Altered dogs tend to live longer then intact dogs but on the flip side they tend to be proned to being overweight.
@4psychos: Statistically this tends to be true but its not always a health result reason as much as most and I say MOST , (but not all) owners with intact dogs many times are irresponsible. They don't fix their dogs, feed them well, give them care and often let them breed causing health to weaken and meeting an earlier death.Rescuers and vets are sick and tired of cleaning up the mess that is left behind because of unaltered dogs so it makes complete sense to spread the word in favor of always fixing a dog. And I agree with that 100% for the average owners. .Most owners don't realize dogs will chew through walls, break brick walls and jump out windows to breed. There is a HUGE and I mean HUGE responsibility that comes with intact dogs. Most wont pass that test so I always say GET YOUR DOGS FIXED....LOLI have always loved my dogs to be as close to nature as possible, I do not like them going under a knife just because others are irresponsible. I almost lost a dog under the knife and I just don't make my dog surgery decisions based on other peoples stupidity on breeding for money. That dog, we almost lost,  stayed intact and lived to 15.(She had no pups ever)
I fixed my chow mix who lived to be 18...yes 18 thats not a typo....LOLI lost my intact Rottweiler  to mammary cancer but she was 13...I'm pretty sure something else would have got her, given her age.(she also had no pups)Obviously if you remove body parts, they wont get cancer in that particular part but it isn't always the best thing for a dog that is other wise raised and cared for by educated and responsible owners. Its not a decision I take lightly. At this point I'm leaning to have them lopped off....roflmao. Mainly because as soon as our name is on a mortgage I will get more dogs...I always had lots of dogs but as a renter I keep the number down. I also don't feel like dealing with his horny self when people let their in heat ***** roam the neighborhood....LOL I'm just in no hurry to do it, but it will most likely be done soon, probably soon after the first time he howls all night because he gets a wiff of the good stuff close by....HA! 4951