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Often times I hear people say castrated dogs do not wander, won't be fighters & will live longer. All 3 of these claims are questionable in my view. A dog's acquired behavior may be an issue in some cases. This would occur when dogs are castrated after maturity. Acquired behavior frequently eclipses the goals of castration. 

However, in cases when dogs are castrated before they develop secondary maleness, they may still wander, breed & fight. The practice of premature castration is in my view cruel for obvious reasons. All should know, castration may shorten a dog's life. Dogs that are castrated tend to gain weight rapidly and may be put on diets that are less nutritious in order to combat the weight gain. Skeletal issues may also surface due to the weight gain.Low calorie diets with reduced values may and usually do make a dog feel weak, miserable & allergy is not uncommon. Dogs tend to be hungry and weaken, as a result of the reduced calories & the lack of better ingredients.

The counter argument in favor of castration is the possibility of testicular & prostate cancers. These cancers appear to be remote. Since 1985 I have communicated with dozens of breeders regarding this issue. Most have never had a dog with either cancer.

In the National best seller Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote pg. 182, you will discover an important fact about castration. Merle a mixed breed rescue is castrated & has relations with a Jack Russel bitch. Through out the book Merle wanders & demonstrates hunt & fight drive. This is perhaps a result of acquired behavior, as mentioned earlier.

 Castration is a tool that is often times warranted. I have known dogs with aggression problems where castration made a difference. I just have a problem with automatic-random-haphazard castrations. The notion of castration preventing pregnancy does not work in my opinion, unless the pet owner is irresponsible.

Once again, Merle's Door is a wonderful read. Make certain you have a hanky or a box of kleenex within reach.