Re: Medical / General

In Reply to: Medical / General
Posted by:  Kay Hirai
Posted on:  December 30, 2001 at 02:34:41

: Hello again! My female JRT, Yumi is now 4 months old and adjusting very well in her new home. She is a beautiful JRT .... all white except for one black ear. I bought her from a reputable breeder. As she is approaching the age where we will have to take her to get spaded, I am having mixed emotions about it. It is not that I want to breed her but I feel guilty because she is such a perfect dog as her temperament goes and also meets the JRT standard. I also feel like I am robbing her of her natural instinct (and right) to breed off springs. Is this a natural feeling that many owners (of female dogs) have?? I know that it is necessary to do...I just wish I felt better about going through with this operation for Yumi and subjecting her to pain. Can you offer some insight and encouragement?
: Also, should I register Yumi? What is the benefit of registering her if I do not plan to breed her?
: Thank you so much for your support for all of us who are first time owners.

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Hi Kay,

I know this is something that everyone that loves their dogs go through. I have even been guilty of these thoughts too! My dogs are so wonderful, why shouldn't I make more of them!

Well for one thing you never end up with a carbon copy of your already wonderful dog. This is what makes them so special. Each one is unique and while you may breed one that looks exactly like your beloved pet, chances are it is not going to have the same personality.

Think of the millions of wonderful dogs that are euthanized every year because their only crime was someone didn't want to take the time to train them to become good canine citizens, or they got too big, or they really didn't fit in the decor of the house, there are a gazillion reasons people give to dump their pets. Unless you are willing to take back every dog you produce no matter how old it may be, then I would stay out of the breeding end of dog ownership.

I don't breed dogs and probably never will. Personally I leave it up to those dedicated to extensively researching pedigrees to make sure what they are going to produce is better than what they already have, structurally and healthwise. I personally don't have the time nor the wherewithal to study genetics to produce the best dogs I can. Nor do I have the time and money to show my dogs extensively to be judged as exemplary models of the breed. Nor the time to test them out in the field, as this is a working terrier, one that needs to STAY a working terrier. It's this working ability that makes this breed as smart as they are. Nor do I want to spend the money it takes to test any breeding stock, and these tests include BAER, CERF, and some are even getting OFAs, these are just some of the tests so responsible breeders won't knowingly pass along catastrophic genetic diseases and disorders.

My two dogs are recorded with the JRTCA and are not exactly models of the breed but I have to tell you even when I get my "to the standard" dog, unless she ends up winning big in the show ring and can hunt and tests clear of genetic diseases, she will be getting spayed no matter how good she looks.

Think of this Kay, there are 54 PAGES of what can go wrong during a bitch's pregnancy and delivery. You will not be robbing Yumi of anything by having her spayed. What you WILL be giving Yumi is a life free of the stress of heats, where you will have to make sure no dog can get to her, and you will dramatically lessen her changes of mammary tumors and cancers, and eliminate other cancers that can happen to intact bitches. For every heat you allow her to have you increase her chances of mammary or uterine cancer.

If you spay Yumi, you can still record her with the JRTCA. She could compete at our National trial in all the events. Many trials throughout the country do have spay/neuter classes and there are always the suitablity classes she can go in for conformation. I have friends with lovely looking terriers that looking at these dogs, you know they sure meet the standard, but these are spayed and neutered. They compete in everything at the trials and bring home even conformation ribbons. You don't even need to record/register her to compete at all the other trials you just need to be a member of the JRTCA, the only time your dog needs to be recorded is for the National trial. Both of my guys are recorded. One competes at the National trial the other one never will. But they have their little place in JRT history as they will always be on the books and this is one of the reasons I chose to record them, so once they are long gone their names will still be somewhere.