TL;DR: Neutering your male dog has a number of advantages, including lowering the risk of developing various cancers and prostate disease in dogs. Although the procedure to neuter a dog is generally safe, you should expect your dog to act very differently after the procedure when you bring them home. These adverse effects, which can include heightened aggression, depression, anxiety, or even clinginess, only last for a brief period of time.
Male dogs, particularly puppies, have a tendency to be very “active” in the sexual department while they are growing and, if not neutered, even as they get older. This may be trouble for you as the owner because you don’t want to have to care for many puppies or deal with the hassle of finding them safe homes. The best way to prevent circumstances like this is to neuter your male dog.
Although neutering is a very effective way to decrease your male dog’s sexual appetite, it can also cause other behavioral symptoms that you might not anticipate. The most well-known drawback of neutering your male dog is that they frequently develop an aggressive personality. However, neutering has far more benefits than drawbacks, and increased aggression is merely one minor side effect.
Continue reading to learn more about all the modifications your male dog will undergo after being neutered.
Food Aggression
Food aggression, also referred to as “resource guarding,” occurs when a dog becomes hostile when you approach them while they are eating. Given that the dog attempted to protect their meal, this could be directed at either humans or dogs. This may be related to anxiety and instinctive feelings of not knowing where one’s next meal will come from.
Through repetition and training techniques, this aggression can be improved. When a dog is possessive of a toy, person, or resting location, resource guarding behavior can also be seen.
It makes sense to think that by spaying or neutering the dog and “taking them down a notch” in the pecking order, we might be able to fix the problem. However, a lot of dog behavior advice in the media and popular culture still tends to blame dominance or conflicts over social status for most behavior issues.
But really, the jury is still out. Although I’d be very interested to see more research on this subject in the future, I don’t believe there is enough evidence to say whether or not the spay/neuter status of a pet increases risk at this time.
Earlier this year, a major study of more than 13,000 dogs ¹analyzed the effect of spay/neuter status and age that the procedure was performed on three different types of aggression – towards familiar people, strangers, and other dogs. (This is a huge sample size, and the study was very detailed – I highly recommend reading the paper for yourself if this is something that interests you!)
There are, however, a few notable exceptions to this rule, including intact males who frequently have difficulty getting along with other males and female dogs who only exhibit aggressive behavior when they are in heat. However, for the majority of dogs with more commonplace aggression issues (leash reactivity, resource guarding, biting visitors, etc.), spaying or neutering is rarely helpful. ), it probably won’t make any difference.
I can tell you as a veterinarian that this line of thinking is very prevalent. In an effort to address a variety of behavioral issues, including general “stubbornness,” anxiety problems, and training difficulties, we frequently see clients who schedule their dogs’ spaying or neutering procedures. If their pet is intact, many of my behavior clients specifically inquire about this as a potential treatment option.
Do male dogs experience mood changes after being neutered?
As we previously mentioned, the main advantages of neutering your male dog are an overall decrease in the likelihood that they will develop a variety of canine cancers. 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.
The breed of your male dog is one of the key determinants of whether they will become more aggressive after being neutered. The temporary hormonal imbalance that neutering causes can increase aggressive behaviors in male dog breeds that are already predisposed to violent tendencies because some dog breeds are naturally more aggressive than others.
The removal of your male dog’s testicles will result in the most noticeable physical change, but once the incision scars are healed, it won’t be very noticeable. It’s great to neuter your dog because it promotes better health and a longer lifespan in general.
FAQ
Does getting a male dog fixed stop aggression?
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.
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.
Does neutering a male dog help with behavior?
Neutering reduces marking in about 50% of dogs. Inter-male aggression can be reduced in about 60% of dogs. There are times when dominance aggression can be lessened, but complete eradication also requires behavioral modification.
How do male dogs stop male aggression?
- Discourage dominant behaviors.
- Watch out for signs of resource guarding.
- Pay attention to socialization, both with your pets and with people you don’t know.
- Use positive reinforcement training.