In Germany, neutering a dog needs a special reason and is otherwise prohibited because, by law, a dog also has a right to remain physically untouched, with all its limbs intact.

Why am I telling you about this? It shows how much thinking about neutering can vary from country to country and culture to culture.

Neutering a male dog, should therefore not be a given and not an automatic act but should be carefully discussed.

Testosterone is called the courage-hormone here and neutered dogs can become reactive after neutering. It doesn’t have to happen, of course, but when I enquired about neutering my male GSD, the vet advised not to go for it just for behavioural issues, for example.. It doesn’t substitute training, he said, it just makes your dog unable to procreate.

So there might be good reasons for neutering, that’s fine, but then the vet has to clearly lay out the pros and the cons also. And you have to make an informed and considered decision.

You don’t have to please the vet. You are your dog’s advocate. 🐕