I have many years of experience with dogs. I spent about 10 years with good friends that are professional dog handlers, breeders, and trainers. I'd like to share some of the things I've seen and learned about dogs.
About neutering, if you have no intention of breeding your dog it's a good idea to have it spayed/neutered. The reason is strictly a matter of health. As dogs get older they can develop problems if they aren't fixed. Females (I never liked calling them bitches) can have false pregnancies as soon as they're first period, among other female problems. Females that have false pregnancies get really screwed up, and can take years to recuperate. Males can develop other problems like with their prostate. As far as fixing a dog to calm them down or keeping them from roaming it's a myth.
A young dog that is left alone is just like leaving a child alone, they're going play with everything in their reach and in sight. When you leave your dog alone and it gets into something it shouldn't or chews something, did you notice that from the negative attention you give it, the dog will know it did wrong as soon as you come home. It's important that you don't discipline the dog unless you catch it in the act. If you do it after the fact the dog has no clue why it's being disciplined. If you do it anyway the dog will probably do things in spite and that becomes habit. I always thought putting a dog in crate was cruel, but let tell you how it is a valuable asset in the development of a young dog. If everyday you come home and find that the dog has gotten into something it shouldn't have because you left it alone, the dog will develop a negative attitude every time you come home. If you leave the dog in a create, and there is nothing to get into or chew, when you come home the dog will happy to see you. This develops a positive attitude. This positive attitude carries over into the dog feeling good around you, instead of fear. NEVER train your dog with physical discipline, use positive reinforcement. Discipline should be verbal, say NO in stern tone. When the dog does something good, praise the dog. Make a big deal about it, tell the dog, good dog while petting it a couple times. Try it, it works, you'll be very surprised. After time, several months in the crate (positive development) the dog feels that the crate is its sanctuary. Then you can, little by little, give the dog more freedom. Control that freedom so that if the dog gets in trouble again, it didn't eat the new leather couch. If the dog is not ready for the freedom, use the crate again. Sometimes it may take a year to allow full freedom, sometimes a couple months. After the dog is able to be free, they may even like to be in there sanctuary. (Crate) The crate should be tall enough so that when the dog is full-grown the dog can stand up. In this case bigger is not better. I prefer the plastic crates like used by the airlines. If you know someone who works for the airlines, when people transport dogs some leave the crate. I hope this helps!
Koz
