Neuter Or Not To Neuter My Miniature Pinscher🐾
Contents
A Routine Procedure🐾
Neutering is also known as castration for males and spaying for females. Other terms include ‘altering’, ‘fixing’, ‘de-sexing’ and ‘sterilizing’. ‘The snip’ is also a common slang term used by pet owners to refer to neutering. The topic of neutering dogs has long been a divisive one especially in recent years with many owners, those involved in rescue, trainers, behaviourists and animal health care professionals all feeling passionate about the topic, some being either strong advocates or opponents. And we’d say there is no other subject area where this is more true in the world of dog ownership. It is also true that there isn’t a topic that is as dogged by misinformation and therefore, confusion. The reasons for this is because of the growing awareness of the health implications of early neutering (in particular) dogs through new research in canine health. On this page we will use the lines ‘early neutering’ and ‘neutering before puberty’ interchangeably which mean the same thing. This information is both misunderstood and is being fought by those who are pro-neutering. Neutering has been a point of contention for some of us at Heathside when we sometimes hear unsubstantiated claims and wrongful information being thrown about about it’s benefits and the suppression of the possible health implications. However we believe neutering your dog is a decision that can only be made through personal circumstances. Again our aim is to un-confuse the reader, not just with our own knowledge and experiences but with the necessary links pointing to research into the subject. We hope that the information we provide below will allow you to make an informed decision when it comes to neutering your Min Pin. We will also advise you on the alternatives to neutering as well as how to keep a happy, healthy Min Pin if you decide neutering is not the best for you and your dog.
In the US, pet dogs are neutered usually in puppyhood before puberty is complete as matter of course sometimes even as part of a vaccination visit. It has been an extremely routine procedure for many years and there is little thought and reasoning that goes into it to the point where it isn’t even treated as a decision. The UK has long had a similar attitude towards neutering. Because neutering is so normalised it is easy for the new dog owner in particular to simply swim with the tide on this matter and do what they’re told to their pets (by vets and society) without questioning. Data from the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics for 2017-2018 show that just over 69% of owners have had their dogs neutered but other sources put that figure closer to 80%. Over here in the UK the picture is very similar with the PDSA revealing that as of 2021 71% of UK pet dogs are neutered. America’s enthusiasm towards neutering comes from four decades ago when animal shelters began to have overpopulation problems as some do today. Dogs piling up in shelters has been used over the decades as a justification for all pet dogs to be neutered whether or not they come from shelters with neutering being sold as an answer to dog population control. The thinking is that it’d prevent some owners unnecessarily breeding their dogs and possibly adding to the unwanted dog population. Throughout the decades many campaigns have been created by shelter and rescue organisations as well as vets and pet heath professionals to aggressively push neutering on dog owners. Along with media support has resulted in neutering as a default to be so ingrained in the societal consciousness. Any owners who push against this norm are usually met with criticism regardless of the reasoning owners might have. It has even been made law to have your dog neutered in some US states such as Los Angeles. In European countries such as Norway, it’s illegal to neuter your dog without a serious medical reason for doing so. Interestingly, Norway and other Scandinavian countries do not appear to have an unwanted pet overpopulation problem. Because it has become synonymous with preventing overpopulation of unwanted animals in English-speaking countries, owners who choose not to neuter their dogs are deemed irresponsible. A label most dog owners are keen to avoid. Planned pet breeding aside, there are owners out there who are not careful and allow their dogs to roam and breed producing accidental or unwanted litters but it’s rare. Many owners of unneutered dogs are very responsible, including us. The reasons dogs end up in shelters in 2021 is because of people buying puppies and dogs on a whim only to give them up months later because they simply weren’t prepared for a dog or their circumstances aren’t stable. Something we’ve seen with the puppy craze during the pandemic lockdowns. So regarding the average doting dog owner who treats their pooch as a human child, being labelled as irresponsible and adding to overpopulation by letting them breed indiscriminately. Thus it’s simply not a good argument to justify neutering a pet dog. Neutering has been strongly pushed as a procedure that can massively improve dog health in many ways, a reason why many owners do it and is also where the misinformation comes in. It’s impossible for owners to make a choice without understanding the health advantages and disadvantages of neutering. We believe more education needs to be had about neutering with regards to the new information that has come to light, which has made the answer to the question of whether or not to neuter more complicated.
