Spaying and Castration (Neutering) Dogs


Young Dachshund Often We Neuter Far Too EarlyNeutering

We are constantly told that Neutering will make a better and more affectionate family pet.


However the reverse is also true, though we are never told this by our vets. Neutering can cause fatal diseases. Cancer being one of them.

Females may benefit from spaying by reducing the incidence of uterine, mammary, and ovarian cancers. It can also reduce the incidence of infections such as Pyometra.
Castrating a male dog we are informed reduces the risk of prostate cancer. This, like many other claims for the benefits of neutering is a total fallacy.

In reality castrated dogs have a 4 times greater risk of developing prostate cancer than intact animals. spayed or neutered dogs also have a 1.5 to 3 times greater chance of developing bladder cancer

We are also told that they are less likely to develop unwanted behaviour's such as marking, sexual aggression, and mounting, they are also less likely to escape, roam, or fight with other male dogs. I will accept that these are in some instances correct, castration can help reduce some of these problems.

Some vets recommend that our dogs are spayed or castrated anywhere between 5 to 16 months. In America some are being done as early as 8 weeks and they routinely neuter at between four and six months.

Many of the Vets, Trainers and Behaviourists in both America and the UK are recommending this course of action without understanding the numerous problems this advice may create.

Neutering at a young age can have devastating effectsSome rescue centre's such as the RSPCA often spay and neuter as a matter of course, whatever the age.

In fact I have written an article pointing to the fact that a few of our "Welfare Societies" are neutering both male and female dogs as young as SIX WEEKS

A number of breeders are doing the same, This is purely for financial reasons, and certainly not for the wellbeing of the pups.

It is simply to keep to keep the prices artificially high.

Owners cannot breed from these poor dogs and the breeder them corners the market.

This is especially prevalent in some breeders of Australian Labradoodles, and Minidoodles, but other breeders are involved as well.

May I recommend that you never ever buy from a breeder that is prepared to mutilate a tiny puppy.

I know of a case recently, where the breeder sold siblings (two dogs from the same litter) which on its own is a recipe for disaster, and something very few good breeders would ever recommend. See "Siblings the Worst of Both Worlds" But to compound the problem she had both of them neutered at six weeks.

The buyer was warned but chose to ignore that advice. I have now heard that one of these dogs has hip dysplacia. Sad

It is not just the owner that will suffer. As these poor little dogs start to grow and start to reach maturity. They will become more and more anxious, distressed, and frustrated. It is these poor dogs that will be impaired for the rest of their lives, both physically and mentally. It is an absolute travesty that we can allow these people to do this to young pups.


Please add your name to this petition and register your concern. thank you CLICK HERE

Grave Concerns

I believe that for the behavioural health of our dogs this advice and practice must stop. See the RSPCA article. Click Here


This in depth scientific study involved 0ver 7500 dogs


Rather than those that were allowed to mature naturally before attempting this operation.

As behavioural consultants and obedience trainers, I find that we are treating many more cases where dogs are displaying (paedomorphic) tendencies.

That is puppy like behaviour's in adult dogs, which I believe is related to the incidence of early spaying and neutering.


This can cause the female to become aggressive and protective in adulthood. Neutered young males can also attract attention from full males.

In some cases these poor animals are hounded wherever that go by unwanted male attention. Do not blame the males this is caused by neutering while the dogs are still immature and the smell they give of smells like a bitch in season.

The statement below comes from a group of highly respected Vets that are known as (2) The Angry Vets. See end of article for more information

"Spaying and neutering not only potentially shortens the lifespan but also has been correlated with various illnesses." 

"Obesity (sometimes not even responsive to extreme calorie restriction), osteoarthritis, Anterior Cruciate Rupture, diabetes, hypothyroidism, prostatic cancer, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, juvenile vulva." 

"These are just a few conditions that are overly represented  in spayed and neutered pets."

I asked the members of PAACT  “The Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers” to start to monitor the dogs they were treating and to record the time they were spayed and neutered. Their feedback bore out my initial findings.

paact logoOther ares of concern are Annual Vaccinations. This practice can have very grave consequences on our pets cats as well as dogs. Read my article outlining the major health issues created by (3) Annual Vaccinations

When Should we Spay and Castrate?
With regard to castration, I believe that males should not be castrated until they have been cocking their leg for at least one month, and should be at least 10 to 36 months of age (depending on size and breed). The larger the breed the later they mature. Therefore something like a German Shepherd would be much later than the 10 months stated. Probably more like 18 months. Unless of course there are medical or serious behavioural issues to take into consideration.

In females, I believe that they should have at least one season if they are very small dogs, but preferably two. If they are medium to large,  then a minimum of two seasons. Giant breeds such as great danes etc a minimum of 3 seasons. 

You must wait approximately 3 months after the season before considering spaying,, allowing the internal organs to settle down after the season.

However dogs  are all different, and can mature at different rates. Some are shy, nervous or have short attention spans. You should think long and hard before taking a decision to neuter, as it may be a decision you may bitterly regret.

dog aggressionAggression


Despite popular belief spaying does not calm a female dog down. It may help to calm hormonal aggressive behaviour's to other intact males, but not female dogs.

