Some new Research Published
 

For some reason my computer isn't allowing me to open any pdf files, and I am dying to read the whole article.

This was the study that Dr Zink referred to 2yrs ago when I attended her excellent seminar.

Behavioral and Physical Effects of Spaying and Neutering Domestic Dogs


Summary of findings detailed in a Masters thesis submitted to and accepted by Hunter College by Parvene Farhoody in May, 2010.
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Another interesting and ongoing study. Results are not what I would have expected to be honest.
Including a difference in bone length was found between neutered and intact dogs, suggesting that neutering has an effect of increasing bone growth. I wonder if this affects bone density at all.

Summary
The above data is just a small sample of the significant data that were determined in this study. By using large a sample of dogs than any used previously to examine behavior in dogs, we found significant correlations between neutering dogs and increases in aggression, fear and anxiety, and
excitability, regardless of the age at which the dog was neutered. There were also significant correlations between neutering and decreases in trainability and responsiveness to cues. The other three behavioral categories examined (miscellaneous behavior problems, attachment and attention-seeking behavior, and separation-related behavior) showed some association with neutering, but these differed more substantially depending on the age at which the dog was neutered. The overall trend seen in all these behavioral data was that the earlier the dog was neutered, the more negative the effect on the behavior. A difference in bone length was found between neutered and intact dogs, suggesting that neutering has an effect on bone growth, which may be related to other orthopedic effects documented in the literature. Examination of changes in bone length of gonadectomized dogs is continuing.

That's really interesting. Those results definitely contradict conventional wisdom about behavioral changes after neutering.

That is really interesting and good to know. Thanks.

Yes it does, but it is not the only research to do so. Just the latest and with such a large sample of over 10,000 dogs.

To my mind it is very important research and one that I will go through with fine toothed comb to understand it very well.

Thanks for sharing. Is the entire research article available? I would like to read the entire research from methodology to the type of research design. I just finished a course on research and I'm curious to know if the research was done on a random sample of dogs. If so, how did the researchers compare breeds, etc. I can look to see if I can find it in my university library and will post it if I can. Thanks again! Very interesting.

I'm not sure, I am having p.c. problems in opening files. But my understanding the research was done on Viszla's only. On the questionnaire side over 10,000 respondents to an approved questionnaire.

If you do find the whole paper, I'd love a link to it:)

Science doesn’t change with one or even 10 studies; it will take many replications of this study, before we can rule out any type of other variable that could cause this effect. Also, this study was a survey, based on a questionnaire, not my favorite type of study, there is so much room for human error. I’m not sure if it was random or not, they did use a lot of dogs, 10,839 which if there were any differences at all between the groups it would show as statistically significant. The summary doesn’t say if the intact females who were shown to be less aggressive, had ever giving birth, which would be an important variable. I just think there are so many variables, such as the way these dogs were raised. We all know that the way you treat a dog can make it more aggressive. To be valid, in my opinion, the dogs should have been treated the same their whole lives.

I hope these studies don't change the notion that neutering is the best thing we can do for not just our dogs, but all dogs in this country. While I’m not in favor of early age neutering, I’m afraid people will just stop neutering all together. Most people don’t have much of a science background and can be easily swayed. All you have to do is look at other countries where neutering isn't common and see the abundance of starving dogs and you’ll really know what an aggressive dog is. We already are killing millions of dogs each year. One unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. Every pet owner thinks that they are responsible, but the truth is too many aren't. Studies like this should be viewed with caution until more is known.

Valid points Nancy. How-ever where do you get your stats from one unaltered female dog? That seems like a whole lot of puppies. Being birthed in the wild, and raised to maturity to reproduce again.

This study in no way is purported to be any indictment of deciding to neuter your dog/bitch.

It is research. Pure and simple. And it is not the only research out there. Just one that surveyed a whole lot of Viszla owners.

Dog owners need to be kept informed, of what is out there.

Nancy I have been in a whole lot of countries with "starving" dogs, and yes as a visitor, but those dogs were never aggressive to me or mine.

India, Cuba to name two.

I do not Believe that wholesale neutering is the best thing to do for our dogs from a health perspective. So let us see the retrospective studies that actually SHOW that neutering is responsible for a reduction in dogs at a shelter. If you have the research links please provide them.

I also don't believe as no-one has shown me on here or elsewhere the efficacy of the neutering policy we have had in place, for many years.

I do believe that for most pet owners, neutering is probably the best option for them! To me the timing of said operation is critical, to minimize the risks.

I do know that this is a "hot topic" here, given some of our members. It is also a hot topic with me.

Call me foolish, but I do believe that intelligent people can come to a rationale decision, along with their vet's advice.

In nowhere ever here have I advocated for the indiscriminate breeding of dogs. In fact to the contrary. What I am very very passionate about is the health of dogs being bred, and being owned.