During the last decade much of the conversation on neutering has centred around new research concerning the physical health implications of early neutering on medium and large breed dogs. In the UK as well US, which has normalised neutering pet animals before they hit puberty, meaning anything from 6 weeks to 6 months old. Other English-speaking nations such as Australia have done the same. Stemming from the decades old problem of unwanted pet over-population, it’s common for shelters and vets neuter dogs as early as 6 weeks old to ensure they will go to new homes without risk of breeding. They sell owners on the idea of neutering by telling them that they will avoid having to deal with the undesirable behaviours associated with being sexually mature, which is typically seen as undesirable for a pet dog (female heat cycles and urine marking). However neutering this early has been shown to cause an array of problems with the dog’s developing brain and body as the hormones which play a major role in development are not present to do their job, as nature intended (see below). This is why we believe, in keeping with new research, that the best age for neutering dogs is after puberty is complete and in Min Pins and other small breeds, this is a year old. But before we go into that, we’ll first discuss the benefits, as well as the perceived benefits, of neutering.
Advantages Associated With Neutering And Spaying🐾
Neutering your Min Pin can come with a few benefits both physiological and behavioural as well as practical from an owners point of view.
- Eliminates testicular/ovarian cancers
- Eliminates pyometra (uterus infection)
- Lowers the risk of mammary cancer (tumours)
- Lowers the risk of urine marking in male and female dogs if neutered prior to puberty (early neutering)
- Potentially lowers the risk of aggression between unneutered male dogs (caveat to this, see below)
- Eliminates the inconvenience of oestrous cycles (heat, seasons) for owners of bitches
It’s important to note that testicular and ovarian cancers aren’t common in healthy adult dogs. When they do occur, they tend occur almost always in senior dogs and they have a particularly high cure rate. Poor analogy perhaps but we humans don’t automatically opt to get castrated and have hysterectomies once we’ve decided not to have children, even though we could prevent the very same cancers/illnesses, so why should our dogs? However regular vet examinations with your older Min Pin will ensure that should anything show up it can be stopped in time. It’s important to know that urine marking and aggression can both be worked on and managed through training. However the other more common health problems in female dogs (bitches) warrant more of a mention.
Mammary Cancer (tumours)🐾
Equivalent to human breast cancer spaying a bitch before her first season can prevent it however the risk is said to rise the more heat cycles (seasons) she has. Some research shows that mammary cancer is hereditary and more common in overweight or obese dogs, as well as the risk increasing with age. On top of that, the average age of mammary tumours is well into the dog’s senior years around 10 years of age. The good news is that tumours that are cancerous have a high cure rate.
Pyometra🐾
This is a more serious condition mostly occurring in older bitches. It is an infection of uterus, where it fills with pus and leakage occurs out of the vagina. Bitches that are not bred from and go for several seasons without impregnation have an increased risk of developing pyometra as her years increase. And the risk is known to be high, around 24% a Swedish study found (remember how Scandinavian dogs are largely unneutered). Un-spayed dogs need to be monitored after each season for signs including reduced appetite, increased thirst, vaginal discharge and general uneasiness. Despite this, if you are not in favour of spaying, see the alternatives below. Otherwise the threat of this condition alone would be a good reason to spay your Min Pin (at the right time) if you are not intending on breeding her..
The Procedure🐾
Neutering is a different for both males and bitches with the procedure being more invasive for bitches.
- Bitches-for a typical spay, the ovaries and uterus are removed through an incision made to the abdomen.
- Males-for a typical castration, both testicles are removed through an incision made to the scrotum.
Aftercare
The PDSA website says “Your dog will wake from their anaesthetic under the careful watch of a vet and/or vet nurse. They will then be placed in a warm, comfortable kennel to recover. Most dogs can return home a few hours after their operation, but some need to be monitored for longer”.
