Do male dogs change after neutering?

 Some caregivers who decide to neuter their dog do so thinking that it is the solution to the aggressiveness that has appeared at some point. Therefore, they are surprised when the aggressive behavior does not subside after the operation. Aggression can occur even in dogs that have not yet shown it.

In this dog57 article, we will review the reasons for this behavior, as well as the most appropriate solutions to this important problem. It is necessary to stop it from the first moment, because of the risks it entails for everyone. Find out why your dog becomes aggressive after neutering and what to do about it.

What is considered dog aggression?

When we talk about aggression in dogs, we are referring to behaviors that pose a threat to the safety of other animals or even humans. It is the most serious behavioral problem we can find because of the danger it poses. A dog with aggressive behavior grows, shows its teeth, licks its lips, puts its ears back, washes its hair, and even goes so far as to act as a bite or, directly, to bite.

Aggression appears as a dog's reaction to a situation that causes insecurity or conflict, and with his reaction, what he intends to control. In other words, he learns that an aggressive reaction frees him from the stimulus he feels is threatening. This success, moreover, reinforces the behavior, that is, it is more likely to be repeated. As it is easy to assume, aggressive behaviors are one of the most common reasons used to abandon dogs.

Causes of dog aggression

Several reasons can be behind the aggressiveness of the dog, such as fear or defense of resources. We can also witness aggressive behavior when males fight over a female in heat or, conversely, females compete for one male. This is why it is common for castration to be associated with controlling aggressiveness, although, as we can see, it is not the only cause.

Do Male Dogs Change After Being Neutered?

Testosterone can work by encouraging certain aggressive behaviors. In castration, a dog's testicles and ovaries are removed, and the female's uterus is often removed as well. For this reason, castration can only affect the so-called dimorphic sexual behaviors, which are those behaviors that depend on the action of sex hormones on the central nervous system. An example is intra-sex zonal or aggressiveness determination, ie towards same-sex samples.

In females, castration can prevent the aggressiveness that occurs during the maternal period, as they will not be able to reproduce, encountering other females with the male or suffer a false pregnancy. In any case, we must know that results are highly variable between samples and castration cannot be considered a guarantee of resolution of behaviors such as those mentioned, because they are also influenced by the animal's experience, age, conditions, etc.

On the other hand, the effects may take a few months to show, because that's how long it takes for the testosterone level to drop.

Why does my dog ​​be aggressive after being castrated?

If we neuter our dog and as soon as we get home we notice that he is aggressive, it does not have to be related to a behavioral problem. Some specimens come home tense, still confused, and painful, and an aggressive reaction may simply be due to this situation. This aggressiveness should go away within a couple of days or improve with analgesia. On the other hand, if our dog shows aggression associated with dimorphic sexual behaviors, once neutered and after a few months, the problem can likely be brought under control. In any case, it is always recommended to apply other measures. But, especially in females, castration can increase their aggressive reactions. It is a more common problem in those bitches who have been neutered at a very young age when they are not yet six months old. It is thought that it is more frequent for these dogs to react aggressively to unknown people or that if they display aggressive behavior before the operation, these things get worse. This is explained because estrogen and progesterone help prevent aggression in female dogs. Eliminating them will also end inhibition while increasing testosterone. Hence the controversy surrounding the castration of aggressive female dogs. In any case, if the dog is aggressive after the surgery, it is likely aggressive that has nothing to do with the sex hormones that have been withdrawn.

What do I do if my dog ​​is aggressive after being neutered?

If the aggression after castration is due to the stress of the operation or the pain the dog is feeling, as we say, it will subside as the animal regains its stability and normal state. So the best thing to do is to leave him alone and not punish or scold him but just ignore him. It is necessary not to reinforce this behavior to prevent him from interpreting that in this way he achieves a goal. Now, if the cause was something else and the dog was already aggressive before the operation, you need to act. Dog aggression cannot be allowed in any case. Quite the contrary, you have to treat it from the first moment. Not only will it not resolve itself, but the usual thing is that it is increasing, and can have very negative consequences for the safety of other animals or even humans. If the dog knows that aggression is working in his favor, it will be very difficult to eliminate this behavior. First of all, we should take him to the vet. Some diseases have aggressiveness as one of their clinical signs. But if your vet has determined that our dog is perfectly healthy, it's time to go to a dog behavior specialist, such as a behavior specialist. This will be responsible for evaluating our dog, looking for the cause of his problem, and suggesting necessary actions to solve it.