Well said :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: It is true that a qualitative study such as this does have more room for human error. It would be interesting to see a quantitative study based on data collected comparing something like bone fractures on neutered/spayed and in tact dogs. It seems unlikely that neutered/spayed dogs would be more aggressive and like you said, questionnaires can be very subjective. Another variable, besides environment, that could have affected the outcome would be a genetic predisposition to aggressive tendencies. I would hope that people would not decide to keep their pets in tact based on a couple studies but then again, I know people who have based decisions in life on one study that later proved to be wrong (autism/vaccinations).

[QUOTE=gemy;4011304]For some reason my computer isn't allowing me to open any pdf files, and I am dying to read the whole article.

This was the study that Dr Zink referred to 2yrs ago when I attended her excellent seminar.

Behavioral and Physical Effects of Spaying and Neutering Domestic Dogs


Summary of findings detailed in a Masters thesis submitted to and accepted by Hunter College by Parvene Farhoody in May, 2010.
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...

It may be a Google Docs thing...my browser is complaining that not all Google Docs features are supported...so I don't know what might be missing.

Thanks for this link.

bumpity bump

I did not find this in my University library. :rolleyes: I did a google search and was only able to see the summary. Anyway, still interesting even though I would love to see the whole thesis. Thanks!:)

Again very interesting.

Weather I fully personally agree with the ideal or challenging spay neuter and my personal experience with unaltered dog agression is different...I definately would like to see further research on this topic.

I know my choice to allow a female to hace a couple heats because in my experience and my trainers we beleive it aids temperment.

Such various issues like above should always be consideted for research so we can truly learn what faxtors to consider and what is actual best....per breed age size etc.


For the sake of saying so my Princess had a spay abortion. She went into heat about 2 months earlier than anticipated and her spay was canceled, I went into labor with baby Marek abd during all the events Elvis broke through a door over 2the gates and jumped from a table 3 almost 4 feet to her pen...I thought I was totally safe responsible, accidents happen.

If you can see the "printer icon" try clicking it to see if the doc opens. If you need a pdf creator, get PrimoPDF and/or NitroPDF. You can also look for plug-ins. This is a "Google" thing...they want you to use their "Chrome" browser...or at least, that came up on my screen, at first. But, clicking the "printer" icon brought up the document in proper format and I was even able to save it.

You can PM me...I can email you the PDF.

thank you I downloaded the Chrome and got to open the actual document.

Were you able to find the actual research paper that published?

Thank you for posing this info! I'm probably going to be unpopular but I really don't think that neutering and spaying is best for dogs in all situations. On the other hand, I don't think allowing them to follow those urges is best either and I definitely don't believe that most people can be responsible enough to handle a dog with raging hormones. Heck, we can't even handle our kids with raging hormones anymore but that's another whole topic....

You are not unpopular with me! I believe that the public has been grossly mislead about the health "risks" and benefits to the whole spay/neuter question.

I believe that vets do NOT fully inform their clients, about recent research, about breed specific research etc, before saying oh, book your appt at six mths old for FIDO to get neutered/spayed. After all you do want to be a responsible dog owner.

As if that is the only thing that makes one a responsible dog owner:thumbdown

I remember that we took Magic to a new clinic, based on a recommendation from a friend of ours. Our first visit was quite nice. Good intake form, and initial questionning by the vet. At which we were very clear this is a SHOW dog we are breeders. The next visit for "shots", same vet same place, same presumable health record. He said well it is time to book his neuter. Six months old is a good time. Our jaws dropped! We said are you kidding me? Oh he said well most dogs do well with early neutering. I said what part of SHOW dog and breeders did you not hear the last time we were in? Is there some structural or health anomaly you are seeing that drove you to recommend to us this boy be neutered???? Awh, stutter stutter stutter. No, he said I just believe all dogs should be neutered. Again our jaw dropped. We said then where do you think well bred, purebred dogs are going to come from? He said wow, you two are very hostile. We said thank you very much for your time we are OUT OF HERE. And we didn't pay for that visit either. Incompetent poop!

And when the preponderance of the research builds on pre puberty spaying, and negative health effects, in particular for large breed dogs; I will be advising the public not to "adopt" a large breed dog that has been neutered prior to boney growth plate closure.

While Yorkies might and do undergo FHO surgery successfully, the outlook is very grim for a 80-100 lb dog.

My contract will also change soon, to require owners to neuter at an appropriate age for their dog, and to safeguard the dog until then!. Otherwise certain parts of my health warranty will be null and void!

For the sake of saying so Elvis is not altered he has several medical issues.

I am still very torn on not having altered him and will have to make the descision sooner than later when he has full debtals and extractions done.

I am very pro spay neuter...but yes I have to say there are cases involving medical issues when you have to weigh the risks on both sides heavily.

I am sorry but this research was done as a master thesis. It means it was not done by phds or dvms. It was not done at any of the veterinary schools. It was not from a credible source such as the JAVMA (Journal of the AVMA). If all of these things were true it would have been a major topic at the AVMA convention in San Diego last month.

Great points, I didn't even notice that, as I stated before, one study doesn't really prove anything, it may just prove that the study was designed wrong, or the results were a statistical fluke. Already people seem to be taking it as proof neutering is bad, not just early vs. late, but neutering in general. If it has any valid points it will be printed in a reputable journal, where they will discuss it and replicate it.