It’s Me or the Dog: How to have the Perfect Pet. Victoria Stilwell

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      Should I have my dog neutered?

      The short answer is “yes,” but there are some factors that should be taken into account. Having a dog “spayed” (removing the ovaries and uterus) or neutered (removing the testicles) is an important part of dog ownership. Your dog could be healthier, more contented, could live longer, and have more of an even temperament without hormones confusing the picture. However, there are many different opinions about what age to neuter and if it is right to neuter a dog in order to “cure” various negative behavior problems. Many people are reluctant to have their pets neutered because it seems unnatural. But if you do not intend to breed your dog, what is more unnatural, allowing him to suffer tugs of instinct he cannot fulfill, or removing the urge completely?

      Whatever confusion there is about when and if to neuter, there is no dispute that neutering our dogs is the most significant way we can reduce the huge pet overpopulation problem in this country. Millions of dogs are taken into shelters every year and many are put down because there is no room and too few homes to adopt them. Perhaps you imagine that letting your dog have just one litter wouldn’t make much of a difference. Think again. If you placed all the puppies of that litter in the homes of people who thought the same, and they did likewise, your dog could be responsible for the birth of 200 puppies in a single year.

      If you are making a decision to neuter your dog because of a behavior problem such as aggression, you should be aware that neutering must never be seen as a “cure” for that problem. Neutering always needs to be done along with a solid behavior modification plan in place, and in some cases neutering may exacerbate the problem. Advice on what age to neuter should be sought from your veterinarian.

      Medical Pros of Neutering

       Eliminates risk of testicular cancer in male dogs

       Lowers incidence of disease of the prostate in male dogs

       Reduces the risk of perianal adenomas in male dogs – tumors that occur around the rectum in later life

       No possibility of fathering a litter and adding to the pet overpopulation problem

       Eliminates risk of pyometra – a potentially fatal infection of the uterus in female dogs

       Eliminates risk of uterine cancer in female dogs

       No heat cycles or risk of pregnancy in female dogs

       Reduced chance of female dogs developing breast cancer in later life

      Behavior Pros of Neutering

       Male dogs are less likely to roam

       Male and female dogs are less likely to scent “urine” mark

       Reduced likelihood of sexual aggression and mounting in males

       Removal of testosterone can make many dogs less reactive to other dogs

       Improves a dog’s attention to human owners

      Medical Cons of Neutering

       Early neutering – i.e., before puberty – increases the risk of a puppy not maturing properly, delaying the closing of growth plates in the long leg bones, which increases the risk of orthopedic disorders

       Weight gain, due to a larger appetite and slower metabolic rate (this can be managed with regular exercise and a good diet)

       A neutered dog can sometimes develop hormone-responsive alopecia (hair loss)

       Potential risk of incontinence in both sexes

      Behavior Cons of Neutering

       Dogs neutered before puberty can show pedomorphic tendencies – puppy-like behaviors into adulthood, such as higher excitability

       If dogs are serial humpers, then neutering might not reduce this behavior since it is not just sexually driven

       In some cases, lack of testosterone can lower confidence levels and make male and female dogs more aggressive

       Spaying an aggressive female in order to lower the aggressive response can make her more aggressive, as many calming hormones such as progesterone are greatly reduced

Talk Dog communicating with your dog

      Let me begin by stating the obvious: Dogs do not speak English. Or French, or German, or Spanish, for that matter. They talk dog.

      The secret of successful training is to learn how to communicate with your dog in a way that he understands. He can’t learn your language. It’s up to you to learn to speak his.

      Dogs are terrific communicators. Have you ever stopped to think how many different words we have for the noises dogs make – words such as growl, snarl, whine, whimper, bark, and howl? All these various sounds and vocalizations mean different things in dog language, while the meanings may also change in subtle ways, depending on context and circumstance.

      Then there’s body language. Dogs communicate with sound, but they also speak volumes through their gestures and stances. A lift of an eyebrow, a yawn, a wrinkled brow are just some of the ways they signal their feelings and intentions to others, both canine and human.

      Learning to talk dog is the key to understanding your pet so that you can better meet his needs. This chapter covers the range of sounds and signals that form the basis of canine communication. With a little practice, you’ll be speaking it like a native!

      The secret of successful training is to learn how to communicate with your dog in a way that he understands.

      Sounds and vocalizations

      Dogs bark. It’s what they do. But they make a wide range of other sounds, too, and here is what they each mean:

      Whining

      The very first form of vocalization is the whine. Puppies whine to gain the attention of their mother. In adult dogs, this insistent, rather nagging, high-pitched sound is similarly often a request for you to take some notice. “Feed me!” it says. “Let me out!” Or simply, “Pay me some attention!” Whining can also indicate that the dog is nervous, frightened, or anxious.

      Whimpering

      When whining shades into the more pitiful sound of whimpering, it can be the sign of more serious distress – dogs often whimper when they are in pain. Otherwise, it could simply be the dog’s way of intensifying or heightening the plea of whining, particularly when it is accompanied by pawing. “What would it take to get you to pay some attention to me?” it says.

      Yelping

      A sudden yelp is a pain cry. If you accidentally step on a dog’s paw or tail, he’ll yelp to let you know that he’s СКАЧАТЬ