Some caregivers who decide to neuter their dog do so thinking that it is the solution to resolve the aggressiveness that she has shown at some point. Therefore, they are surprised when, after the operation, the aggressive behavior does not subside. In fact, aggressiveness can even occur in dogs that until now had not shown it.
In this article on our site, in collaboration with iNetPet, we review the causes of this behavior, as well as the most appropriate solutions to this important problem. It is essential to stop it from the first moment, due to the risk it implies for everyone. Find out why your dog has become aggressive after neutering him and what to do about it.
What is canine aggression?
When we talk about aggressiveness in dogs, we refer to behaviors that pose a threat to the integrity of other animals or even people. It is the most serious behavior problem that we can find due to the danger it poses. A dog with an aggressive behavior growls, shows its teeth, purses its lips, puts back its ears, bristles its hair and even goes so far as to mark a bite or, directly, to bite.
Aggressiveness arises as the dog's response to a situation that causes insecurity or conflictand with his reaction what he wants is take the control. In other words, he learns that an aggressive reaction frees him from the stimulus that he feels is threatening. This success, on top of that, reinforces the behavior, that is, it will be more likely to repeat it. As it is easy to suppose, aggressive behaviors are one of the most common causes used for the abandonment of dogs.
Causes of canine aggression
There are multiple causes that can be behind the aggressiveness shown by a dog, such as fear or defense of resources We can also attend aggressive behaviors when the males face each other for a female in heat or, vice versa, it is the females that compete for a single male. That is why it is common for castration to be related to aggressiveness control, although, as we can see, it is not the only cause.
Does neutering a dog stop being aggressive?
The hormone testosterone can act by encouraging certain aggressive behaviors. In castration, the testicles of dogs and the ovaries are removed, and often the uterus of females as well. For this reason, castration can only affect what are called sexually dimorphic behaviors, which are those behaviors that depend on the action of sexual hormones on the central nervous system. An example is the marking of territory or intrasexual aggressiveness, that is, towards specimens of the same sex.
In females, castration can prevent the aggressiveness that occurs during the maternal period, since they will not be able to reproduce, fight other females for a male or suffer pseudo-pregnancies. In any case, it should be known that results are highly variable between dogs and castration cannot be considered an absolute guarantee of resolution of behaviors such as those mentioned, since they are also influenced by the previous experience of the animal, its age, its circumstances, etc.
On the other hand, the effects may take a few months to manifest, as this is the time it takes for the testosterone level to decline.
Why has my dog become aggressive after neutering him?
If we have neutered our dog and as soon as we get home we notice that he is aggressive, he does not have to be related to a behavior problem. Some specimens return home stressed, still disoriented and sore and an aggressive reaction may simply be due to that situation. This aggressiveness should go away in a couple of days or improve with pain relief.
On the other hand, if our dog showed aggressiveness related to sexually dimorphic behaviors, once neutered and after a few months, it is likely that the problem can be controlled. In any case, the application of other measures is always recommended. But, especially in females, castration could increase their aggressive reactions It is a more common problem in those bitches that have been castrated very young, when they had not yet reached six months of age. It is considered that it is more frequent for these dogs to react aggressively to unknown people or that, if they presented aggressive behavior before the operation, these worsen. It is explained because estrogens and progestogens help to inhibit aggressiveness in female dogs. Eliminating them will also end the inhibition, while increasing testosterone. Hence the controversy surrounding the castration of aggressive female dogs. In any case, if a dog is aggressive after surgery, it is probably an aggressiveness that has nothing to do with the sexual hormones that have been withdrawn.
