leih merigian wrote: I don't even know how to download stuff to a phone...so this may be way too much of a pain in that situation (just so Christie knows that's not aimed at her). Actually, it's not aimed at anyone...just responding to the replies<g>.
LOL - I can't even figure out how to send a PM from my phone. I can post, but its an effort and the keys are SO tiny. Also, although I know I shouldn't, I often read the forum in the car.....but tend not to type and drive.
leih merigian wrote:
This weekend, when I believe she'll be over it, she'll get to romp with her boyfriend (next door male labradoodle who is huge). I think he's neutered, but I've heard of neutered dogs and females in heat being able to get it on (I think that was Christie's story)...
Yeah - that was my hussy of a dog. I neutered Dante at 2 years old when I got him. He never was bred. I moved back to MI in late 2002, so Willow must have been atleast 3 at the time and Dante atleast 7 (5 years after his brain surgery
). I saw that they were wrestling more when she was in heat and she would stand for him, but just felt sorry for the poor guy. One day I'm talking on the phone and looking out the window, only to turn around and see them tied in the doorway- both looking at me innocently like "What? We were just standing here the whole time." I probably should have taken it as a hint to prevent further occurrences, but I was like "Who's it hurting?"
Sugars Mom wrote:Wouldn't that be interesting...a Dutchie Labradoodle mix!
I do know a breeder that was approached by someone wanting to buy a malinois puppy. They felt that it was very important for them to produce maladoodles. They would be all the rage!!!
k9katet wrote:Hopefully. Vada always left hers on. They're not on that much though. And always supervised. I'm sure I'll be reminded the hard to to take them off before sending her outside to potty.
Ummmmm - yeah. Icky!!
Let me know how you like the panties. I am a die hard boxer or boxer brief girl. I haven't found anything that seemed as comfortable for them and as effective.
vneerland wrote:
Links, okay. Interesting but the 'caninesports' is very incomplete reading. While some of the facts might be true, there are glaring omissions (like the risks for unspayed bitches) and no true statistics to support the claims, leading to some loss of credibility. Like I said, I am not an opponent of spay/neuter for 'no' reason, and certainly never at a very young age. But I am not convinced yet that you shorten your dogs lifespan by neutering/spaying. As it stands, I assume that you swap some ailments (especially when you spay/neuter after the dog reaches maturity) but that spayed or neutered mature animals actually have the health edge.
Curious what our vets would have to say about this.
I'm not a vet, but I did research the crap out of it when I worked at the vet clinic. It drove them all crazy when I had opinions that were different than the company motto.
I have a ton of respect for Dr. Christine Zink who wrote the Canine Athlete paper. She goes into more scientific detail in other publications. The posted link was for a more layman seminar. But I think that delayed growth plate closure is her number one concern for working dogs.
I agree that you are trading one set of ailments for others. Early spay/neuter does delay growth plate closure, eliminates the formation of secondary sex characteristics and behaviors (sometimes that could be good), increases incidence of incontinence in females, alters a dog's ability to self regulate food intake and I think one study said that fixed animals have a higher percentage of cruciate rupture (maybe due to fatter dogs?). All of these findings were based on a population that was spayed/neutered at 7 weeks. In fact they did 7 weeks, 7 months and not at all. The biggest difference laid with those altered at 7 weeks - with little difference between 7 months and not at all.
There are only 2 things that I can think of that would alter a dog's life span. I think there was one study demonstrating that neutered males had a higher incidence of osteosarcoma. But I can't remember if there was an age cut off, or just altered vs not. If they were just looking at the number of reported dogs with the disease then that could be a skewed statistic. Typically, people who alter are more dedicated pet owners (as a population compared to people who don't) and notice things.
The other thing that I think could lead to an overall shorter life expectancy (as a population of dogs) is the inability of the dog to be able to go through a puberty stage. I just think it would be a very interesting study to look at dogs that were altered at a very young age and see what their surrender rates are and incidence of severe behavior problems that lead to euthanasia (anxiety...etc). Just a thought.
On the flip side, altered pets have a lower incidence of mammary cancer, prostate issues and roaming (which can severely lower life expectancy. So I think it really comes down to how responsible do you WANT to be and when do you feel is the right cut off for your dog?
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. She still loves her RMBs, but the ground stuff? Not so much.