What effect does nuetering have on a dog's temperment?

9502 Views 52 Replies 10 Participants Last post by susan tuck, Apr 19, 2006

Stacia Porter

Discussion Starter · Apr 17, 2006

I've seen a lot of articles and messageboard replies in various places on the 'net concerning the "aggressiveness" of un-neutered dogs. It got me wondering what, if any, effect neutering has on a dog's temperment.

I have a 12 mth old un-neutered male and was told that if we were going to neuter, not to do it until after 2 years of age b/c it might affect drives. I'm not sure how true that is, either. The breeder about had a heart attack when I asked about a spay/neuter agreement during his purchase (she couldn't understand why anyone would want to sterilize a dog).

So I'm turning to you experienced dog people: is there a difference? Do you neuter your dogs? If so, at what age?

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Connie Sutherland

· #41 · Apr 18, 2006

Woody Taylor said:
.....However...my dog is a family dog first, everything else second, and a dog that I cannot be with 100% of the day and a dog that spends very small chunks of time by herself in the backyard when my wife and I have to take care of our pack members who are not housebroken . So my situation is different from the experts on the board. What I dont' like are sentiments that spaying/neutering is something that's unnecessary or even just for lazy owners. I think it's a very pragmatic and practical action for many different owners to take.

Woody, referring to spaying and neutering in general as something for "lazy owners" would be an *extremely* biased statement. It's a pragmatic and practical action for *most* owners, IMO. It's just that this board and other working boards are not made up of "most owners;" it's made up (largely) of people who own and/or breed working-line dogs.

Also, remember that some of the resulting issues discussed above (for example, in the canine athlete article linked) have to do with "early" spaying/neutering (under 6 months) as opposed to spaying/neutering in general. Early spaying and neutering is really a separate discussion, IMO, from whether to spay/neuter in general.

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Woody Taylor

· #42 · Apr 18, 2006

I understand 100%. You and I have talked about this separately and you know where I am coming from...I get concerned about people surfing in and out of this forum and picking up an argument that suits their ideals rather than their situation. Then all of the sudden my neighborhood is filled with intact male APBTs with high-stim ecollars that target legs and arms.

In any case, I should have qualified my own post earlier...I'm definitely referring general spaying/neutering rather than early spaying. But overall I think it's (it being general spaying) a gray issue at this level of dog ownership, and much clearer as you get down the line to more recreational/domestic-only dogs owned by people like the two folks I saw this weekend with live prongs and flexileads :roll: . Those types of folks should get their dogs fixed. I will call this the Cesar Milan rule--if he would consider you a good episode, you must fix your dog. :lol:

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Connie Sutherland

· #43 · Apr 18, 2006

Woody Taylor said:
I understand 100%. You and I have talked about this separately and you know where I am coming from...I get concerned about people surfing in and out of this forum and picking up an argument that suits their ideals rather than their situation. Then all of the sudden my neighborhood is filled with intact male APBTs with high-stim ecollars that target legs and arms.

In any case, I should have qualified my own post earlier...I'm definitely referring general spaying/neutering rather than early spaying. But overall I think it's (it being general spaying) a gray issue at this level of dog ownership, and much clearer as you get down the line to more recreational/domestic-only dogs owned by people like the two folks I saw this weekend with live prongs and flexileads :roll: . Those types of folks should get their dogs fixed. I will call this the Cesar Milan rule--if he would consider you a good episode, you must fix your dog. :lol:

I LOOOOVE that "rule"!!!!! LOL!!!

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· #44 · Apr 18, 2006

There was only one excerpt I posted that only related to early neutering, and that was the growth thing, same as Jeff said. The article was particularly against early neutering, but those issues apply to ALL neutering at ANY age; early is just far worse.

Woody, what do you mean about "people surfing in and out of the forum and picking up on an argument..." :?: You confused me there, buddy. Did I miss an earlier argument? :?

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Connie Sutherland

· #45 · Apr 18, 2006

Jenni Williams said:
There was only one excerpt I posted that only related to early neutering, and that was the growth thing, same as Jeff said. The article was particularly against early neutering, but those issues apply to ALL neutering at ANY age; early is just far worse.....

Yes, I meant that article. I thought it was an argument against early neutering.

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Connie Sutherland

· #46 · Apr 18, 2006

Jenni Williams said:
....Woody, what do you mean about "people surfing in and out of the forum and picking up on an argument..." :?: You confused me there, buddy. Did I miss an earlier argument? :?

