By Heidi Clayton
One of the most frequently asked questions I get regarding raising a puppy is when to spay or neuter. My stance on this issue might not be a total surprise to people because I do breed Bull Terriers, but I hold off on doing either. However, my reasons for delaying the procedure in both males and females have nothing to do with breeding. This decision has to do with my dogs’ overall physical development. Hormones grow our dogs’ bones, brains, and ligaments. I want my dogs to develop healthy bones, brains, and ligaments, so I delay spay/neuter until at least 18 months of age.
In 2013, the University of California (UC) Davis released a study on possible negative effects that early spay/neuter had on the Golden Retriever. Drs. Lynette and Benjamin Hart led the study. They picked Goldens because they are one of the most popular breeds in the country and because of their use as working service or therapy dogs. The focus was whether early spay/neuter led to a higher risk of certain joint disorders and cancers. As a result of their study, the Harts concluded that early spay/neuter in Golden Retrievers increased the risk of certain cancers and led to an increase in joint diseases such as ACL tears. One of the primary reasons for the rise in joint diseases is that removing the sex organs also removes vital hormones that are produced that are needed to close puppy growth plates and develop the ligaments that hold all of their bones in place. This is particularly true for larger breed dogs that will carry more weight than a toy-sized breed.
The study has been updated, with other breeds added to the list of recommended spay/neuter ages. According to their study, female Golden Retrievers should not be spayed at any age, German Shorthaired Pointers should not be spayed/neutered before the age of one year, and male Dobermans should remain intact for the duration of their life. The Siberian Husky breed shows no evidence of increased risks of cancers or joint diseases when spayed or neutered early or not altered at all.
The Harts’ study also showed that early neutering does not decrease the incidence of prostate cancer in dogs. This cancer, while rare, is actually seen more often in dogs that have been altered. Research also showed that in both male and female dogs, less exposure to their sex hormones has been associated with increased levels of fearfulness and aggression. Spaying or neutering dogs also does not alone change that behavior.
I am not a veterinarian and do not claim to have in-depth scientific knowledge of the canine reproductive system. My understanding is based on my breeding of dogs and working with dogs on a daily basis. One takeaway I garnered from this study as well as talking to my own reproductive vets and surgeons is the need for a shift in the relationships between clients and veterinarians. At the end of a thoughtful, well-informed discussion on spaying/neutering, the choice of when or if remains in the hands of the dog owner.
As a breeder who studies the conformation of dogs, I would like for vets to consider the lifestyle a dog is going to live and the physical structure of a dog before suggesting spay or neuter. For example, every single doodle mix that I work with has knees that point out to the left or right as well as front legs that, when standing, face outwards to an alarming degree. I would like to see their bodies be given every chance possible to develop strong ACLs and ligaments to hold the joints in place since they are not structurally sound to start with.
If you are interested in learning more about the pros and cons of early spaying/neutering you can read the study in full at ucdavis.edu or https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/1322276/fvets-11-1322276-HTML-r2/image_m/fvets-11-1322276-t001.jpg. And as always, talk to your vet about spay/neuter and do what you think is best for your dog.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
