Hello all, let's get the discussion going.
We are all familiar with the pro's and con's of these two highly recommended practices. So far, it seems that the most conclusive arguments for both of them lie in how awfully convenient they are for humans, either by modifying unwanted behavior by removing sexual glands and controlling stray populations, or by preventing destructive behavior and facilitating potty training by caging the animal. While these practical advantages are obvious, I fail to see how the best interest of the dog is considered. Agreed, dogs are very adaptable animals and will live the life they know, I don't think that they become miserable, but I also think that they could live more fulfilling lives by not being castrated or caged 8 hours a day.
Statistics show health benefits both for neutered and intact dogs, so let's try to not settle this debate with technicalities or quoting blogs. (They will most likely draw attention from the fact that hormones are a determining part in brain development, behavior and life of any animal.) As for the crating thing, I just don't buy the "they love it" and "its a den", they are just trained and accept their caged reality.
I want to read what you think, am I missing something? do you agree that most of what surrounds these issues is a lot of self righteousness and convenient justification of what better suits us (humans)?
P.S. I'm not against neutering or spaying, and I'm not against crates for training or convenience over short periods of time or travelling, It's just that I don't delude myself into thinking is the 'best' for dogs.
We are all familiar with the pro's and con's of these two highly recommended practices. So far, it seems that the most conclusive arguments for both of them lie in how awfully convenient they are for humans, either by modifying unwanted behavior by removing sexual glands and controlling stray populations, or by preventing destructive behavior and facilitating potty training by caging the animal. While these practical advantages are obvious, I fail to see how the best interest of the dog is considered. Agreed, dogs are very adaptable animals and will live the life they know, I don't think that they become miserable, but I also think that they could live more fulfilling lives by not being castrated or caged 8 hours a day.
Statistics show health benefits both for neutered and intact dogs, so let's try to not settle this debate with technicalities or quoting blogs. (They will most likely draw attention from the fact that hormones are a determining part in brain development, behavior and life of any animal.) As for the crating thing, I just don't buy the "they love it" and "its a den", they are just trained and accept their caged reality.
I want to read what you think, am I missing something? do you agree that most of what surrounds these issues is a lot of self righteousness and convenient justification of what better suits us (humans)?
P.S. I'm not against neutering or spaying, and I'm not against crates for training or convenience over short periods of time or travelling, It's just that I don't delude myself into thinking is the 'best' for dogs.