Woody can speak for himself, I know, but I think he means pet owners who are not at the level of responsible dog-owners that this board represents, web-surfing and concluding that they are OK in not neutering and, as Woody says, "picking up an argument that suits their ideals rather than their situation."

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· #47 · Apr 18, 2006

Ok, Connie-I'm still confused :| . Do you mean the excerpts I posted or when I asked Jeff if the article he tried to post was the one I thought it was? How's that for clear? :lol: The one Jeff posted was one I'd read, but not the same one as any of the references I posted earlier. THAT one was on EARLY neutering. The ones I'd posted earlier came from an article on neutering and how it affects canine athletes, non age specifically.

Now, read what I wrote out loud three times fast :wink: .

I think that's probably what he meant too, now that you say that...but I'm not sure that those people he's concerned about would even BOTHER to read such a fascinating, informative site made up of such highly intelligent beings such as ourselves. :wink: 8)

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Woody Taylor

· #48 · Apr 18, 2006

Jenni Williams said:
Woody, what do you mean about "people surfing in and out of the forum and picking up on an argument..." :?: You confused me there, buddy. Did I miss an earlier argument? :?

An argument, like a position or a rationalization they would use to fit their own situation, not an argument between people in the forum (I think that's what you may be meaning?). It's a working dog board for working dog people--I probably should not be posting in here, now that I think about it and now that I actually read the intro page today

--but the experts here are way different in lifestyle and responsibility than people that are casually searching for info on their companion dogs. I guess I probably read into it, but I"m paranoid about it. I'm a comparatively (to most of this board) casual dog owner and no genius but I really research stuff a lot and ask a lot of questions...not everybody does that. I think it's something for you all to consider and it will be a challenge for you all to manage on an ongoing basis (i.e., respecting different viewpoints about volatile topics like sharpened prongs, ecollars, kibble

,etc)

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Connie Sutherland

· #49 · Apr 18, 2006

Jenni Williams said:
....Do you mean the excerpts I posted or when I asked Jeff if the article he tried to post was the one I thought it was?...

Yes.

LOL! I meant the canine athletes articke about early neutering which Jeff posted and got the URL wrong.

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Woody Taylor

· #50 · Apr 18, 2006

Jenni Williams said:
I think that's probably what he meant too, now that you say that...but I'm not sure that those people he's concerned about would even BOTHER to read such a fascinating, informative site made up of such highly intelligent beings such as ourselves. :wink: 8)

Never underestimate a Google search in the hands of a dog porn enthusiast (TM me). If you all have ever ran a google search on "best fighting dogs," hit the newsgroups (look for a guy named Jerry Howe), or some of the molosser info and forums, you'd be amazed. I'm no fan of BSL legislation but I am a big fan of Owner Specific Legislation.

It's a shame in a lot of those cases...I think molosser types and LGDs are fascinating, it's too bad they have gone the way (or will shortly go the way) of the APBT.

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· #51 · Apr 18, 2006

I think we should have weekly or daily conference calls. This typing thing is too confusing...

:lol:

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Connie Sutherland

· #52 · Apr 18, 2006

Woody Taylor said:
.....It's a working dog board for working dog people--I probably should not be posting in here...

I think I don't belong on the Fluffy forums, if for no other reason besides doing extensive research into canine health and nutrition. But I also think I learn a TON about training and behavior and about the subject of working dogs (with which I wanted to familiarize myself thoroughly before looking for a SchH dog), and I do work with other peoples' dogs.

Like other working dog forums, this one attracts as members people who may not yet (or ever) have a working dog, but who are much more responsible and serious about their dogs' training than many owners on the more casual and social dog forums. I'm not putting down the Fluffy sites; they serve a purpose, but it's one I personally don't need.

Talk about getting off topic!

QUOTE: I'm not sure that those people he's concerned about would even BOTHER to read such a fascinating, informative site made up of such highly intelligent beings such as ourselves. END

I never thought of that! :lol:

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susan tuck

· #53 · Apr 19, 2006

Nope, don't neuter my dogs. Current pup likes to thrash his stuffed toys around & then will hump them for good measure just to be sure they know he's alpha over all the toys in the land. All my males in the past have done the jaw chatter drooley thing when they got a whiff of a female in season. I've never been in a nudie bar, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of the guys that go to them do the same thing, since many men get a weird look in their eyes & big toothy grins when they see young, well endowed fully clothed women just walking down the street. :roll: :lol:

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