I hate the kind of vet that pressures and that would end my business on the spot definitely letting them know the reason. IMO...I think it's proper for vets to initially ask and I think it's proper for them to have an initial discussion about whether or not someone intends to breed possibly leading into some general information about how to prevent unwanted breedings, health testing, and joining a show or working club to become networked and versed in recommended breeding practices as this may be helpful to some people.
At the same time, regardless of the reason for the owner's desire to keep the dog intact, I feel a vet has an ethical obligation to discuss both the benefits AND potential drawbacks of spaying/neuter because there are are actually some health issues that appear more frequently in altered pets. However, too often S/N becomes an agenda and IMO amounts to irresponsible medicine if scare tactics such as aggression or making the person feel like a terrible owner are used. At the end of the day, I am my dogs' owner and it is my right to have factual, unfiltered information upon which I can make an informed decision that is right for our family.
We are having a real problem across the Chinook breed right now where our breeding population is still *extremely* small and, since it's more difficult to find good homes willing to keep intact females, a common practice is to occasionally place intact males in pet homes to be kept open for evaluation, health testing, and potential breeding under the support and guidance of an experienced breeder. What's happening in certain areas is these vigilante vets, without understanding the situation or knowing anything about the breed, are aggressively pressing these owners to the point where they are made to feel irresponsible and regard dog testicles as the root of all evil known to man. If a dog has an aggression issue, yes, neutering will help and of course would be the recommended course of action. But to suggest that a perfectly mannered 2 year old is going to morph into a monster after already surviving the adolesdent hormone surge is just bologna! MOST behavior problems are a result of insufficient or ineffective training and/or socialization and perhaps a more responsible vet would do better by encouraging more participation in puppy & obedience classes as a means of preventing behavioral issues before they happen in all dogs.
OK...I'll quit...but this thread really hit one of my push buttons!
Debbie
