Do Male Dogs Change After Being Neutered?

For pet parents stuck between neutering their male dogs and not doing it, the most important thing is always understanding how it changes your pooch. But, given castration touches on an essential body part that defines a male dog, it should be obvious it will leave some changes.

A study published on PubMed.gov examining the effects of neutering on male and female dogs concludes that the castration changed the male pups far more than the female ones. This study showed a reduction or complete disappearance of behavioral problems like hypersexuality after neutering for up to 74% of the male dogs.

Common Behavioral Changes Associated with Neutering

Neutering might seem like a standard procedure for many male dogs, but it triggers a myriad of behavioral changes that you need to understand before you do it. Here are some of the main ones.

• Dogs Stop Humping and Mounting: Many male dogs have a tendency to hump and mount other dogs and even humans, which is a result of hormones. However, after neutering, the behavior reduces significantly or even stops altogether.
• Sex Urge Reduces: A neutered male dog is far less likely to go wandering around searching for females. Therefore, behaviors like escaping from its doghouse or jumping the fence in your backyard are reduced.
• Dogs Become More Patient: Many male dogs find it hard to wait for a meal or a suitable time and place to urinate. Once neutered, they are less likely to urinate just anywhere or jump impatiently for food as they tend to get more patient.
• Reduced Aggression: While there are other determinants of aggression in dogs, such as their breed and environment, neutering often reduces aggression levels significantly.

Health Benefits Are Associated with Neutering

Besides behavioral changes, neutering a dog also comes with some health benefits.

• Reduced Risk of Certain Cancers: Dogs have a high risk of getting prostate cancer at some point in their life if they live long enough. Neutering them reduces the risk considerably. Also, since both testicles are removed during neutering, there is almost zero chance of getting testicular cancer.
• Less Frequency of Perennial Tumors: By neutering your pup, you reduce its likelihood of getting perennial tumors and hernias, which is quite a common issue as the pet ages.
• Reduced Risk of Transmitted Diseases: Since a neutered dog is less likely to wander around, there is less risk of coming into contact with other pets that can transmit diseases to them. Therefore, neutering contributes to minimizing the risk of highly infectious ailments like ringworms.

FAQs

What is the Best Age to Neuter a Male Dog?

A: There is no clear consensus on the right age to neuter your male dog. But what many experts seem to agree is you need to let the pet grow fully before doing it, which means it should be at least a year old for most breeds. Also, it is better to neuter the dog before it starts breeding as some can retain their sexual habits even after neutering.

Do Male Dogs Get Aggressive after being Neutered?

A: No, most dogs tend to get less aggressive after neutering. By removing the two testicles, the production of hormones that influence the dog's aggressive behavior, such as vasopressin, is reduced significantly.

How Much Does It Cost To Neuter A Male Dog?

A: Cost primarily depends on where you are getting the neuter service, as a massive chunk of what you pay is determined by the vet's charges. Also, other things like animal health and size affect the cost. Many animal shelters provide an affordable neuter service that can be as little as $50 or slightly less, while premium vet clinics typically charge over $200.

Conclusion

Neutering male dogs is the most effective way of population control. However, it also comes with many behavioral changes for your pup, such as reduced aggression and wandering. Better still, it can reduce the pet's risk of getting testicular and prostate cancer.