The following statement is one that most pet owners have undoubtedly heard at some point in their lives: Fixing your dog will make him less aggressive
Even veterinarians have repeated it so frequently that many of us now believe it to be unquestionably true.
In fact, a recent study published earlier this year discovered that neutered male dogs primarily exhibited negative behaviors.
Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, claims:
When should my dog be neutered?
All dogs are not physiologically the same. The best time to castrate a dog varies depending on breed and size. According to a recent study, rather than adhering to a general age recommendation, veterinarians and pet owners should consult about the ideal age for neutering. Regarding the effects of castration on their specific dog’s health, every dog owner should speak with their veterinarian.
Historically, veterinarians have recommended neutering dogs before puberty. This reduces the possibility of unplanned litters and may also have positive behavioral effects. Animals go through puberty and adolescence to transition from youth to sexual maturity. This time frame ranges from 6 months to 2 years of age for the majority of dog breeds and sizes. Hormone surges during puberty can and do affect a person’s behavior. If you’re thinking about waiting until your dog reaches social or structural maturity before neutering, be sure to have a thorough discussion with your veterinarian about what to expect with regard to your dog’s needs for exercise, training, appropriate and safe confinement, and appropriate social environments.
Neutered male dogs are more likely to show aggression and fear-related behavior.
A woman visited our dog club recently while one of our beginner dog obedience classes was in progress. She had a query for me regarding some guidance her son had gotten from a veterinarian. The veterinarian advised him to neuter the male Boxer puppy as soon as possible “to avoid any aggressive or excitement-based behavior problems.” He had recently bought a male Boxer puppy. “.
The veterinarian continued by saying that these issues were less likely to arise the earlier the neutering was performed. When I learned that veterinarians were still recommending that course of action, I was disappointed. According to two studies with sizable sample sizes, spaying and neutering dogs may actually result in an increase in their aggressiveness. She was confused and uneasy about what her son was supposed to do after hearing what I had to say, so I gave her some more advice and the name of a reputable puppy socialization class.
Recently, a new study from a group led by Paul McGreevy of the Sydney School of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney brought back memories of this incident for me. This large-scale data collection involved 9,938 dogs. The final samples for the study, which examined the effects of neutering on male dogs, included 6,546 neutered males and 3,392 intact dogs.
To stop the overpopulation that has overwhelmed many shelters and forced them to put countless dogs to sleep, the vast majority of male dogs are routinely castrated in many countries. However, many veterinarians now routinely recommend neutering male dogs when their clients report that their dog has displayed aggression, particularly toward family members. Therefore, this recent study sought to determine whether neutering had any behavioral advantages or drawbacks and whether the age at which the dog underwent the procedure had any bearing.
James Serpell of the University of Pennsylvania originally created the C-BARQ survey instrument, which was used by the research team. It is a 100-item questionnaire that uses dog owners’ observations of a dog’s behavior to provide assessments of a wide range of canine behaviors.
The wonderful thing about this data collection is that beginning in 2006, the C-BARQ was placed online. Its presence there was advertised via an article in the newsmagazine of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and by notices sent to Philadelphia-Area Veterinary Clinics. Notices were also sent to the top 10 USA breed clubs based on American Kennel Club registrations.
Since that time, information about the survey has been disseminated around the world. Dog owners who are interested can simply go to the website and fill out the questionnaire to have information on their own dog entered into the data bank. This means the number of entries continues to grow over time, allowing studies of canine behavior to become ever more precise.
Data on dogs who had been neutered for the following reasons were accepted by the researchers for this study: it was required by the breeder or dog shelter; for purposes of birth control; to prevent health issues; or to correct health issues They did not want to contaminate the sample by using dogs that had been selected for castration due to behavioral issues because the study’s primary focus was dog behavior.
Due to this, they disqualified canines that had been neutered for the following reasons: to treat or prevent a behavioral issue, at the veterinarian’s advice, or for reasons that were not known. Data on dogs who had undergone castration at ages up to 10 years allowed researchers to compare the effects of early versus late neutering.
