I'm new to hunting/gun dogs, so please excuse any dumbness on my part. Be gentle with me.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Are there any down sides to neutering a hunting dog? My little Remy (Weimaraner pup) is about 3 months old now; will be due for a chop job around the end of January or early February (assuming we take him in at the 6 month mark). All of the dogs I've ever had in the past have been spayed or neutered, but none of them have been hunting dogs. Is there a down side to getting a hunting dog fixed? Would it reduce his effectiveness out in the field? I don't plan on breeding him, so that's not a concern. But I also don't want to get him chopped if there's really no reason to do so. (And I don't know if I buy the "can't get testicular cancer" point in the pro/con debate... if I lopped off both of my legs below the knee I would never have to worry about a broken ankle in the future. It's not a solid argument for permanently altering a creature's physiology.)
So... am I over thinking this? Or is there a valid reason for not neutering the little guy?
Cheers,
~ Greg ~