Are dogs more likely to be aggressive if they are not spayed or nuetered?

Question

I have a 1 year old male boston terrier who is not nuetered, and we have 2 cats, one of whom just had 4 kittens. I had the kittens for a month and never had a problem with the dog bothering them in their box, and then I came home one day, and my dog gotten to them and had killed 3 of them by chewing on their necks. The next day I left and had him in the kitchen with the gate up, and he apparently jumped it, and somehow got to the last kitten and killed it as well, only this time he ate the head. He is a very good dog, and plays with the other cats, but I am worried if he's more aggressive because of not being nuetered, and I am also afraid if one of the cats ever had kittens he might kill them as well.

Answer 1

Yes they are.
There are many site telling the benefits of spaying/neutering pets. This is just one of them.

Good for You, Your Pet, and the Community
Prevent A Litter - It's Good for You
Spayed and neutered pets are better, more affectionate, companions.
Neutered cats are less likely to spray and mark territory.
Spaying a female dog or cat eliminates its heat cycle, which can last twenty-one days, twice a year, in dogs, and anywhere from three to fifteen days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat often cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals.
Spayed and neutered pets are less likely to bite. Unaltered animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than those that have been spayed or neutered.

Prevent a Litter - It's Good for Your Pet
Spayed and neutered dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.
Spaying female dogs and cats eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer.
Neutering male dogs and cats reduces the incidence of prostate cancer.
Neutered animals are less likely to roam and fight.

Prevent A Litter - It's Good for the Community
Communities spend millions of dollars to control and eliminate unwanted animals. Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks. Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals.

Answer 2

yes, in lots of cases. Yes to both female and male. Females can be just as territorial and aggressive as males when they are not spayed. Female dogs are derived from female wolves and there are diffrences, but they also have inherited the idea that there should be only one alpha female. If you have several females in your household that is unspayed you will find out quickly who the alpha is, cause she will bully and harrass the other females that come into heat. Male dogs that arent nuetered will find themselves the victims of there own hormones, the need to establish territory and dominanced is 7 fold when they are not nuetered. If you have several males that are not nuetered living in the same household and they are not properly matched in the social ladder, your going to have a big problem on your hands as they will constantly fight to see who is bigger and better. You cant ever trust these guys either cause for several years it might all be fine and dandy, till one day the lesser dog, might detect a weakness or slowing of the dominant and decide hes going to take over. I have 1 un-nuetered dog (PurebredShow dog), 1 nuetered dog in my pack of 7 dogs. The rest are 3 spayed females, 2 (One purebred show dog, and one foster thats too sickly yet to spay.) unspayed females. Its a dynamic that is always keeping me on my toes, and funny thing is I have more problems with my females than my un-nuetered male as far as aggression.

Answer 3

Both males and females can be more territiorial if not altered. Doesn't mean that they will be. Also doesn't mean an altered dog will be nice. These are just the general rules. The best reasons to alter would be A- to control the pet population, and B- for your pets health. A lot of people don't realize that male dogs can get prostate cancer & it's common. Also for the females they can get pyometria, an infection of the uterus that will kill your dog if not taken care of immediatly (huge infection that sends massive poison through their systems). Unfortunatly, dogs aren't like people & can't tell us when they're getting ill. So these conditions go to far, and then you end up losing your beloved friend to something that could've been prevented.

Answer 4

That depends on the dog's attitude before. It also depends on how the dog is treated by the owner and what age the spay/neuter happens. It affects every dog differently. There is no way to say for sure whether your dog will become less agressive from the spay/neuter.

Answer 5

Yes! And I say it for experience because I'm going thru this situation right now. I made the mistake of not neutering my Pitbulls when they were young, now they're 6.5 months old and it's so hard for me to control them. Males, especially, go through changes in behavior, and eventually become more aggressive.

Answer 6

Just something to think about.I have a just turning 5 year old German Shepard.I learned a lot from watching the Dog Whisperer on the NGC on TV.You need to be the pack leader or your dog will.Otherwise he will walk you and bark at any threat.I tried to put my dog down when he got aggressive with me.(holding him down on the floor) and he bit me because I didn't have a good grip.He fought back because he didn't won't to lose being a team leader.Just like I would if I was in his place.A couple of days later I stepped on his tail and he looked at me and growled. I told him to go to bed and he did.That scared me and for a couple of days I was going to take him to the Vet to have him neutered.Then I realized he loved me because he went straight to bed when I told him to,after he growled at me for stepping on his tail.He just wanted me to RESPECT him.If I got him neutered maybe in a couple of years,I might step on his tail and tell him just to move. Now I'll look closer and try not to out of RESPECT because he taught me.I,m not afraid of him anymore because I know he loves me.

Answer 7

Yes

Answer 8

Yes Shannon,
usually a male but I am not positive about a female.

Answer 9

Yes mam. That is the one thing that is very prevalant in dog attacks. Its unnnetered males that are the worse.

Answer 10

I say male are morer mean when there nuetered/ spayed.
I have a female dog ( not spayed ) and her sister which is spayed is really mean, same with two of her brother but neutered.