I love working with the hounds. Someone mentioned that spayed and neutered hounds lose the drive to hunt (or maybe less effective hunters) and that its better to have intact hounds.
Generally horses work better when their sex drive is, uh, curtailed. I would think it works the same with hounds…
Your experience? Thoughts?
Certainly hunting intact hounds has been the ‘conventional wisdom’ over the years. But I would say not so much because it was thought that altered hounds wouldn’t hunt as well, more in my experience a function of kennel management. For example, a neutered hound kenneled with intact hounds might just bear the brunt of kennel fights. Another thing is the sheer expense of neutering so many year in and year out, most hunts I’ve hunted with would simply not have had the funds- feeding and basic health care has to come first.
However, I know of at least one hunt that neuters a good many of the dog hounds (including one that was named for me!). That one and his fellow eunuchs hunt just fine.
But- they have the kennel layout to be able to kennel neutered hounds apart from intact hounds.
I’ll observe that the same ‘prejudice’ extends to a whole lot of dog owners generally, even if the dogs are just pets. Guys in particular have a thing about it. Including members of my own family every time one goes for ‘brain surgery’ as my vet calls it. The guys are intellectually in agreement with it but still, um, uncomfortable and sympathetic at a certain level.
At the risk of straying a bit afield, I’d say that if the AKC started allowing neutered and spayed dogs to show and earn championships (just like geldings in AQHA halter, for example), it would go a long way toward changing some long held views.
The AKC hasn’t figured out that allowing those dogs to get their championships would raise the revenues… They were slow to catch on in allowing them to compete in agility and obedience and rally-o.
Bi-coastal and I went to the National Agility Championships. There were even dogs of mixed heritage doing well. (How is THAT for a euphemism?) We were rooting for which ever dog was the most unusual in that size division.
Papillions turn out to be fast and accurate. They look so fluffy and like an airhead. Wow! what a misconception on my part!
Alas, sled dogs don’t do well in that sport. There was only one representative of that type, a siberian husky. The malamute that was eligible couldn’t come, sigh…
I agree with Beverly that neutering is usually not within the budget for many hunts. You also have to understand that most packs have a breeding program and it’s nice to hunt a hound a couple of seasons before you decide if that individual would be a good brood bitch or dog hound. I know of several hunts that do neuter and spay their hounds. It tends to cut down on kennel fits and of course there are also health benefits to both spaying and neutering. I’ve not seen any difference in a hounds performance due to neutering. A good hound is a good hound either way. Last year the New England Hound Show allowed spayed females to show. I believe that may have been the first year and I personally thought it sent a very good message!
I asked our Huntsman this question one time when we were talking hound breeding and why everyone is intact, even though it might not have desirable breeding qualities. Our Huntsman summed it up nicely.
He said kennelling altered dogs with the unaltered would cause massive kennel fights.
I have a small back of beagles. I had five bitches and three were already spayed so I decided to go ahead and spay the other two. The four dog hounds are not altered.
I have noticed no differences in the bitches before/after spaying. I have one bitch that has won several field trials since I have had her and unfortunately she came to me spayed. She certainly is a fine hunter.
I have noticed however that the bitches in general hunt better than the dog hounds.
At this time, I have three spayed bitches.
I have had several others over the years, none of whom would have been spayed had there not been a life or death reason for doing so.
My experience with neutered dog hounds is limited although what little I have had convinced me that a fighter is a fighter is a fighter.
The idea that you can cure a fighter or change a dog’s disposition by spaying is a fiction, in my experience.
Dogs, bulls and horses are not the same.
As for hunting, I see no difference.
Spaying a bitch that has good blood lines is stupid because that might be the best running, best handling with the best disposition bitch you ever had or ever will have.
And you spayed her???
The wrong dog got cut.
CSSJR
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