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Another Question on Spaying - Effect on Prey Drive

Last Post 02 Jun 2010 12:39 PM by DocFritz. 5 Replies.

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rlambourn

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Posts:21
Denver

01 Jun 2010 01:06 PM
I've read all the threads discussing the pros and cons of spaying from a medical standpoint, and think I understand those viewpoints thoroughly. What I'm also interested in is what your experiences have been with your females' prey drive/intensity after spaying. My dog just turned 1 and received her CPR this Spring. I doubt I would ever breed her and understand the cancer prevention benefits of spaying, but I would really regret spaying her if it turned her into a lesser hunter. Her prey drive while looking for birds and retrieving and her focus while training are all very strong right now. I've heard anecdotally that spaying can make a dog less birdy, but I'd like to know if any of you have personal experience with spaying lessening your dog's prey drive, reducing the intensity of her point, etc. Also, does anyone know of spayed females getting their GMPR titles or the statistics on spayed versus non-spayed females attaining GMPR titles? Thanks.

CPR Lankas Labs Air Claire

Jere

Advanced Member

Posts:646

01 Jun 2010 01:47 PM
It did not seem to affect Shadow's drive in the least. She did eventually develop a urinary incontinence issue and took DES for the rest of her life to counter that. Jere

Owned by: Alma Bottom Smokin' Storm - 'Storm' - avatar and Shadow's Tucker - 'Tuck'

Lon

New Member

Posts:67

Spokane, WA

01 Jun 2010 02:23 PM
I have a seven-year-old female that was spayed at two years old. She's still a hunting machine. I never noticed any lessening of prey drive, birdiness, pointing or anything detrimental to her hunting that could be related to spaying. About the only downside from spaying that I've seen with this one dog is she seems to put on weight much easier after spaying. And for some sad reason, I have more discipline on keeping my dog fit and trim than I do for myself! Lon

Tiger Mountain Kacela, "Kacee" Sauk River's Citori, "Tori"

bsmiley

Advanced Member

Posts:988

Fishers Indiana

01 Jun 2010 02:35 PM
i think it would be a very unusual situation to see someone take a spayed bitch to higher level titles. Same for neutered dogs although I do know of a few exceptions there. Where I am driving is that I would not use higer level title activity as a benchmark for your question as people just don't generally invest the cost and time of advanced testing non breeding animals. I can not speak to bitches but I have many friends with dogs that have been neutered at various ages and they have not had any change in hunt drive.

Cruz, 4XGMPR HRCH MH ("CAT 6") Yeager, MPR HR (Master Pointing Lap Dog) Cody, 2XGMPR, MH (BAMF,RIP, Friend) Runnin',Gunnin' & Pickin' Up the Chickens! www.browngundogs.com

DocFritz

Advanced Member

Posts:615

SW Iowa

02 Jun 2010 12:36 PM
I have a five year old spayed female. We are currently running Senior level NAHRA, she is a weak senior dog, but not due to the fact she was spayed, issues (mainly EIC and her issues with blinds and her tentativeness) made trraining her difficult and therefore I knew (even had EIC NOT been a factor) that I would likely not breed her. I do not think it has made her less birdy, she may have in fact got a little more focused marking, but that could also be because it was done about the time she was really maturing. SO I would say no adverse side effects in her as far as hunting goes. If her blind work gets a little better I may run her in master this fall if I am making the trip.

Fritz Baier D.C. GMHR-II WR SR MPR APR CPR Baier's Mighty Waldimar MHR WR HR SR CPR Baier's Lady Gabrielle Baier's Lady Legacy of TruPoint

DocFritz

Advanced Member

Posts:615

SW Iowa

02 Jun 2010 12:39 PM
for what it is worth, the spayed females (other than Gabby) running NAHRA Senior (master equiv) have a pretty high pass rate. No issues with bird drive in either of the other two I am thinking about.

Fritz Baier D.C. GMHR-II WR SR MPR APR CPR Baier's Mighty Waldimar MHR WR HR SR CPR Baier's Lady Gabrielle Baier's Lady Legacy of TruPoint

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