Neutering and the male perspective

Yeah, I work with a bunch of macho guys who think this kind of stuff. They won't neuter the male guard dog and would never consider it because they have a lot riding on how "dominant" and tough this dog is. He's an extension of them.

Whenever it comes up, I laugh a LOT. In an emasculating way. And whenever they talk about how "tough" or "scary" or "dominant" their dog is, I get him on his belly and give him a good rub and coo in a very high-pitched squeal about how "tough and dominant the baby is". It helps that the dog is the sweetest mooshiest mush in the world.

So they don't talk like that much anymore around me. I am sure I am not changing their point of view or whatever... but that doesn't matter much to me. I just work in a really macho environment and want to carve out a little space.

Has anyone else come across this before? Any insights?

 
Yes, It took me a year to convince my husband to get fixed. His dad gave him the idea that that was for women to do and not for men. But a threat of being cut off changed his mind real quick.
 
Seriously though, I do know people that will not fix their male dogs because they think females should be fixed, and surprise the owners of the male dogs are male themselves.  I bet you it's because the "feel the pain" themselves. I'm sure if  it was a women owner she would not have a problem.

It is ignorance mentality of what I call the bubba red necks in my neck of the woods. Fortunately my DH has no say in any of our dog's spay or neuter. He just clears the kitchen when I have a knife in my hand... Silly man!!!

Forpaws and I are from the same area, except me from the city and her from a bit more rural area, but oh my yes it's bad down here too. 
 
One time a few years ago I was working at an adoption day at a chain pet supply place (one of the Pets... ones) and here comes this guy about 23 or so with two teenaged girls hanging on him.  This guy wasn't a 'redneck' but a really typical ethnic stereotype (almost a cartoon of a stereotype - far more so than anyone I've seen since).  He sauntered up and snarled "I wanna pit pup-peeee" (girls twittered and mooned at him).
 
We gave him the standard morning thing "Sorry, no puppies right now who are old enough to spay/neuter and place -- but that group over there will be ready in 10 days"
 
"Don't wanna wait -- don't wannit nooodered -- wannit NOW".
 
Oh my -- he was convinced he could simply bully his way out with a puppy.  Adamant he wasn't going to get it "nooodered" and that he WAS going to get it this morning.  Ummmm, not from us and not while it's too young and NOT intact.
 
This went on for about 45 minutes.  He'd circle around to a different volunteer and we all gave him the same spiel -- and at this point we'd switched the story to "Actually we're not sure any of these puppies are left at all -- they may all have homes" because by now we know we don't want to place a dog with him PERIOD.  And about 2 minutes after that I told him so. 
 
He told me blah blah blah -- he'd call the cops if I didn't let him take a puppy and I said something about over someone's dead body.  He decided he liked sparring with me a lot.  And by now the two girls with him (the pup was supposed to be a present for whichever 'one' considered him her 'boyfriend' and neither of them could have been even close to 1. 
 
Finally he was in my face for the 30th time about me not being able to force him to 'Nooder' a dog and I said "You won't get an unneutered animal from us.  And tell me -- since when have you so totally and completely confused your own sexuality with that of your dog??"
 
The older of the two girls almost exploded trying not to laugh -- she knew what I meant.  The younger of the two knew I'd somehow insulted him.  He had NOT a clue what I'd even said.  But HE knew he'd somehow been one-upped.  He left. 
 
My ex was one of those weirdos who wouldn't let me neuter our dog.  And at the time it was just one too many fights to have to deal with.  The woman who married that schlemiel was far less confident and less comfortable with conflict.  I'm not that way anymore. 
 
Typically it's an ignorant male perspective.  But I ran into a couple this week with a big un-neutered lab who was about 7.  He'd plowed thru my yard (loose to boot) and walked thru my brand new cement sidewalk that wasn't dry yet and I got his rabies tag and called the vet to call the owners so I could take his sorry butt home.  And the first thing I said to them before I said HI was "He's too old to be left un-neutered.  He's at the age where you'll see prostate cancer and peri-anal hernia or death and he's a nice dog.  Get him fixed." and the wife said "BUT HE'S TOO **OLD** TO FIX".
 
I glared at her and said "No, he's not.  it's NEVER too late.  But he is to young to die like that and he will likely die young if you don't neuter him.  Either from getting loose because he's more prone to wander because he's intact or because he dies from something that could probably be prevented."
 
The husband, in that case, was more prone to listen.  Seems her MOTHER is the source of all the bad information and momma is convinced you can't alter anything other than a puppy. 
 
Ignorance is a ... bit_ _.  No ... it's a pain for all of us.

A guy who is against neutering because he identifies the dog's testicles with his own is thinking wrongly. And you can tell them I said that.
 
Being a real man means doing things that are right and necessary, not but because you like it or not.

I think it's stupid and ignorant to humanize a dog like that, and I have come across it many times. I'm so glad my boyfriend isn't like that lol... he knows that Shippo's balls are not his balls lmfao...

Ron has the right of it, my husband had no problems at all with getting the kitty boys fixed, and knows that the new puppy boy will go through the same.
 
He is just fine with his own manhood to not be threatened by this.

Dawn

I bet you it's because the "feel the pain" themselves. I'm sure if it was a women owner she would not have a problem.

You'd be surprized how attached some women are to their dogs' balls.... It's a little strange, to me. I want to keep my dogs, for as long as humanly possible. I'd like to see MY dogs live as long as Callie's and Anne's. That alone motivates me to have them altered.

I am not against neutering male dogs but when the procedures was performed on my dog I had no idea I would react so dramatically.  I thought it would be just like my perception of a vascectomy-NOT VISBLE and intact.  This was a long time ago but I remember feeling so bad for the dog and I was constantly reminded of the absence.  Isn't there another way?  Sorry for my ignorance.

I've spoken to men who feel that way. It's an idiotic way of thinking and I feel sorry for any man who has such an attachment to an animals testicles. I have never personally been with a man who feels that way. My future husband understands the importance of it and even if he didn't... I'm a grown arse woman. A man doesn't tell me what I can or can't do. I make my own decisions and I make the decisions regarding the health of my critters. If he doesn't like it, he knows where the door is at. []

ORIGINAL: ron2

Being a real man means doing things that are right and necessary, not but because you like it or not.

I agree whole-heartedly with that... I just don't think I'd address their masculinity so outright. That might not go over so well.

Callie--I have to say, that story is simultaneously one of the most horrible and hysterical things I've ever read.

Having an unneutered dog is a pain in the butt.  I've got two unaltered hounds.  I want them BOTH fixed as soon as possible.  Gaia, the female is at the tail end of a false pregnancy and the vet says January is the appropriate time to get the procedure done.  Xerxes is still showing and until he finishes his championship I won't get him fixed.  When he's finished, it's off to the vet for a couple of straws and then *snip, snip* and perhaps he'll calm down some.  The straws should keep for a few years and then we'll re-introduce his genes into the various lines again- for temperment reasons- and the fact that his sire was hugely important in the breeding programs.

I met a woman once who did not want to spay her female because she wanted her to "have the choice to have puppies."  She went on about how she didn't think it was right to take that choice away from a dog because she wouldn't want t someone to take it from her.  Umm...last time I checked, dogs do not just decide "oh, i feel like having puppies this time."

Yep.  Definitely a male issue thing.  I'd be willing to bet that every dog sporting neuticles (false testicles) has a male owner. [][]

Joyce