Spay or Neuter?

Let me start off by saying I am not against spaying or neutering. 5 Million pets a year are entered into shelters. To spay a female can reduce the amount of pets exponentially.

I have been asked by most of my customers if they should spay or neuter and most of the time we are talking about puppies or very young dogs. This is where I differ somewhat from mainstream. I would prefer to wait for a male to be past 7 months for a normal breed or one year for a giant breed. Females should be spayed just before their first heat to make the surgery easier.

The reason I feel this way is because dogs need to grow as much as possible before you shut off the hormone supply. Many people would regret getting the surgery too early if they knew the dog wouldn't grow to full potential.

Myths surrounding these procedures are that they will stop certain behaviors or calm down. Dogs will only change with training or experience. You cannot give a dog a random chemical and expect it to stop peeing. The same goes for removing one. The reason to spay or neuter is only to control pet population. No other reason is valid. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to ask.

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Adam Madore
professional dog trainer with Artisan

dog training
Lexington / Nicholasville