How could it when you are removing hormones that affect neurotransmitters that stimulate and upload calming agents?

There appears to be a testosterone surge  between 10 and 24 months depending on breed and size. Which clearly turns on a dormant hard-wired programs that establishes this cocking behaviour. Male dogs also produce Progesterone.

Progesterone and testosterone switches on many of the hard-wired behaviour's we see in maturity, and are not isolated to just one action Therefore other functions that are not so obvious may be also switched on at this time.

These may have social implications and behavioural effects, that aid in the development of dogs psychological and physical growth. If we switch these off by neutering or castrating too early we may be denying the opportunity achieve both mentally and physically the dog’s full adult potential.



Fearful dogs can be caused by neuteringFearful and Timid Dogs
To neuter a fearful or timid dog could certainly worsen the problem.

The hormones you are removing are involved in calming and serotonin uptake. Therefore giving confidence to dogs that are sensitive and nervous in certain situations.

I have seen many dogs neutered that suffer far worse symptoms after the operation, and are far more difficult to treat for their fearful behaviour, than before the neutering.

Think long and hard before making a decision on either peer pressure or vet advice before embarking on this option.

Their are alternatives which could give you strong indicators how your dog will be affected by this procedures.;

Tardak is a short term chemical castration, lasting approximately five weeks. However I feel it is not as positive as a new chemical castration such as Suprelorin that in a small dog could last a year,  and a large dog six to nine months.

Can Neutering also cause physiological problems?
Because early neutering removes sex hormones, this delays maturation of “osteoclasts” resulting in the delayed closing of the growth plates of the long leg bones. This can create leggy taller than average dogs, thereby increasing the risk of  orthopedic disorders such as cruciate ligament disease, Hip problems and bone cancer.



It has been observed that spaying can significantly increase the risk of urinary incontinence in bitches. And the term "Spay Incontinance" is a common term  Early neutering also increases risk of urethral sphincter incontinence in males (A. Aaron et al., Vet Rec. 139:542-6, 1996.)


A small portion of dogs suffer torn cruciates as an injury caused through exertion. The agility, working gundogs and heelwork to music type dogs.However it is now accepted that the vast majority of the dogs that suffer from this debilitating injury have been neutered.

ACL Anterior Cruciate Ligament and HD Hip Dysplacia,is on the increase new Research has now shown that dogs over 4 years old that are spayed or castrated are considerably more likely to suffer cruciate tears and hip dysplasia, than dogs that are uneutered.

In conclusion:
Neutering, should be done if at all, at the right time and for the right reason and on the right dogs, thereby allowing your dogs to reach full maturity in both body and mind. I believe that a full psychological and physiological set of tests and experiments should be scientifically undertaken, to study the effect of early castration and spaying on all our animals, not just dogs and cats.


I was asked by numerous people to write an in depth article on neutering dogs, which explains in far more detail the surgical procedures, risks, and what the hormones removed by this procedure actually do, and their importance to the dog both physically and mentally. Click NEUTERING IN DEPTH

Article written by.
Stan Rawlinson MTCBPT. MPAACT A.dipCCB
Chairman and Founder Member
Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers.
Contact details for PAACT
0208 979 2019



(2) The Angry Vets

(3) Annual Vaccinations

Please CLICK HERE for the review

This is also a very interesting scientific overview that may concern many people, And was done by a well respected Vet Chris Zink DVM PhD DACVP


Further Information

Exact figures for the UK are uncertain, but it is generally accepted that there are around seven million dogs and nine million cats, which is a 5-year upward spiral for the cats and a slight decline in the number of dogs. This reflects out changing lifestyle with the trend for smaller housing, staying single and both adults fully employed, this would tend to make a cat an easier option.

Approximately 135,000 stray dogs per annum are picked up in the UK . 400 are destroyed every week. In the USA the figures are very different, they have almost 70 million dogs almost twice as many per household as the UK. 8 million to 12 million dogs and cats are euthanised annually. It has been suggested that only 50% of all dogs born in the USA will survive to see their second birthday. This is not because they are not caring or loving owners, but simply because they have no organised program for neutering and spaying.

The USA has many more latchkey dogs than the UK , therefore creating far more unwanted pregnancies. Left to there own devices. two dogs and their offspring can produce 67,000 young over a 6-year period. Two cats and their offspring can produce 420,000 over a 7-year period.


They generally have no problem with spaying; it is the castration that causes the concern. Yet the opposite is true from my female clients. Who often tell me that their husbands will not entertain their dog being emasculated. yet the wives have no problem with the concept. I wonder why?


The Effects of Spaying and Neutering
on Canine Behavior


Cynology College

More articles by James O'Heare can be found at Dog Psychology.



Yeah right I totally agree with you! The hormones you are removing are involved in calming and serotonin uptake. Therefore giving confidence to dogs that are sensitive and nervous in certain situations. fKeep up the good work and Godbless!

Thanks for the above article as I was almost swayed into early spaying a bitch I've just got. It helped me see sense. I have an older bitch to be done and I've waited for her to mature and at now 3 1/2 years I think she can be done but my new one I believe has been saved from early spaying. She's just 5 months and I was going to get them done at the same time. Thank the lord I saw this article,


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