Sprayed and Neutered

First, let's look at the cases in which you would want to avoid neutering your dog. These cases might include dogs that will be used for breeding, working dogs such as police or fire dogs, as well as personal protection dogs. With these dogs, neutering them can have consequences on their behavior that wouldn't be conducive to the type of activity that they'll need to be used for - especially in the case of breeding (duh!).

If you think your dog shouldn't be neutered, you'll also need to consider the breed of dog you'll be raising. If you're raising an aggressive dog like a Rottweiler or Pit Bulls, then obviously you'll want to consider neutering this type of dog. But if you're raising a breed of dog that traditionally does not exhibit aggressive behaviors, you may want to give it a second thought. Make sure to find out more about your dog's breed before you consider your options.

In what cases do you want to neuter your dog?

These cases are widespread and appear frequently in most peoples' interactions with dogs. The aforementioned "aggressive" breeds should definitely be neutered in order to maintain less aggressive behavior. But in what other cases will you want to neuter your dog?

If you are raising a dog simply as a family pet, there's a good chance you'll want to have it neutered at a young age. This type of dog will probably do fine neutered, as it wouldn't have been used for hunting or police work anyway. If you're not raising your dog from a puppy but have instead adopted a dog, you'll also want to have this neutered. Some people will say that having some of these older dogs neutered will actually add years to their life.

Most veterinarians will tell you that neutering a dog is the best way to go if you're simply raising a family pet. But if you have other considerations to make in your dog's behavior, make sure to consult your vet before you have anything done. Make a solid, educated decision that fits your dog's specific circumstances.

Photo Credits: Brett L.