Likely reduce problem behaviors: Intact male dogs can exhibit problem behaviors such as aggression, mounting other dogs, marking their territory, and being overly protective. These types of behaviors become harder to deal with when there is a female in heat close by.
We’ve all witnessed pet owners who stroll into dog parks and let their dogs run wild without any care. Here are some tips on how to keep your dog safe in this social setting and how hormones and training affect it.
The dog park can be the perfect place for you and your canine companion: dogs happily playing and running around freely while owners chat with other dog lovers about common issues, plastic bags and leashes in hand. However, cramming dogs into a dog park can result in a number of issues, such as aggression. When you factor in the possibility of dog neutering, the social mix could become even more unpredictable.
Over 80% of dogs that are owned in the United States have undergone gonadectomy (also known as neutering). This prevents them from having children and helps to reduce the issue of dog overpopulation. Researchers are learning that the absence of natural hormones in neutered dogs is associated with a wide range of health and behavioral issues1. This is because removing the gonads also removes the gonadal hormones. For their dog’s long-term health and wellbeing, this is why a growing number of dog owners prefer to preserve their dog’s hormones. This might entail keeping the dog whole, which, with the right supervision, can help prevent unintended pregnancies. There are also methods to sterilize dogs while preserving hormones. Although dogs who undergo hormone-free sterilization are unable to reproduce, they still benefit from lifetime hormones’ health benefits.
What happens then at the dog park? The first two things to think about are very easy to understand:
Aggression is a trickier subject. Many of us were raised with the belief that intact male dogs are more aggressive and that castration can reduce aggression. However, recent studies have not endorsed these beliefs. For instance, a study involving more than 6000 dogs discovered that neutered males performed better than intact dogs on a variety of aggressive and frightened behaviors2.
Having said that, while research on a large number of dogs can offer generalizations about canine behavior, each dog park owner is still accountable for their dog’s behavior. First and foremost, your dog must be properly trained. He or she should regard you as the alpha and respond to your calls. Second, owners must constantly watch over their dogs and have a thorough understanding of canine behavior to recognize when trouble is about to arise. Dog aggression can be identified by body tensing, holding the head high, and occasionally snarling with the lips pursed. When you see such behaviors, immediately call your dog to come. Finally, it is your responsibility to remove your dog from the dog park if it is acting inappropriately there. These manners apply to both intact and neutered dogs.
You and your dog will encounter dogs with different backgrounds when you go to the dog park: intact, sterilized using hormone-preserving techniques, or neutered. The dog park can be a fun and healthy place for everyone if each owner takes responsibility for their pet. ¹https://ivcjournal. com/spay-neuter-alternatives/ ²https://journals. plos. org/plosone/article?id=10. 1371/journal. pone. 0196284.
Q: My dog, Wishbone, is an intact male Jack Russell. He wasn’t completely socialized and had a few aggression issues. He is much happier with us now, but he despises Jonesy, my mother-in-law’s intact male dog. After months of getting along, they got into a pretty serious argument. They now try to attack each other and fight whenever they even see one another. I want to board him, but I’m afraid he’ll be a pain to the kennel if he barks or tries to fight with other dogs. Should I assume that he won’t get along with any other male dog? Any advice?—Peacemaker in Pasadena.
A: Because Wishbone and Jonesy are both intact, you run the risk of having two fights involving unneutered male dogs. Does their “talk to the paw” relationship, however, indicate that Wishbone will also have issues socializing with other dogs? Although there are many intact males who are not aggressive toward dogs, animals can detect when another is not neutered. It’s common for other dogs to become agitated when an intact male enters a dog park or social group, both literally and figuratively, and fighting may ensue. Wishbone’s age wasn’t mentioned, but assuming he’s a teenager or older, I’m wondering why he hasn’t been neutered. Given that aggression issues can be genetically passed down, I assume you don’t intend to breed him. I strongly advise you to talk to your veterinarian about neutering him unless he is a show dog or there is a medical or other reason why he must remain intact. Neutering not only reduces aggression toward other males but also roaming, urine marking, and perhaps other aggression-related behaviors like territoriality. Given their well-documented history of fighting, Wishbone and Jonesy’s relationship may change if one or both of them undergo neutering, but for the time being, it would be best to manage the situation by keeping them apart. Giving Wishbone every chance to interact with people peacefully in the future is crucial. Hire a trainer who is gentle, positive, and who owns dogs that are “bomb-proof” around other dogs if at all possible. That would enable you to address any potential reactivity in a controlled manner, and the trainer could then assist you in gradually becoming exposed to dogs you are unfamiliar with in public. All of that ought to make it easier for you to anticipate Wishbone’s behavior in kennel or boarding conditions near other dogs. You could always choose to have a pet sitter stay at your house if it seems like it might be problematic.