Disadvantages Associated With Neutering And Spaying🐾
As we touched on before the first emergence of new research focuses on the physiological developmental problems in medium and large breed dogs as a result of early neutering (neutering before puberty). This is because reproductive sex hormones have important systemic roles in the development of the skeletal system (bone development and when to stop growing), muscle growth, tendon and ligament development. Neutering has also been found in multiple studies that early spaying/neutering is responsible for causing certain cancers and severe joint injuries as well as hypothyroidism, obesity, diabetes, incontinence (in females) as well as being the cause of some behavioural issues, in all breeds, big, small, pedigree or mixed. UTI’s and spay incontinence is problem affecting dogs of all breeds which are spayed before puberty ends. Before a female goes into her first heat (season), her genitalia is immature and is undeveloped. Her first heat will change her genitalia however and if spayed after it, the risk of incontinence is far lower. More research has focused on the potential behavioural issues of early neutering which are relevant to all dogs both male and female. Put simply neutering early disrupts and unbalances the natural process caused by the hormonal system in a growing dog, regardless of breed size, disrupting normal bone growth and mental maturity. Evidence suggests the resulting health issues may be varied depending on breed and age factors and show up at different times in a dog’s life as a result of early neutering. We included these studies for the reader to get a grip of the scientifically-backed facts right away and hope they will then research further should they want to. Research into neutering is still novel with studies limited and it has a way to go to addressing how it affects a wider range of breeds especially toy breeds. This is not to say however that the health concerns looked into cannot be applied specifically to the Min Pin. It’s also important to understand that some health problems can result from neutering at any age as it can act as a risk factor. An example are certain cancers and diabetes which Min Pins are prone to. Some conditions more generalised in all breeds such as spay incontinence, hypothyroidism and obesity (weight gain as a result of disrupted metabolic system). Obesity is a condition affecting Min Pins. In terms of physiological conditions, patellar luxation which is a knee condition known to the breed, was found to increase almost threefold in neutered toy dogs–“Neuter status was also a significant risk factor in the current study, with neutered dogs having 2.4 times the odds of patellar luxation compared with entire animals. A study of small and miniature breed dogs in Austria similarly reported that neutered dogs had 3.1 times the odds of being affected with patellar luxation”. It’s worth noting that obesity too can worsen patellar luxation. This, in addition to the behavioural consequences described in the above studies. In light of recent research, the consequences of early neutering seem to be rather heavy. We’ll reiterate that neutering at full maturity (after puberty is complete) is best. You as a Min Pin owner may get a different opinion on when to neuter from your vet. Vets are often seen as trusted sources of knowledge and advice however it’s important to understand that some vets have not updated their knowledge bank with the current scientific findings on canine health and so may still recommend early neutering (usually at 6 months old in the UK). You can seek second or third professional opinions from other vets if you need. It helps if you do not want to neuter your Min Pin to register with supportive veterinary practice. We have had scenarios where vets, instead of remaining impartial and staying professional, actually get their personal opinions and feelings involved when discussing the possibility of not neutering and become quite pushy. The same has happened to some of us regarding alternative diets such as raw feeding. As an owner who just wants the best for their dog the last thing you want is your opinions to be at odds with your vet’s. Alternatives to neutering that some vets are now offering, such as vasectomies and partial spays, can be performed which will effectively sterilise your pet while still keeping their important hormone-producing organs intact, so keep reading. Below we’ll address the widespread belief that neutering is an all-in-one solution for behavioural issues.
Spay and neuter campaigns have been at the forefront of public perception of neutering for decades and often leave out important information about the potential health implictions. RSPCA and other charities use campaigns to help create awareness and educate the public about the benefits of neutering. The example below “real men neuter” addresses the common emotion of some men who feel insecure about castrating their male dogs
Credit: SpayAware.ie
Credit: sagahumanesociety.org
(below) All charities understandably are pro-neutering and offer subsidised neutering either through vouchers or if the owner receives benefits. This is partly because neutering and spaying is often a costly procedure at most vets
Credit: rspca.org.uk
Neutering Myth Buster🐾
Here we discuss some of the most common generalisations you’ve likely heard about dog neutering which are often taken as truth-but, mostly quite frankly, nonsense (sorry)-in the absence of the complete picture as well as the most common statements owners make. The insights we provide are based on the general population of pet dogs and do not account for individual personalities, upbringing, training level and exceptional circumstances, for example, whether the dog is a working dog or involved in competitve sports.
“Neutering will not change your dog’s personality”
Yes, it will 100% have an impact. Definitely. But often not for the better. Early neutering in particular can and does exacerbate manifold certain undesirable personality traits such as anxiousness which may have already been present in that individual dog, as the research above has shown. As well as this, early neutering can result in new behavioural issues such as reactivity in some dogs e.g. with fireworks and with other dogs (see below). Whereas if left intact (unneutered), these traits may either not have been as extreme or even have existed at all. Neutering after puberty (1 year old) is many, many times less likely to change your dog’s personality as his development is already complete making his personality and temperament stable. But neutering might at any age change your dog’s attitude on certain things because of his decline in hormones (keep reading).
