How much difference can neutering make in an aggressive dog? He has gone after my family but never bitten.?

Question

I don't have small kids, he only fights with 1 of 4 other males. He has to go through the living room to go out. If he happens to want to "mark" it, we can't stop him w/out him growling & snapping at us. He was much worse when I got him & I've worked 1.5 yrs to get him this far. Sometimes he's just a sweet playful dog.

Answer 1

Neutering will stop him from going after females in heat & may stop the "marking" but he sounds too agressive to be trusted. If you've been working with him for 1.5 yrs & he's still "going after" your family, I'd say it's time to put him down. I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But he's a dangerous dog at home, I'd hate to meet him in public.
Sounds like you've done your best & I doubt a trainer could do any better.
Best wishes.

Answer 2

Quite a mix of answers, no? Correct the dog should be neutered without a doubt. This *may* help and it certainly won't hurt and I can't think of any reason in the world not to get it done and a million reasons in favor. While lowering the testorone can be a help, I would not consider it a cure because neutering alone may not be a complete answer in solving aggression. The best bet would be to combine neutering with either a dog behaviorist or one on one training with a professional trainer that is experienced in problem behavior and aggression. You don't mention how old the dog is or if he was a pup when you got him. Be careful in choosing a trainer. It might be a good idea to consult with the vet or a training club in your area to find a good one. GL

ADDED:
nt_sndr makes some valid points. How many male dogs are in your house? However snapping and growling at family members? You should be able to handle and correct a dog without that sort of behavior unless you're walking into the middle of intercation between the dogs

Answer 3

Dogs show aggression for any number of reasons including fear. A dominant, confident dog does not snap, snarl, growl, bark constantly at other dogs because he/she knows he/she does not need to. It isn't clear but your dog could be mid-level on the dog totem pole and unnerved all the time.

Are you talking about having 5 male dogs in your household? Well-matched male dogs can fight each other all the time. They don't establish a clear relationship to each other and end up constantly squabbling. Things may not always work out between them unless one gives up.

Dogs mark for a number of reasons although strict territoriality may not be one of them. It is a form of communication and he could be marking to make himself feel more comfortable. He could also be trying to cover up smells from dogs that he isn't comfortable with.

Neutering may not help with many kinds of aggression except fighting over females or actively roaming in search of them. It probably does not help change the male dog. Neutering can, however, change the attitude of other dogs to that dog.

If the neutered dog is no longer harassed by other male dogs because he smells less male, he should be able to calm down. The overall effect can be calming of the relationship.

Are you isolating him in another room to prevent fighting? Isolation can exacerbate the problem. Dogs can become hyper aggressive if they see or sense other dogs through a barrier but can't get to them to sniff, greet, etc.

If you are concerned about biting, you can get a basket muzzle while you modify his behavior. In general he sounds like a nice dog who is very stressed. If he acts very differently when outside on his own with you than he does inside then that may be the case.

Answer 4

It definitely can reduce dominance, but no guarantee it will completely stop the fighting. It should also reduce the tendency to mark and snap. Aggression gets worse with age, so neuter before it gets worse and get a recommendation for a trainer from your vet or humane society to work with. Growling and snapping at you is NEVER acceptable behavior and it CAN escalate to a full blown bite.

And bear2zealand is 100% wrong. Studies by the U.S. Center for Disease Control on dog bites linked unneutered dogs and tying dogs out as the HIGHEST risk factors for bites. Neutering reduces the tendency to bite humans. This study found that male dogs are 6.2 times more likely to bite than females and unaltered dogs of both sexes were 2.6 times more likely to bite. Once males are altered, the numbers are comparable to spayed female dogs.

Answer 5

You should most definitely neuter this dog. It is likely to help but most importantly, you need to consult a trainer and get this dog under control. He does not respect you as his pack leader. If he did, he would not growl or snap at you. He has never bitten...... yet. But that day is coming if you don't deal with his aggression now. He needs strong, consistent training and correction. But first, he needs to be neutered.

Answer 6

Any time you have a dog that shows aggression neutering is the first step. It stop the flow of testosterone and may calm him down. May I also suggest some professional training!!

here is an artical for you to read notice the second to the last paragraph!

Training An Agressive Dog
Dogs are a man’s best friend. That has always been the belief ever since. Why not? Because of their care, loyalty and sweetness to their owners, people will have a hard time not loving them.

Unfortunately for some dog owners and some people, the dog becomes their worst enemy. Just imagine the life of the mail man. The mail man has been always portrayed in movies or cartoons as a biting post of dogs. This is not a stupid joke. I have a n uncle who worked as a mail man and got bitten by a dog.

In fact, there are more people aside from mailmen that get victimized by dog bites. Every year there are 4.7 million people that get bitten by dogs. Among the 4.7 million people that get bitten, 17% needs medical attention. Also, 10-20% of tragic bite victims are killed by dog bites.

Since this has been a growing problem, certain breeds have been banned in some U.S. states. Here are the top 10 breeds that cause dog bites in no particular order. Rottweilers, pit bulls, huskies, German shepherds, Dobermans, malamutes, St. Bernards, chow chows, Akitas and Great Danes.

The dog’s behavior of being aggressive or non-aggressive greatly depends on the owner’s responsibility and training of the dog. Here are several steps that the owners can take to make their dog safe around other people.

• Make your puppy have social interaction with other dogs and people after it gets vaccinated. This will help the puppy feel that other dogs and humans are not threatening. The puppy will then learn to be friendlier. Bring the puppy to the park, pet store or even puppy classes.

• Spraying or neutering the dog will greatly help reduce the risk. When the dog is neutered some of its territorial instincts like territorial aggression are reduced. Most fatal dog bites (80%) are caused by non-neutered male dogs. So trying to neuter your aggressive male dog will help keep it safe around other people.

• Always remember to restrain your dog when interacting with strangers or in a public place. You can’t predict your dog’s behavior even though you may say that it’s really friendly. Try to restrain him with a leash when in a public place. Also prevent strangers from interacting with the dog because the stranger might startle him or her. When leaving the dog alone in your yard, remember to enclose him on a fence that will be suitable for its size.

Answer 7

Watch out with this guy. Sounds like he is the master in your house. Neutering will only remove his ability to reproduce. It might lessen his desire to "mark" but that is about it. If you should decide to go ahead with the surgery it might take months for you to see any difference. Its always best to spay and neuter your pets. Males will have less prostate problems as they age. Your concern should be that he is aggressive towards you . The fact that you allow him to growl or snap means he has won..I would have him on a leash at all times so I could control this behavior. Have him with you while you are in the house . You can always get a remote control dog correction collar..when he starts to lift his leg.. you press the button to correct him. Its a mild static shock..gets his attention.. and you aren't to blame.. But you need to be the top dog in your home..Look into obedience classes too it will help..

Answer 8

Neutering will help quite a bit, though it will take a few months at least before you see the difference while his hormone levels adjust- but it will not solve it completely. You SHOULD do it- it will help with the aggression, and a house dog who is aggressive should not be bred.

Answer 9

Neutering can curb agressive tendencies, but it won't change an agressive dog into an angel. Training and obedience in addition to the neuter can help to correct his agressive behavior. Don't walk into the vet's office expecting your dog to come out completely different after the procedure. It will help the problem, but it won't completely solve it.

Answer 10

Neutering your dog will not change him. Any bad habits he has before he will have after. You might want to get advice from a trainer even though I don't believe in trainers but if you tired everything else that might be away to go.