One of the most common reasons for a male dog not to be castrated is the horror of such an idea felt by his male owners. To a lot of men, removing his dogs testicles is akin to having his own removed and their blood runs cold at the mere thought.
However, dogs don't value their testicles in the same way as men do!!
We'll start with some of the most common misconceptions about castrating a male dog:
Rover isn't going to care either way. Sex and reproduction is nothing more than a basic animal instinct to procreate. Dogs do not have sex because they enjoy it and they certainly don't lie in their beds at night fantasising about having sex!
Castrating your dog will not affect his temperament in terms of him being happy or sad. He's not going to be sad and upset because he doesn't have a huge set of balls dangling between his legs. He probably won't even notice they're missing after surgery.
All castrating does is stops the testosterone that courses through his body. Having him castrated will not affect his strength, stamina or determination in any way. Castration is not going to affect his natural instinct to guard and protect his family and home. His guarding instinct is more affected by his environment, training and genetics - not the amount of hormones he has.
Not if you don't allow it to happen, he won't. Some castrated dogs can be slightly more prone to weight gain due to a slower metabolism but as long as you feed him the correct amount and keep him exercised and active, he will not be any more at risk of gaining weight than an entire dog.
Neither is lying on the sofa, barking at dogs and cats on Planets Funniest Animals and eating dry kibble from a bowl - so bang goes that theory!
Why? Animals have no conception of virility, sexuality or ego. Their feelings and emotions are instinctive and he's not going to suddenly want to start wearing a pink collar because he's been castrated and he's not going to wilt in a corner, traumatised because he has no balls!
Unless you plan to do all the relevant tests and health checks and use your dog to breed, then he should still be neutered. It doesn't matter if he's a pedigree or a mutt - it doesn't change the fact that there are already millions of dogs in rescue centres due to indiscriminate breeding.
The cost of neutering goes on the size and age of the dog concerned. It is generally less expensive to neuter a male dog than it is a female since it is a relatively simple, straight forward procedure due to the organs being on the outside of the body. Also, many rescue centres and animal aid charities offer free or reduced priced neutering for pets. However, you should have considered all the costs that go with owning a dog before you got one. If you think that this is expensive, you should consider buying a goldfish instead of a dog.
This is a good one. You're only removing the production of testosterone - not taking years off his life or stunting his growth. For the most, your puppy will mature mentally in the same way as if he was entire.
No reason not to neuter your dog. There is no guarantee that any puppy would be "just like Rover" because you're not actually cloning him. Plus there are more than enough puppies and dogs in rescue centres and being put to sleep because Rover's owners felt like this. If you want another puppy or dog, consider giving a home to one from a rescue centre.
The main reason to neuter your dog (whether male or female) is to control the population of dogs in the world.
However, there are medical and behavioural reasons as well.
By removing the testicles, the procedure eliminates the possibility of Rover ever developing testicular cancer or other testicular diseases.
It also significantly reduces the chances of prostate gland disease, infection, cysts or cancer. Just like human males, older dogs can suffer from an enlarged prostate gland, known as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. This is caused by years of exposure to testosterone, causing the prostate to get bigger and bigger. The enlarged prostate means that the dog has difficulty or cannot urinate. Being unable to urinate is a horrific way to die.
Although research has not come to a definite conclusion, most veterinary urologists agree that the likelihood of infection, disease or cancer of the prostate is reduced in dogs that have been neutered when young. A small prostate is a healthy prostate.
Older, intact males can often develop cancer of the glands that are located in the skin around the anus (perianal adenocarcinoma). This condition can lead to severe and very painful ulcers around the anus which might require extensive surgery to repair. They are also more prone to developing a perianal hernia - a tear in the pelvic wall where organs such as the bladder or rectum can get trapped - which can be life threatening if not treated swiftly.
Of course, it would take years to see the benefits of neutering on a prostate gland but there are many advantages to be seen in the first 30 days of castration.
Now that you've read all this, had all your preconceived ideas blown out of the water, get on the phone and make that appointment with your vet. Your dog will thank you for it - and his rear end will look so much tidier without those huge dangly bits!!