“Neutering my male dog will stop him from being aggressive”
The main reason people neuter their male dogs when they’re puppies and before they full mature is because they fear that they’ll become aggressive and want to fight with other male dogs or that they will be more aggressive overall and harder to handle. Owners may have a dog who is personality-wise dominant, meaning over-confident or boisterous around other dogs which is sometimes mistaken for aggression and they come to conclusion that they must get him neutered. The research shows that males neutered before puberty (and females to a lesser degree) are highly likely to show terrible reactivity and aggression towards other dogs, especially intact males. We’ve witnessed this ourselves and so have many owners that we know time and again. So we can confirm it’s a fact. The best approach to deal with a dominant dog is training and understanding that he has a unique personality of his own. Dogs who are dominant and reactive towards other dogs are unlikely to change once neutered and the resulting absence of testosterone can make matters worse e.g. more fearful. Think about the fact that the dog is going from one extreme to another hormone-wise. Often an imposing dominant dog who likes to snap at other dogs either has not had proper socialisation and has had a bad experience in puppyhood and/or is insecure. Taking away his testosterone may mellow him out around humans but may not change his aggression towards others dogs. What it’ll likely do is cause fear-aggression which is a far worse state for the dog to be in as he’s now doubly insecure. Our Mikki being a Min Pin is naturally quite reactive and anxious and we cannot imagine how he’d be if he had his testosterone taken away. Another thing is that owners fail to realise that many young male dogs/puppies are naturally often boisterous and love having rough and tumble play with other dogs, mistaking this behaviour for aggression. Male dogs during adolescence have much more testosterone than adult dogs which is why their behaviour can be challenging. This type of interaction is natural and healthy canine behaviour. Socialisation and training during the first year of a dog’s life will prevent any possible aggression problem as well as other behavioural problems. We also cannot tell you how much anecdotal, first-hand experience we’ve had with well-socialised, unneutered males interacting with others that have been positive. See this video for a perfect explanation of how neutering male dogs does not fix their aggression issues.
“He’s humping the cushions constantly! I’m going to get him neutered!”
Humping is a complex canine social behaviour which is often not directly related to sexual frustration. But it’s oftentimes a positive expression in social situations between dogs. Dogs hump other dogs usually because they are excited and they do it as part of play. Both sexes including neutered dogs also do it. Only in young adolescent dogs will it be an expression of the onset of sex hormones but it is transitory and doesn’t last. Lastly, humping can be an expression of anxiety or something in the dog’s environment that is causing him stress. It can also be caused by a medical problem so it’s best to get your vet to look at him if the humping is excessive. Because of this early neutering is often not what will cause the behaviour to stop. Nevertheless, it appears that it is more about avoiding social embarrassment for us humans than the dogs. We do not believe the decision to neuter should be based solely on your desire to stop this behaviour (it’s not a decision to be taken lightly). If your intact dog is a humper (not all are) the behaviour will probably lessen as he matures and his hormones decline. Humping is also another behaviour that can be managed very successfully through redirection training (see below). This is especially important as some dogs (usually neutered dogs) do not appreciate being humped by boisterous intact humpers, especially if they have fear-aggression towards other dogs.
“Neutering will make your dog calmer”
Another general belief is that dogs will be calmer as a result of neutering. What does this mean exactly? We know that when people say this it is in reference to the undesirable behaviours we’ve already discussed. And we’ve provided answers showing this thinking is either wrong or untrue. But will they have less enthusiasm for life? Yes. Become less energetic? Yes. So would you if your hormones were halted at any point in your life. The hormonal system is very complex and is responsible for the normal functioning of many things including energy levels. Incidently there is a reason why police dogs and many working dogs are left intact because taking away key hormones negatively affect drive and this study found that unneutered dogs were more trainable than neutered ones. Everything that the dog was enthusiastic about prior to neutering may be approached with apathy at worst. If you have an excitable dog (like Min Pins can be) that gets overexcited at everything when on walks, this may decrease after neutering post-puberty. However if the undesirable behaviours your dog shows are not directed at other dogs e.g. lead-pulling, proper training can transform him.
