Let's see those bitch pants!

This week we saw something in our training classes we’ve rarely seen before! Two of the dogs were wearing bitch pants! Why are we happy about that? Because it means that we’re getting to a point where normal, healthy bodily functions are accepted. And the trope that all dogs should be spayed or neutered early is starting to fall by the wayside.

When we got our first dog (Spunky, a Boston Terrier and the best friend two young girls could ever have), it wasn’t common to spay/neuter dogs. Spunky was intact most of his life, but by the time he was a senior dog, the world had changed. In those years it became accepted throughout society that “responsible” dog owners neutered their pets. 

The reasoning at the time made sense. The numbers of dogs being euthanized by shelters was obscene, but there was nothing else they could do. It was also a time before “adopt, don’t shop” was a common mantra.

Times change

Just as it’s become virtuous to adopt dogs from shelters or rescues, it’s become the norm that responsible dog owners neuter their pets. And pediatric spay/neuter has become common. Almost all veterinarians buy into it. 

While the spay/neuter movement helped the issue of pet overpopulation, nobody ever studied whether early spay/neuter was good for the dogs. The common view that it prevents reproductive system cancers may be true. But more current research has shown that pediatric spay and neuter can lead to other, serious health issues for the dogs. These include (according to the American Kennel Club’s Canine Health Foundation) increased likelihood of hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and canine cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in neutered dogs. 

Dr. Karen Becker in Dogs Naturally Magazine discusses the risks of pediatric spay/neuter, including abnormal bone growth, hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament injuries, and bone cancer. The article also mentions some other differences, including: “adverse reactions to vaccines,. noise phobias, fearful behavior, aggression, and undesirable sexual behaviors”

Choose what’s best for your dog

We certainly understand why shelters do not leave dogs intact. There is still a problem with pet overpopulation. However, if you have the option, research and consider whether early spay/neuter is the best choice for your dog.

There’s a little Toy Fox Terrier in Hope’s Canine Good Citizen Class on Saturday mornings. This puppy is six months old and a graduate of Hope’s last S.T.A.R. Puppy Class. Her person mentioned that this little girl is scheduled for spay surgery next month. We’ve urged her to do further research and reconsider her options. 

She mentioned that, having acquired her puppy from a responsible breeder, she’d signed a contract that she wouldn’t get the puppy’s official registration papers until proof of spay was provided. This has been a fairly common practice, and is absolutely something responsible breeders require.  

With the health consequences becoming clearer, we’re hoping that more dog owners and breeders will opt for the “Limited Registration” option. This means that while the dog is registered, its offspring (if any) would not be eligible for purebred listing status. 

Do the right thing

If Hope’s student decides to go ahead with her puppy’s surgery, that’s perfectly fine. We have absolutely no problem with people’s decisions if they’ve collected the information necessary to make an informed choice. 

If she chooses to keep her puppy intact until she’s mature, that’s fine, too. We’re getting accustomed to seeing bitches wearing pants in our classes. And we like it.