The Problem With Over-Refined Males

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138 – April, 2026

By William Given

At a recent club meeting, I was asked, “What do you think about the problem of over-refined males, and its possible relationship to monorchism?” She went on to explain that while she could understand the desire of breeders to refine the heads of males, in certain breeds, that she believed it should be achieved using lines that did not carry monorchism. She then expressed her understanding that masculinity in dogs follows the development of the testes to maturity, and that, if in some breeds, the males naturally tend to have larger heads than females, it seemed possible that the smaller heads would be the result of the male hormone being produced by a single testicle. Therefore, half the normal amount.

I found her question to be thought-provoking. And though she was satisfied with the response I provided, in retrospect, I believe I could have provided a more complete answer to her question.

A look at the facts

I can accept the premise that the efforts of breeders to breed more refined males with uncharacteristically smaller heads and other refined or more feminine features may, in some breeds, lead to a loss of virility. However, I do not believe that there is any justification for the assumption that this is due to the use of monorchids or their descendants.

The wording of her question suggests that monorchids are lacking in masculine qualities and are just as likely to pass that deficiency on to their offspring. In fact, the vast majority of monorchids are not in any way effeminate with respect to their physical appearance or sexual behavior. Also, they are no more likely to sire puppies of a particular type than fully intact males.

It is semi-productive

Click here to read the complete article
138 – April, 2026

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