I'm on my fourth female field-bred English springer. All have been spayed.
- All have been excellent gun dogs with strong hunting drive.
- All have been fit, high-energy dogs with far more stamina than the humans they hunted with. Neutering does not make a dog fat - careless owners do that.
- Unlike 'intact' bitches, none of my dogs have had to be left at home during the hunting season, or kept out of training or field events, because of being in heat.
- Unlike many 'intact' males, they have never run off in quest of romance.
- Unlike 'intact' males, they empty their bladders fully, which means they can be left longer in the car or kennel.
- None have had to be kenneled when visited by canines of either sex. None have had temperament problems. All have been highly socialized.
Two of the four were very alpha bitches who tended to dominate the male dogs they hunted with. The other two were moderately submissive to dogs, but aggressive hunters.
All four have been superb family dogs.
IMHO, unless you intend to breed your dog - and are willing to put up with the inconveniences of owning an 'intact' dog or bitch - there are no downsides to neutering.
