This article is not designed to tell you whether you should or should not neuter your male dog. Rather, you will find some basic educational questions and answers that will help educate you on the benefits that neutering may provide to both you and your dog.
What exactly is the procedure? When the male dog gets neutered, both of his testicles are surgically removed. The scrotum is not removed during the operation, just opened up to remove the testicles and then closed back up again.
Should every male dog get neutered if they are not going to be bred? It is not absolutely essential to have every non-breeding male dog undergo this operation. Many pet dogs have a naturally occurring sex drive and without behavioral problems that were influenced by male hormones, such as leg mounting, urinating indoors, etc. If such dogs are supervised by their owners and kept in a fenced yard without an opportunity to breed a wondering female in heat then having them neutered is not necessary. It's your decision.
Is there any negative effects of having the male dog neutered? We have not heard of any cases where there are problems from having male dogs neutered. In most every case, having the surgery either improved the dog's behavior or had no apparent effect. Neutering will never make your dog “worse” if that is your concern.
What type of undesirable behavioral problems should I look for as a reasons to neuter my dog? Although a large percentage of undesirable behavior problems stems from a lack of training, there are many issues that are a result of sexual frustration. If your dog has a habit of humping both objects and people often, then neutering him would more than likely ease this situation. Also, attempting to leave the yard and go roaming not only is a result of sexual frustration but is quite a pain to deal with when you have to look for your dog every night. This too can be alleviated by having your dog undergo the operation.
Are there any health benefits to having my male dog neutered? You may want to consider the fact that veterinarians find that some male dogs develop testicular disease as they age. This may or may not happen to your dog but if indeed he undergoes the surgery, testicular disease will never be an issue. Having your dog neutered may also help him have much lower chances for problems such as prostate glands and cancerous growths. You are encouraged to discuss any of these ailments with your veterinarian as well as ask questions about neutering your dog.
