her boyfriend wanted to breed his pit, I said, “Oh, he must be a professional breeder, right?”, she replied, “What is a professional breeder?”….SHOCKER that she didn’t know what a professional breeder is right, NOT! This was a 20-something year old and it shocks me that it is the 21st century and so many people of all ages still don’t understand the importance of Spaying and Neutering their dogs. Do we still live under a rock people when it comes to pet ownership and understanding the Number One most important thing you can do for your dogs health?
If you are a first time dog owner, I hope that you are learning everything you can about you new fur bundle of joy before you run out to purchase that cute puppy and if you do your research correctly, you will learn and understand the importance of Spaying and Neutering.
Lets talk about the benefits….taken from (http://www.spayusa.org/main_directory/02-facts_and_education/benefits_sn.asp):
Benefits of Spaying (females):
- No heat cycles, therefore males will not be attracted
- Less desire to roam
- Risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated, especially if done before the first heat cycle
- Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
- Decreases aggression behavior, including dog bites
- Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives
Benefits of Neutering (males):
- Reduces or eliminates risk of spraying and marking
- Less desire to roam, therefore less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents
- Risk of testicular cancer is eliminated, and decreases incidence of prostate disease
- Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
- Decreases aggressive behavior, including dog bites
- Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier live
This particular 20-something year old also informed me of how their pit was getting aggressive (including biting), had out of control behavior such as jumping, marking territory (indoors, I am not surprised), and guarding her. Yet, her boyfriend’s desire to breed his pit was outweighing the desire to neuter his pit. What saddens me even further is that he is setting his pit up to end up being on the “News” for injuring someone or their dog and worse yet, being euthanized. The boyfriend obviously doesn’t care about the well being of his dog. Another “Bad Owner” that is representing the pittie breed.
The cost of breeding a dog will usually have you break even or lose money. Your female needs to be put on the most expensive and high quality food there is out there so she can provide quality nutrition for herself and her new babies. You will need to vaccinate the puppies, provide a clean and safe whelping box (that includes a heated floor) and of course there is the unexpected cost (which can range into the thousands) of vet assistance if something goes wrong, which is common. What if your mom dog falls ill, well guess what, you are going to have to get up around the clock to feed these new babies. What, you work and you need your sleep, oh well, should have thought about that before becoming a back yard breeder.
What is a Professional Breeder…..taken from my excerpt on WZZM TV 13 Take Five and Company segment “Reputable Dog Breeders & Avoiding Puppy Mills”, to view this segment visit http://www.goodlittledog.com/buy_a_dog.html to learn more.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUPPY MILLS/BACKYARD BREEDERS AND A PROFESSIONAL BREEDER ARE ATTITUDE AND PURPOSE
° Professional Dog Breeders (PDB)
- Specialize in 1 or 2 breeds of dogs
- NOT breeding dogs for money
- They are promoting and breeding only positive characteristics in certain dog breeds
- After vet cost, food cost (PDB are very selective in the brand of food they feed their dogs) and other cost they typically lose money or profit very little
- Their dogs are house pets
- They understand that in order to produce the “best litters” you take care of your dogs
- Knowledgeable about special needs of the breeds they raise
- PDB NEVER sell their dogs to a pet store
- Are involved in “showing” their purebreds
- AKC (American Kennel Club) encourages people to visit a breeder’s home
- PDB welcome visits to their homes, they want to meet their puppies potential new parents
- Blindly buying a puppy is NEVER endorsed or encouraged by the AKC or a PDB
- PDB provide a lifetime written guarantee covering genetic disease and temperament problems
- PDB will have you sign a contract agreeing to return the puppy to them for whatever reason and to have their pups be spayed or neutered
The age of spaying and neutering is just as important as in getting the surgery done. 6 months or younger is when you need to have it scheduled for. Around 6 months old is when your cute puppy is entering their “teenage” stage, not a fun stage already, but especially worse if they aren’t spayed and neutered. Some vets will do this surgery at 3 months old….talk to your vet and get it on your calendar. What is that I am hearing, you don’t have $200 dollars for this surgery….well first, I would like to say if you can’t afford the surgery how did you afford the $300 -$1000 price for that new puppy you just purchased (if you adopt, your bundle of joy comes spayed and neutered, isn’t that FANTASTIC!!!). UGH, I can’t stand hearing that from people, “Oh, I don’t have $200 for this type of surgery”, but yet their puppy cost them $400….UGH!!! So annoying. Ok, moving on, well if you can’t afford the $200 spay and neuter cost….how about looking into a low cost spay and neuter clinic….they are everywhere and they provide this important surgery at a very low cost, that is a win-win, right?!! No excuse now! In the Grand Rapids area, check out http://spayneuterexpress.com/ to see if this is a service you can use.
“Surgery, well this must be dangerous for my dog”, “I don’t want my dog in pain” or “I don’t want my male dog to be Emasculated” are common sayings I continue to hear of why owners still back paddle when it comes to spaying and neutering their dog. First I want to address the whole “Emasculated” feeling a male owner has about his male dog getting neutered….the only one feeling “Emasculated” is the owner, so get over yourself, a REAL man will get his dog neutered! Your male dog will thank you with their good behavior and temperament! Will your dog be in pain after the surgery, well who isn’t in discomfort after a surgery…yes, your dog will be in discomfort for a day or two, but it is your job to provide a safe, calm and clean environment during their healing process. Minor discomfort outweighs the benefit of the long term results of this surgery. With any surgery there are risk, but spaying and neutering the dangers are almost non-existence.
Alright, I will now step off my “Soap Box” and boy do I feel better getting this important 
I can’t say it enough….get your dog Spayed or Neutered….for the well-being of their health and temperament…do this for your dog, they deserve it.