What does the science say about whether or not this is a worthwhile suggestion that we should be making?
From a medical standpoint, spay/neuter is a thorny issue. Potential benefits include protecting against testicular cancer, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and perineal hernias in men, as well as protecting against mammary cancer and pyometra (a potentially fatal uterine infection) in women. However, there is also mounting evidence that altered dogs may be more susceptible to orthopedic issues and specific types of cancer, particularly if the procedure is carried out before they are fully developed.
And really, it’s not difficult to see where this concept originates. We tend to associate testosterone with more aggressive behavior, especially in males, so it almost feels like common sense, doesn’t it? Less testosterone should equal more docile behavior… right?.
“It’s so upsetting that my dog bit a friend of mine who was over last night.” My veterinarian advised that we neuter him right away to prevent further problems. ”.
However, I am confident in stating that spaying or neutering your aggressive dog is not likely to be the solution.
Aggression is a trickier subject. Many of us were raised with the belief that intact male dogs are more aggressive and that castration can reduce aggression. However, recent studies have not endorsed these beliefs. For instance, a study involving more than 6000 dogs discovered that neutered males performed better than intact dogs on a variety of aggressive and frightened behaviors2.
On your outing to the dog park, you and your dog will encounter dogs with various backgrounds – intact, sterilized with hormone-preserving methods, or neutered. With each owner taking responsibility for his or her dog, the dog park can be an enjoyable and healthy place for all. ¹https://ivcjournal.com/spay-neuter-alternatives/ ²https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0196284
Over 80% of dogs that are owned in the United States have undergone gonadectomy (also known as neutering). This prevents them from having children and helps to reduce the issue of dog overpopulation. Researchers are learning that the absence of natural hormones in neutered dogs is associated with a wide range of health and behavioral issues1. This is because removing the gonads also removes the gonadal hormones. For their dog’s long-term health and wellbeing, this is why a growing number of dog owners prefer to preserve their dog’s hormones. This might entail keeping the dog whole, which, with the right supervision, can help prevent unintended pregnancies. There are also methods to sterilize dogs while preserving hormones. Although dogs who undergo hormone-free sterilization are unable to reproduce, they still benefit from lifetime hormones’ health benefits.
What happens then at the dog park? The first two things to think about are very easy to understand:
Having said that, while research on a large number of dogs can offer generalizations about canine behavior, each dog park owner is still accountable for their dog’s behavior. First and foremost, your dog must be properly trained. He or she should regard you as the alpha and respond to your calls. Second, owners must constantly watch over their dogs and have a thorough understanding of canine behavior to recognize when trouble is about to arise. Dog aggression can be identified by body tensing, holding the head high, and occasionally snarling with the lips pursed. When you see such behaviors, immediately call your dog to come. Finally, it is your responsibility to remove your dog from the dog park if it is acting inappropriately there. These manners apply to both intact and neutered dogs.
FAQ
Are male dogs more aggressive when not neutered?
The majority of carefully conducted scientific research on this topic (and there have been many!) demonstrates that a dog’s spaying or neutering has no bearing whatsoever on their propensity to become aggressive under any given circumstance.
Do unneutered dogs have behavior problems?
Unwanted Male Dog Behaviors: Possessive and Overly Protective of Food and Toys refusal to follow instructions, disobedience to respond when called, and leash pulling Barking or lunging at passersby; fighting with other dogs. Pacing, complaining, and unable to relax; jumping, running, and howling at doors
Why are unneutered dogs aggressive?
Studies demonstrate, for instance, that intact male dogs between the ages of 18 months and two years have a higher incidence of aggression than females or neutered males due to higher testosterone levels.
Does neutering make dogs less aggressive?
While neutered male dogs do exhibit more aggressive tendencies immediately following the procedure, this increase in aggression eventually decreases. In fact, it has been shown that neutering eventually results in a male dog that is much happier and calmer.