Does neutering reduce aggression?

[JOERM]

I've always heard it does and my dog trainer sad the same so i had my new pup Austin, an Australian Shepherd, fixed. Didn't ask the vet about this till after the gonads were removed. Stupid me as normal. He said no it does not help. $280 later i am a bit smarter.

Can someone here tell me anything different? My wife....well...lill leave that part out for now.

 

[Sprefix]

Oh my!!?? I though you may have irritated the wife again. Glad to hear YOU are intact. As for your question, I don't have a clue. I was just scared for my fellow man for a moment.......

 

[JOERM]

Nah, I'm good to go there although i sometimes wonder whats on her mind.

Austin can be aggressive and i did not have him fixed just for that reason. I kind of like having a dog that has the potential tial to be trained as a protector.

 

[HELLSING]

When I had my two Chows neutered I noticed less territorial marking when we walked and when I left them out into the back yard.

My big boy, Kage, was aggressive with other dogs when we walked ( pulling towards them, barking, etc.) and it took a good year to break him of this completely through persistent negative/good reinforcement when he was good or when he was bad. Neutering didn't change anything at all in this field.

Anyhow, get it done. It's beneficial for males/females for other reasons than aggression, there's no reason NOT to do it. It's not that much to begin with.

 

[mc5aw]

It does with cats, but I'm not sure about dogs. My Rat Terrier pup just turned 1 y.o. and is as feisty now as he was when fixed months ago. I think neutering does a lot for reducing the instinctive need to mark territory, and certainly helps when females are in heat, but my pup still destroys anything he can chew and sounds the alarm whenever a stranger comes knocking. He's no sedentary couch potato.

 

[tork'd]

my sister-in-law said it worked on my brother..
he has stopped yelling at their neighbors...

 

[Cdog]

It helped take the wind from my sails, but it did nothing for my namesake Cdog.

He still ain't looking for any new friends.

 

[frbeall]

Worked for me.

 

[Alnamvet68]

For the female species of cats and dogs (spay), it leads to healthier lives, less weight gain, and a mellower disposition. Now, in response to the OP, just think about it...how do you think you would feel if you were neutered?

 

[rwsmith]

It's less temptation

Have a female in heat and every dog is in your back yard. A non-fixed male will spend his time getting into female dog's back yards. Neutering generally evens out their temperament and they are not quite as umpredictable around other doges. Not quite as territorial and fighting over mates will slow down.

 

[joeintexas]

worked on me too!! I haven't ran to the end of my chain and barked in years. Didn't do my dogs any good though except they don't get as excited in the spring.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

It didn't work on ****** *********.

 

[BearBio]

In short, yes it can. Depends on a lot of factors such as: Age when neutered, weight gain after neutering, breed, etc. It isn't as simple as a yes or no=most, if not all behavior, is a sliding scale, not a on-off switch.

 

[LazyKB]

I don't know about Austin but if someone was fixin to fix me I'd be aggressive!

 

[Tenn2]

The main reason for neutering is to promote health. There is a higher % for cancer in dogs that are not going to be bred. The vet states that if you are not contemplating breeding then get him fixed.

My GSDs do not get fixed as they are AKC and I may breed him if a suitable female comes around. It will be my choice not his.

He is not agressive to begin with and is very well trained. Agression can be taking out of the equation with proper training.

 

[LazyKB]

One Monday several years ago a friend came dragging into work. When I asked him why he was so tired he said he had spent the weekend out looking for his beagle who had joined up with a pack of male dogs chasing a female in heat. "But I am going to put a stop to that. I am going to have the little so and so fixed."


Months later Fred dragged into work again. Same story, been looking for his dog. "I thought you had him fixed?" "I did, but now he goes to watch."

 

[kozmic]

Neutering/spaying your dog should always be PLAN A unless it is a show (quality) dog and/or you have a real-live breeding program. The few hundred dollars spent is well worth it for many reasons.

I don't buy into the theory that it will curb aggression. As stated, it may decrease his natural "male" behavior. Being less aggressive would only be an added benefit not necessarily a given.

My male Gordon is neutered the only thing he doesn't do is "mount" other dogs (too often anyway). He marks and sniffs everything in sight and still like to be the alpha dog. But he isn't breaking down doors to hump the dog in heat two miles away!

If you have an aggressive dog (to other dogs or to people) it's time to start serious training. Get into a class or get a book or read up on line but do something! Any expense now will pay you back 100 fold in the future. Proper socialization of your dog is your responsibility. Fixing your dog won't fix that situation.

 

[jlrhiner]

Is anyone else uncomfortable?

 

[Alnamvet68]

Is anyone else uncomfortable?

Not I; everything is in good working order and as God intended.

 

[venomballistics]

I have a tom cat. before neutering he'd guard the door with pitbull ferocity. after .. he still guards the door. The only thing that changed was his territorial marking.