The latest research confirms previous findings that the expected behavioral benefits of neutering did not materialize, and if anything, the behaviors of neutered male dogs tended to be noticeably less desirable. Forty of the 100 behaviors evaluated showed statistically significant variations between intact and castrated dogs. The neutering of only four of these behaviors resulted in a more favorable outcome. Neutered dogs were less likely to mark their territory inside or bark when left alone. When off-leash, neutered dogs had a higher chance of coming back when called and tended to reliably fetch objects. Thats it for the positive effects of neutering. The other 36 behaviors in male neutered dogs were all more detrimental.
The negative effects of neutering that went against the notion that castration would lessen aggression were the most severe. When delivery people approached the house, strangers walked by, joggers, cyclists, and rollerbladers passed by, an unfamiliar female dog approached them directly, an unfamiliar person approached the owner or another family member or even just visited the house, and when small animals like cats or squirrels entered the yard, neutered dogs were more likely to exhibit aggression. Additionally, the severity of these effects increased with the age of neutering.
Neutered dogs also showed many more fear-related behaviors. These included reactions to loud noises, when faced with new situations for the first time, when a stranger’s child came up to them directly, when a stranger’s dog barked or growled at them, or even when a dog of a similar size or larger approached them, when strange or unfamiliar objects appeared on the sidewalk or in close proximity to it, when encountering wind-blown objects, when being examined by a veterinarian, or when having their nails clipped. Once more, it appeared that these fear-related effects were more pronounced in neutered puppies.
Other issues like eating feces or droppings (either their own or from other animals), rolling in feces or other unpleasant substances, stealing food, barking nonstop when alarmed or excited, or obsessively licking themselves were more prevalent in the neutered dogs.
These findings follow a pattern that is very obvious: neutering male dogs increases their levels of aggression, fear, hyperactivity, and other undesirable behaviors. Additionally, it is evident that early neutering has a more detrimental impact on behaviors.
Although the average dog owner will undoubtedly find these results important, the researchers also consider their findings from a more societal perspective and come to the following conclusion:
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McGreevy PD, Wilson B, Starling MJ, Serpell JA (2018) Behavioural risks in male dogs with minimal lifetime exposure to gonadal hormones may complicate population-control benefits of desexing. PLoS ONE 13(5): e0196284. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196284
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Why is neutering dogs recommended?
Castration (neutering) of male animals is common and is recommended for handling and health. Castration is often considered part of responsible pet ownership. The effects of castration on a dog’s health and behavior have been the subject of extensive research.
Unplanned litters are a staggering source of euthanasias in the United States and throughout the world, and pet overpopulation is a global issue. Responsible pet ownership involves taking all necessary measures to avoid unplanned litters. Castration is one method of preventing unplanned pregnancies, but in recent years, the timing of this procedure has drawn increased scrutiny from the veterinary science community.
FAQ
Do dogs get aggressive after being neutered?
These findings follow a pattern that is very obvious: neutering male dogs increases their levels of aggression, fear, hyperactivity, and other undesirable behaviors. Additionally, it is evident that early neutering has a more detrimental impact on behaviors.
Does neutering calm an aggressive dog?
The findings showed that aggressive behavior did not decrease following surgical castration and that aggressive behavior directed at dogs significantly increased following chemical castration.
Do male dogs change after being neutered?
The largest source of testosterone in the body, the testicles, are removed during neutering, which results in behavioral changes in the dog. This causes your dog’s sexually motivated behaviors, such as urine marking, running away to find female dogs, and aggression toward other male dogs, to decrease.
Why is my dog more aggressive after being spayed?
Potential Negative Side Effects of Spaying Your Dog According to a few studies, female dogs that are aggressive toward family members when they are not spayed may become even more aggressive after being spayed. A drop in estrogen and oxytocin, two hormones that may have calming, anxiety-reducing effects, may be the cause of this.