“Neutering stops urine marking in males”
The idea of preventing urine marking particularly indoors is used to promote neutering as early as possible as a blanket solution. It’s not that clear cut however. Firstly both males and bitches urine mark. Secondly although sometimes problem urine marking indoors such as inside the house can be a result of male hormones, it can also be an expression of anxiety or other behavioural issues. If the dog is not fully housebroken owners can confuse toileting inside with marking. Research shows that early neutering reduces the propensity of urine marking in dogs but it does not completely eliminate it. Meaning there are plenty of neutered male and female dogs out there who still mark their territory indoors (and owners tearing their hair out in confusion). Some dogs are more prone to marking their territory than others.
“Neutering will not make your dog fat”
Yes, it definitely can do. Along with a decline of enthusiasm, the absence of hormones will cause a dog to be less inclined to be physically active compared to an intact dog. Owners who’ve never had an intact dog may not understand the differences between them and those that are neutered. Neutering means the entire hormonal system is, for want of a better word, destroyed. This has all kinds of consequences on the metabolic system where weight gain is inevitable. Because dogs also lose their ability to regulate their metabolism naturally they can therefore eat more than they need if given the chance. Consistent weight gain tends to be the most common and widespread issue amongst neutered dogs. The problem is that the majority of owners tend to be in denial of how heavy their dogs are especially since many do not feed their dogs according to their ideal weights as well as free-feeding dry food (kibble). PDSA reports that in 2020 78% of veterinary professionals say that there has been an increase in obesity and 46% (2018 but that number is rising) of dogs that come into their practices are overweight or obese. As most dogs in the UK are neutered you can make the reasonable assumption that a large proportion of those dogs with weight problems are neutered. It is worth mentioning here that the Min Pin is one of the breeds prone to weight gain. However the good news is as an owner your dog’s weight is something that you can control. There is only a problem if the owner is not aware on how to give a neutered dog a suitable lifestyle. The most important lifestyle changes you need to make for your neutered dog involves controlling his diet and physical activity. We believe people underestimate how much a dog’s needs change once neutered which is why proper education is needed.
“Neutering will not make your dog lazy”
As we’ve already covered once neutered, dogs on the whole can be far less motivated to want to move around, explore and exercise. Compared to the average more active intact dog they can appear ‘lazy’.
“Neutering will lengthen your dog’s life”
This misleading fact was likely born out of the concern over gonadal cancer which we have discussed is rare and only affects dogs that are in their senior years. This type of cancer also has a high cure rate. The fears have therefore been blown well out of proportion. It’s perhaps ironic that in actuality the potential health problems that can arise as a result of neutering are far more realistic.
Credit: [email protected]
When To Neuter🐾
If you really want to neuter we strongly recommend at 1 year old for Min Pins of both sexes. A Min Pin bitch can have her first season at 6-8 months old, before she’s finished puberty. You should wait until her first season is over to spay her. The next point involves a discussion with your vet. A male Min Pin’s testicles will have fully descended by around 7 months old. The only exception to not waiting to castrate him after puberty ends would be if he has an undescended testicle. Cryptorchidism occurs when one or both of the testicles are not in the scrotum (or sac) and this can be apparent early on around 8 weeks old. In any event, your vet will tell you during the first vet trip. This could cause serious complications as a result of the testicle being inside the abdomen and as the dog matures, it can get worse and can cause severe pain. Dogs with this condition can have a higher risk of testicular cancer. You should take him for an operation to have the undescended testicle removed if only one has descended. Some owners who do not want to neuter do go on to allowing their dog to keep the other healthy testicle and this will equate to dog being intact (unneutered). After you’ve taken into consideration the timing of the procedure and the possible health impacts you should also understand that neutering is not a miracle cure for your dog’s bad behaviours and can in some cases worsen them.
