Castrating dogs?

Question

Can anyone tell me if castrating dogs calms them down at all or does it make no difference to them and will they put on weight.

Getting mixed answers so still not sure . My dogs need calming down, but if it wont make any difference i wont do it.

Answer 1

Castrating a dog will definitely calm it down.
It will stop or prevent him from roaming in search of that delightful bi tch scent on the wind.
It may stop your dog from fighting other dogs or prevent the behaviour entirely if he hasn't yet started establishing his pack position.
It will definitely make him less aggressive as the hormones fade from his body, although this may take months.
A castrated dog will be unlikely to put on weight just because he has been castrated, but if he is now getting less excersise because he is no longer roaming then you need to feed him less to maintain a correct weight for his body size.
Above all, don't expect instant miracles, it takes a while for the testosterone to lower to insignificant levels in his body after castration.

Answer 2

You don't say how old your dog is or even if it has had any kind of training...both of these are major factors in calming a dog.

As for neutering it is best for the health of your dog and should be done regardless if it calms him down or not. As a vet tech I've seen far too many serious health issues in dogs that have been left intact..issues that could easily have been avoided if they had been neutered.

There is no reason for a neutered dog to gain weight. Weight gain is not caused by the neutering but rather by too many calories and not enough exercise. As for calming it will take away the hormonal issues, but it wil lnot replace maturity and proper training.

Answer 3

We had our lab neutered about 3 weeks ago.

It has calmed him down a bit, but it's still early days yet. There are some instant differences, he no longer has the urge to scent mark, he doesnt always **** his leg anymore, other dogs used to get aggressive with him for no reason - they no longer do anymore, and stopped cleaning himself all the time - he used to get very rough with himself! He hasn't put on weight yet - i believe this is down to food and exercise - but like i say early days yet. I have known a few dogs that are neutered and they haven't put weight on - i think it's a very small minority that do.

I have heard that the full effects take on average 2-6months to come into effect.

It has not affected his personality at all, still the same nutty happy chappy!!! Sometimes i do feel a little guilty at getting him done as he was never aggressive, but i tell myself he won't get testicular cancer now.

I feel it is a personal thing whether you get your dog neutered or not, people seem set on here to get dogs done all the time, but i feel it's down to the individal dog as not all dogs need to be done at all. If you are in any doubt, hang fire for a little longer as once they are off they cannot get put back on.

Answer 4

Yes it does calm them down & they do put on weight.

I have 2 male collies that have been that have been used for stud & are now castrated.

Males get stressed if there are female dogs around although the signs may not be noticeable to us.This is the reason they remain underweight even if they lie down most of the time.
It also benefits dogs that live alone.

Answer 5

castrating dogs is a good idea - it does calm them to a certain extent although not over night and it definitely stops them smelling etc - I dont think it makes them put on weight, mine never have - all in all castration makes for a much pleasanter dog

Answer 6

Neutering a dog can affect personality as far as dominance a bit - but in general, most dogs won't have a change in energy or personality. Metabolism changes with any dog as they age, which can make certain breeds more prone to weight gain - this is true for any dog however.

Answer 7

I can only speak from experience and I say do it! My dog calmed down, stopped licking himself (!) all the time, stopped marking his territory every 2 centimetres on a walk, never put on weight and it didn't change his personality negatively. Plus I never had to worry about him running off and impregnating a ***** in season.

Answer 8

They may put on weight, but it is down to you to be sure they dont overeat. Some dogs calm right down, some may not. We had great success with our cocker spaniels, but my friends jack russell is only partially better. Sorry, we cant predict how much better yours will be, but the individual dog varies so much.

Answer 9

It did calm my dog down a lot. Stopped him hopping on everyones legs you know. But he did put on a lot of weight.

Answer 10

there isn't an equivalent to gelding. They are just referred to as neutered or altered or fixed and the only time that is important is in club sponsored breed shows or when applying for a dog license. Otherwise they are still a male dog.