and how do you achieve that? that they will never get the chance.

so what if one day, they meet a female who was in season and at the right time in her season that one of them showed a particular interest and nothing brought them back??? Im sorry, but no one can guarantee how interested a dog will every time they meet an in season female, and even if they have the best recall in the world, testosterone could easily over ride that. I feel so strongly about this, I got my jake from the SSPCA as a 7 week old pup. He was as result of an accidental litter, stuck in a teeny concrete kennel with his littermates. Im sorry but that is not what I want for more dogs, especially when you can walk around the kennels and see so many dogs desperately in need homes, but there just aren’t enough available. I think the responsible thing to do, is make sure 100% your dog cannot add to that, and to me that is by keeping them on lead cause you cannot predict the behaviour all the time. that is my opinion and I am entitled to it!


no, im not. and i think no one can guarantee how a dog will react every time they meet an in season bitch.

Good post, I am also amazed at the number of people who can have such excellent control over their dogs, that they can guarantee that they will never cause an accidental litter.

not in public, no. if they have a secure place where no females will be, then yes but not in a public place. and why are show dogs being brought into this? What difference does it make if it is a show dog or a pet dog?

Where did I say that? considering I have a dog who doesn’t get let off lead in the park, and is on a long line, I wouldn’t say that!! but I think a dog that is driven by testosterone is no guarantee! Yes some dogs may have good recall, and it may be good around some in season bitches, no one can guarantee they will always have the reaction!!

that is a very good point, neutering is a common procedure and yes maybe for some dogs it goes wrong, but the percentage of that must be low.

I'll ask you again cos you seem to have missed it the first time, then I'll answer your question.

When do you think they'll get the chance?

So if your dog died under anaesthetic during an operation that wasn't necessary you'd be ok with that?

it isnt the easy option, it is a safe one where owners can have the piece of mind that there isnt any chance that their dogs contributes to the already high numbers of unwanted dogs. that is the last thing i would ever what me and jake to end up causing.

do you have them off lead in a public place? then they could easily get the chance then, i dont know enough of your personal circumstances around where and how you walk your dogs to answer that directly for you.

i dont see neutering as an unnecessary operation though.

I don't get the 'if it ain't broken don't fix it' thoughts, it is not about fixing a problem, it is about ensuring there is no possiblity of your dog reproducing, to me it is worth it, I get if people are wanting to breed or keeping their options open. With Scratch there were other reasons I chose to as well.
I don't think you can guarantee 100% it won't happen, and it is not necessarily a reflection of the dog owner, it is just that there is the possiblity, you can reduce the chances but not rule it out entirely.
I know there are responsible entire dog owners out there but there are so many ones that aren't and I wouldn't want to have to worry everytime I went out that there are foolish owners out there with their dogs or roaming free dogs.
Maybe it is different depending on where you live?
For the record I guess I should say Jed is entire (it is not my decision, otherwise he would be) and I have limited control over that.

I'll answer that Lozzi...show dogs should have two normal descended testicles so you will be penalised for showing a dog without them, unless you have permission from the Kennel Club to show a neutered dog. As I mentioned in my post, it isn't supposed to make a difference to the judge but it is quite rare that a dog without testicles will be placed over a dog of equal merit that has his testicles. Therefore, those of us who own show dogs tend not to have them neutered except for medical reasons but still let them off lead for exercise. Hope this helps

Now that I find offensive! You think those of us who do neuter/spey wouldnt care if our dogs died?

Just as a matter of interest would anyone own up on here if they had had an accidental mating?

lozzi hun, I show and breed my dogs, I dont see why my dogs should lead some sort of second class life because of that, being confined to a lead all the time,

I do know how my dogs will behave round in season bitches, I have two bitches that come into season twice a year,
you do also get some bitches at shows, that are just coming in/out or in season {they shouldnt be there but they are,} so I know how my dogs will behave round bitches they dont live with,
I cant think of any bitch I have met on a walk thats in season,
my dogs dont have a good recall most of the time, they have 110% recall all of the time,
to add to that, I dont let my dogs run up to strange dogs in the park {yes believe it or not they come back to me when they see another dog}
so the chance of them stumbling over an in season bitch while off lead is highly unlikely,.

and lets be honest, owners of bitches should be taking some responsibility as well.

I think your hearts in the right place, but you dont think things through very well.

you base your views on what you see in your own dogs? remember some dogs are far more responsive to commands than jake is to yours at the moment.