How Neutering Before Puberty Affects Your Dog’s Appearance And Mental Development🐾
You may want to skip over this paragraph but we think that it’s important to consider how early neutering affects your dog overall rather than focusing solely on the negative health consequences. We know from our own development as humans that puberty changes us physically and mentally. As we discussed considering the research above, neutering before puberty disrupts the natural maturation processes of the skeletal system. This means that the growth plates close later in early neutered puppies than they would in those puppies left to finish developing naturally with the onset of their sex hormones. As a result, dogs will appear taller than their counterparts who are unneutered or those who were neutered after puberty finishes with the degree of physical differences dependent on breed, size and how early they were neutered. As puppies going though puberty at 6 months old have a unique appearance of puppy and adult proportions similar to a young teenage boy e.g. very ‘leggy’ and narrow, without having the muscle development of an adult, growth halted at this time will also result in a dog keeping an appearance similar to this (see comparison photos below). This disruption in growth due to early neutering also has a significant effect on male dogs. Dogs are sexually dimorphic animals meaning, on average, males and females have obvious physical differences; females are smaller, typically finer boned and have narrower skulls. This is more obvious in larger breeds but holds true in small breeds too including the Min Pin. These physical differences are called secondary sex characteristics, like a broader head and neck and a more masculinised body e.g. more muscle tone which begin to appear after 1 year of age. Although his essential growth is complete at 1 year your Min Pin may still appear quite lean compared to if he is left intact until the second year of his life, where he will become broader and start to ‘fill out’, pack on more muscle and put on weight and have a generally more mature appearance. We at Heathside have noticed this with our own dogs as well as many other’s. Intact male dogs may look, aesthetically, more pleasing. As early neutering in particular changes the dog’s appearance and neutering more generally affects bodily proportions is partly why in some countries, dogs must be intact to enter the most prestigious conformation shows. As early neutered male dogs will never develop these masculinised physical differences this can result in him looking a little feminine or puppy-like. Adult dogs may retain their smooth puppy physique with little muscle tone in both sexes. We often see neutered male dogs with small heads in proportion to their bodies. When males are neutered many years after their full puberty, they will not lose their masculine form but they may lose muscle unless they are conditioned by competitive sports/activities such as agility or weight bearing exercises. More importantly, early neutering will also cause a halt in mental development. Which means the dog can remain in an immature, puppy-like state of mind for the rest of his adult life as their brain has not been changed and prepared for adulthood by sex hormones. This will vary massively between individual dogs and likely plays a part in fear-based aggression as adults as sex hormones during puberty and up until it’s completion will cause a male dog to be braver and more confident and a female to be calmer, mellow and less fearful.
Should I Spay And Neuter?🐾
For owners of bitches unless you are intending on either breeding her or having her enter the world of dog showing you probably want to spay. Neutering is a safe option for your female Min Pin. The benefits lie with bitches which are both important for keeping her healthy if she is not to be a breeding dog and also for you as an owner not to have to deal with heat cycles. During these heat cycles she will need her routine managed differently which can be an inconvenience (see below). As for male dogs living in a household especially where they are the only dog, it is not necessary. As long as he has continual socialisation with other dogs and any predisposed behavioural problems are managed with training, it’s best for his health and everyday bodily functioning that he keeps his hormones. But it is a decision where you should weigh up the pros and cons for your unique circumstances. An example would be that some owners have multiple dog households where neutering can then become a matter of harmony and practicality if you have intact bitches and dogs together. Same-sex dog households can be challenging as with intact bitches and dogs because they can see each other as competition and get into fights and in these cases, spaying and neutering can be a good option. This is will only be a concern for some owners of multiple dogs because there are intact dogs that can live in harmony together. An important point is most doggy day care and some boarding establishments only admit neutered dogs so this is something you may want to think about.
Keeping Your Spayed Or Neutered Dog Healthy🐾
You should begin to take steps to ensure your Min Pin maintains a healthy weight. Plenty of neutered dogs can remain healthy and live long, illness-free lives providing that they are taken care of properly post-neutering. The biggest threat to Min Pins is carrying too much weight, which can become a risk factor for other conditions and illnesses. Neutered dogs can pile on the pounds far quicker than those that haven’t been neutered, due to the absence of sex hormones that play a big role in metabolic function, as well as also becoming less motivated to want to exercise and move around. Just how much this is true can depend on the individual animal. But you should ensure that you never overfeed your neutered dog because they have much lower energy requirements than intact dogs on the whole. You should first get to know your Min Pin’s ideal weight. If you do feed commercial diets then there are also some complete pet foods for neutered dogs on the market. Adequate exercise is the other most important thing to keep in mind and we recommend an hour a day for the average Min Pin. It may seem like a lot for a toy breed to some people but Min Pins generally are very active little dogs and we know many that will keep walking for miles if given the chance.
