0n (12 Apr 05) WAYNE CHIRNSIDE wrote to CINDY HAGLUND...

-> -> But back on topic.. I think we DO do animals a favor by neutering
-> -> them. Yet I would like to know about the validity of the 'decrease
-> -> cancer risk' claim.

->  WC> Supposed to be real.
->  WC> I gambled as the dog was 7 when a vet first mentioned it.
->  WC> My first dog.

->  Good to know. I ask because sometimes, not always science or the
-> people who interpret scientific data rather, will make false associations
-> if such suit or advances their opinion on something.

 WC> I suspect on average it's real.

 OH I'm all for it. There's far too many unwanted dogs in shelters as
is. Cats too. :(

BTW anybody have some good dog related taglnes I can 'steal' :)

-> I'm not sure but "they" say when an un-neutered dog doesn't get to
-> mate, hmmm if they have the urge enough and is un met- this can cause
-> stress which can further cause problems?

 WC> Stress?
 WC> My Pit Bull is stressed?

 Nah... I meant younger dogs whose hormones might still be roarin'.
Behavior differs breed to breed as you know. Take a high strung
Dalmatian of Jack Russll Terrier for example. Quite different from
your easy going Spanky and My easy going Cosmo. Patches wasn't quite
high strung but he was a bit anxious at times.. I think due to his
upbringing with two bigger aggressive dogs though. He calmed down a
lot (still perky just not neurotic) in the five short years we had
him with us.

 WC> If he were any less stressed I'd have to put a heart monitor on him to
 WC> see if he's still alive.

 That's what I say about Cosmo at times.

 WC> My sister's Labrador ( neutered) OTOH twice went for my throat with
 WC> serious intent.

 A lab? They're usually friendly aren't they? Hmm. But then again on a
walk a lab dashed out of the driveway from his owners side, at us and
tried to bite Cosmo. I think the 'general temperment idea' are just that.
General. Depends a lot on how they're raised. ((We have gone over pit
bull images before...))
..............

-> and got out of there fast. Hubby says unfixed male dogs can smell a
-> female in heat, from miles around.

 WC> Oh they can.
 WC> Spanky I can call away from a female in heat.
 WC> I trained him well.

 Training is the key to good behavior yeah.

->  WC> British Staffordshire Bull Terriers live on average 12 years,
->  WC> Spanky's 15 and feels and looks good.
->  WC> People guess he's 7.
->  WC> Guess I beat the odds, he has good genes  or I did something right.

->  You got a survivor there. :)

 WC> He started off almost dead as a puppy full of worms.
 WC> Vet said no use, put him down.

 They would say that if you didn't want to help the little guy. I
would. We had a sickly pup once, got it all sorted out but some of the
problems didn't clear up ....

 WC> That was over 14 years ago.
 WC> Ex-girlfriend - ex-farmgirl got this horribly nasty wormer medication
 WC> for domestic animals ( either kills em or saves em) and getting
 WC> dossage just right Spanky lived.

 She knew what she was doin'  :)

Cindy

... Are you a Klingon, or is that a turtle on your head?

--- PPoint 3.01