GPCPS

This article explains why spaying and neutering will give you a better mannered, longer living family companion

While thoughtful, responsible breeding is vital to the continuation of any breed, a Pyrenees that is purchased as a family companion and protector should be spayed or neutered. It is not true that a female dog needs to have a litter of pups to achieve maturity. Experience has shown that the basic personality of an animal is in no way changed or affected by being bred. Actually, the risk to a female in pregnancy and whelping is considerable and occasionally bitches die in the process. Raising a litter of pups correctly is an expensive and time consuming process and seldom worth the effort for the average owner. Bitches who are not spayed are much more prone to dangerous and life threatening complications of the reproductive tract, such as uterine infections. They also have a much higher incidence of breast cancer which is almost always fatal. So, if you want your female to be a loving and long lived family companion, you can increase this potential enormously by having her spayed at around 6 months.

Male dogs also make more satisfactory pets and companions if they are neutered before they are 6-8 months old. If they get out, unneutered male dogs are more prone to roam in search of neighborhood females and sometimes develop habits which make them less agreeable pets, such as lifting their legs on plantings and in the house. A male dog does not need to be bred to achieve a happy life. What he never knows, he never misses. The fact that large numbers of excellent sheep guardian male Pyrenees are neutered proves that the protective instincts remain as strong in altered males as in those who are not. Unneutered males have a higher incidence of prostate cancer and of anal tumors which are often fatal.

Results of a recent Great Pyrenees health survey show that altered animals have a longer life span than unaltered animals. So, if what you want from your Great Pyrenees is a happy, healthy, long-lived companion and friend, as free from problems as possible, have it spayed or neutered. You will be glad that you did.

Most reputable breeders will require that companion pups be altered and many are now having their pups spayed and neutered before they go to new homes. This is a well supported procedure which can benefit both the pup and the buyer. Breeders are very willing to discuss all of this with you, so feel free to ask.