The diagram shows what age the different parts of a dog’s skeletal structure finishes growing. In early neutered and spayed dogs, the growth plates do not close at the correct time due and instead close a bit later on, due to the female sex hormone oestrogen not being present. This results in the bones growing for a longer time and the appearence of early neutered dogs being ‘taller’ than their counterparts who are unneutered or those that were neutered after puberty is complete. The large disparity in the closure of some growth plates is due to the drastic size differences in breeds i.e. some plate closures do not happen until 17 months in some large breeds. Note that in smaller breeds like the Min Pin there will be only a slight visible difference in height compared to a larger breed such as a Labrador Retriever as we mentioned above
(below) The health consequences of neutering before puberty
During the first year of a small dog’s life, they undergo rapid growth and physical change. You can see how Mikki’s appearance had changed throughout this time. From 6 months old (first image), to 7.5 months old, 10 months old, 1.5 year old and 4.5 years old (last image); only when he hit 10 months old did he begin to lose his smooth puppy physique and develop more muscle, continuing to fill out from there
Credit: shoppuppyculture.com
These images of a Belgian Malinois bitch shows just how drastically she changes physically in the period from when her first heat cycle (season) commenses through to after she finishes it. The surge in sex and adrogen hormones will quickly instigate her final growth stages maturing her skeletal system and her genitalia from paediatric to adulthood within less than a few months as well as packing on muscle. Think about the sudden physical changes that can happen to 12-15 year old human beings only in dogs, this happens within a few months. ALL breeds go through the same developmental stages
Here in the UK, we consider the neutering and spaying of pets a marker of repsonsible ownership as opposed to countries such as Germany and parts of Scandinavia, where it is considered an illegal mutilation. More than half of UK dogs are neutered and an even larger proportion of the public support the practice. The belief born out of moral responsiblity in the UK to neuter dogs is more in line with the thinking from the US, where neutering is still a routine practice. Generally, you will find lots of differing messages from studies conducted with different breeds and sexes but the take away message from this should be that the critical factor when deciding to neuter your Min Pin should be the correct time, which is after puberty. This is for a variety of health reasons. Amongst vets, despite emerging research revealing problems with early neutering, there’s still agreement that it is the best option for all dogs.
Alternatives To Neutering And Spaying🐾
As society including veterinary professionals and the general public are becoming more progressive in their knowledge of pet health in general, alternatives to neutering are now available to the prospective owner (see image below). These alternatives offer practical solutions for those owners that want to leave their dog intact but don’t want to deal with the inconveniences and potential problems that come with it. However as these services are not taught in vet schools and are very new, many vets still do not offer them. See here for a list of veterinary surgeries that offer these new services.
Vasectomy 🐾
A vasectomy in the dog is the same as it is for a human male. It serves to sterilise the dog so he is infertile and cannot impregnate females but he keeps his testicles and therefore his hormones. This is done by tying the spermatic tubes. In terms of behaviour he will still react as a male who hasn’t had a vasectomy and attempt to mate with bitches in season.
Ovary-Sparing/Partial Spay🐾
Leaving your pet bitch intact is a consideration that is more serious than if you had a male. She can potentially fall victim to pyometra at any point (typically the chances increase with each season she has). That is where an ovary-sparing spay or a partial spay comes in. The bitch’s uterus is removed but her ovaries are left intact. Although the risk of mammary cancers remain the same, a partial spay will protect her from the life-threatening pyometra as her uterus is no longer present. With a partial spay there is a risk of something called stump pyometra which means that if some of the uterus is left over, it can become infected. So there is an importance for precision when operating. She will no longer come into season fully meaning she won’t bleed however behaviour-wise she will still have seasons. This means that she will experience temperament changes and display typical behaviours such as increased urine marking, still attract males and will stand to mate. Therefore you should still be cautious and keep her away from other dogs when she’s showing signs of her season.
Keeping A Happy And Healthy Intact Dog🐾
As nature intended, your intact Min Pin will certainly be happy and for the most part, healthy, as his/her hormones will keep them so. There are a growing population of dog owners who are keeping their dog’s intact too as the disadvantages of neutering are coming to light more and more. However there are logistical issues to be aware of as we’ll discuss now.
