Hunting Forum

I have heard that if you neuter/spay your dog it will take the drive out of them. Well, my pup is getting about that age and I still haven't decided what to do. Is there any merit to this saying? I do not plan on breeding my dog but it would be nice to have that option later on if I wanted to.

The only drive it takes out of them is the drive to make puppies. It also removes things that could possibly be health issues in the future. Do it and everything you want out of your dog you'll get WITH GOOD AND PROPER TRAINING. Training can be fairly easy or it could test your sanity depends on the dog. I had a beagle once that one day at about two months started scratching the door to go out to visit the restroom I hadn't yet started on house breaking him and I've had others that I thought about ending their training with a 22lr. Each has its own personality just like you or I. Good luck, good hunting.

Bill, I realize we could start a whole new argument here.....Ol Abe still has his balls and has never had none....actually I would have bred him once just to have a pup from him, but I wanted good hunting dog meat retrievers as the bitech....Abe's ancestory is such that he is not AKC and I never bothered to do a DNA test....he has out performed MANY Champ dogs in the field and I have been offered $10K for him....nope...
I have known Abe's vet since she was nine years old....her advice was if I like his aggressiveness, drive and desire, don't cut him....unless a problem health wise occurs...

Your main concern should be the health of the dog.  If you do not intend to breed it is in the best interest to fix the dog especially if a female. a female left to go into continuious heat without being bred has a higher risk of developing cancer in the female reproductive system.  Males on the other hand after recent studies are better left intact.  I have never heard of drive issues I have 5{1}*****es 4 intact and 1 fixed.  No difference,  My male is the only one and all the drive I can ask for.  I would really research the bloodline prior to a final decision as it is final no going back!

I've never had any hunting dog, whether it was a hound, pointer or retriever, neutered; but, I've been blessed with some damn good dogs and excellent bloodlines. The opportunities of breeding my hunting dogs always presents itself and I'm not above getting a pup or making some cash when the opportunity comes along.

I did have a big Walker dog leave the box one morning with his balls intact, but when I finally got him back about a week later.........they were gone! Evidently they just retreated back up into his body, cause he managed to connect with a{1}***** in heat about a year later and produced some damn fine deer hound puppies, and the entire pack got stolen the second damn time I ever turned 'em loose!!!!!!!!

Currently the only dog I have is Jed, a Jack Russell, and I don't believe he'd hold still long enough for anyone to remove his balls and since he's turned out to be such a great blood tracking dog, I'm hoping to be able to breed him to a good running Beagle or another Russell and continuing the trait.











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Tom I'm talking from experience as a hunter and a Veterinary Technician. I in no way meant to infer an intact dog couldn't be a GREAT hunting dog. Then I've known guys who've had a heck of a chase when one or more of their male dogs got wind of a female in heat. Nothin worse than stumbling through the woods in the dark after your coonhounds only to end up in some farmers backyard.

I have 1 intact male and 4 intact females, When the females go in heat a command of leave it is all it takes. Most pro trainers will put a{1}***** in heat on thier truck intentionally with male dogs so they ignore the scent. I have used deer scent to stop my dogs from running deer it becomes common to them they just pay no mind ! Don't get me wrong instinct RULES but a well trained dog will heed your command over instinct!

Shock collers cause disinterest....

I spay/neuter all my dogs and never had any problem with hunting desire. Unless you putting big money down for the dog and intend to breed, do yourself and your neighbors a favor and spay/neuter the dog.

Thanks for all the opinions. I have a male GSP pup and he will be AKC registered soon, just haven't sent in the papers yet. The dog has a good blood line and would hate to later on decide I wanted to bred the dog. I guess he will get to keep them unless for health reasons they need to go.

I've never had a neighbor problem, since I've always had kennels, plus I live in a rural area and my only neighbor is my brother, so I guess I don't understand the comment about " do yourself and your neighbors a favor". Why would someone allow their hunting dogs too run loose in a neighborhood, exposing them to the dangers of being hit by a vehicle, or an attack by a neighborhood bully or bad dog??????

Posted By rthomas4 on 30 Oct 2012 09:33 AM
I've never had a neighbor problem, since I've always had kennels, plus I live in a rural area and my only neighbor is my brother, so I guess I don't understand the comment about " do yourself and your neighbors a favor". Why would someone allow their hunting dogs too run loose in a neighborhood, exposing them to the dangers of being hit by a vehicle, or an attack by a neighborhood bully or bad dog??????

KENNELS!! Gee why would anyone who owns a hunting breed dog have a kennel  DAAA!  Simple solutions are for the intelligent folks not the simple minded