Your Bitch In Season/Heat And How To Prevent Pregnancy🐾
Although most who own female dogs will happily state the avoidance of health issues as their reasons for spaying, many are simply not going to admit that the number one reason is most likely the convenience of not having to deal with the messes that come with their dog’s heat cycle. Not wanting this inconvenience is reasonable and some owners may not be able to get a partial spay performed on their bitch. Some owners who have intact males and bitches in the same household who don’t want to breed will have to navigate certain logistical issues. When your intact bitch comes into season (around 6-8 months) for a week or two you will have to be prepared for some bloody discharge however, it usually only happens twice a year or every 6 months. A bitch is highly fertile during her season and can get pregnant easily. If you have an intact male in the same household and are not intending on breeding, there is some work involved that requires you to be careful and ensure that they aren’t left by themselves at any point if separating them impractical. The male will show fresh interest in his female housemate and could show signs of distress he’s never shown before if he is separated from her even for a few minutes or he could stop eating. It is possible that your male and your bitch could mark the home with urine during this time. Just something to be aware of. These possible behavioural changes are normal for males. Many owners of multiple dog households opt to board their intact males or leave them to stay with friends while their bitches go through their heat cycle. Females will begin to show sexualized behaviours when they are in heat, such as humping both sexes of dogs regardless of neuter status. You should invest in some female hygiene pants for your bitch to wear when she comes into season. These pants offer another layer of protection from her from being impregnated but are not a substitute for your watchful eye. When it comes to walks, you should change up your outings a little insofar that you should try and avoid parks or places where there are a lot of dogs. You could also walk her late in the evenings or quieter times depending on where you live. She should be on the lead at all times during her season as she will likely be in a heightened state of arousal with finding a mate on her mind.
Being A Responsible Dog Owner🐾
When you own a male Min Pin as a responsible dog owner you want him to be a good canine citizen. Although aggression in intact males is a complicated behavioural issue, if you are aware of it you should ensure he is not going to cause harm to other dogs and possibly himself. This means that you should ensure that if he is showing dog on dog aggression his behaviour is managed until you work on his training e.g. perhaps don’t let him off-lead. Neutered male dogs are known to be aggressive and reactive towards intact males (we also see it ourselves time and again) and as more than half of UK dogs are neutered it is something to think about. Another thing is you don’t want to let him to unsafely interact with any known bitches in season if you don’t plan on breeding him. You can’t always assume that all female dogs you come into contact with on walks will be spayed (they are definitely not) and that all owners will be aware that she has entered her heat cycle so it’s always important to keep your male under supervision when exercising him off-lead. Min Pins will cover a lot of ground when off lead and they always want to sniff everything in sight and this is fine, assuming that you have taught him basic recall and you are watching him closely when around other dogs.
Credit: rottsnpupsrescue.org
When bitches come into season they may express their sexual arousal through humping. Usually humping is a perfectly normal and healthy behavioural expression of excitement
How To Train Your Dog To Stop Humping🐾
Humping we now know is a super-annoying behaviour that shows up in young dogs leading to much embarrassment. The good news is it can be trained out of most dogs through redirection. Mikki began humping from the age of 5 months which is just short of adolescence for the Min Pin. He would hump the legs of family and friends of the family. Luckily his humping days were just an adolescent phase. In some dogs however, humping is an ingrained part of their personality and the desire to hump in response to whatever stimuli is too difficult to ignore. So what your left with is to just manage the humping behaviour.
- The easiest most effective method is distraction. This assumes that your Min Pin knows basic obedience and can respond to his name and follow commands. This involves you knowing when he is about to hump an object and catching him in the act, as early as possible. Call him immediately and get him to sit, lie down or perform whatever action. When he does so reward him and give him lots of lavish praise.
- When your Min Pin is about to hump your leg or someone else’s leg or he has already started, remove your leg and try getting up immediately and walking away, saying “nah ah” or a word that means no.
- If you know your Min Pin likes to mount other dogs on walks the above method may be more difficult because your dog will be much more aroused. You should be alert and the moment he starts trying to hump, remove him from the dogs and walk away immediately. Again persistence is key. Continue with the distraction interventions until the behaviour stops.
Ensure that you intervene in all situations where your Min Pin shows humping behaviour that means don’t let him hump that soft toy at home because nobody else is there to see it. This will give your dog mixed messages. The task at hand is to stop the behaviour completely so you must be consistent.
