Content
- What is canine aggressiveness
- Causes of canine aggression
- When neutering a dog, does it stop being aggressive?
- Why did my dog get aggressive after neutering?
- What to do if my dog became aggressive after neutering?
Some guardians who decide to neuter the dog do this thinking that surgery will be the solution to resolve the aggression that he has already manifested at some point. However, they may be surprised when, after the operation, the aggressive behavior does not diminish. In fact, behavior change can even occur in dogs that were not aggressive before.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, in collaboration with iNetPet, we analyze the causes of this behavior, as well as the most appropriate solutions for this important problem. It is essential to face it from the beginning, given the risk it represents for everyone. find it out why did your dog get aggressive after neutering and what to do about it.
What is canine aggressiveness
When we talk about aggressiveness in dogs, we are referring to behaviors that pose a threat to the integrity of other animals or even people. It's the behavior problem most serious we can find because of the danger it represents. A dog with aggressive behavior growls, shows its teeth, purses its lips, puts its ears back, ruffles its fur and may even bite.
Aggression arises as a dog's response to a situation that causes you insecurity or conflict and your reaction is intended to take over. In other words, he learns that an aggressive reaction frees him from the stimulus he feels is a threat. Success with this attitude, moreover, reinforces the behavior, that is, he is more likely to repeat it. As is easy to guess, aggressive behavior is one of the most common causes of abandonment of dogs.
Causes of canine aggression
There are multiple causes that can be behind the aggressiveness shown by a dog, such as the fear or defense of resources. Aggressive behavior can also occur when males fight over a female dog in heat or, conversely, when female dogs compete for a single male. This is why castration is often associated with controlling aggression, although, as we can see, it is not the only cause.
When neutering a dog, does it stop being aggressive?
The hormone testosterone can act as an incentive for certain aggressive behaviors. In castration, the the dog's testicles and the bitch's ovaries are removed, and often the uterus is also removed from the bitch. Therefore, castration can only affect so-called sexually dimorphic behaviors, which are behaviors that depend on the action of sex hormones on the central nervous system. An example is the marking of territory or intrasexual aggression, that is, in relation to animals of the same sex.
In females, castration can prevent the aggressiveness that occurs during the maternal period, as they will not be able to reproduce, face other females for a male or suffer psychological pregnancy. In any case, it should be noted that the results are highly variable between animals and castration cannot be taken as an absolute guarantee of resolving behaviors such as those mentioned, as they are also influenced by the animal's previous experience, its age, circumstances, etc.
On the other hand, if you want to know how long after neutering the dog is calmer, it is important to note that the effects may take a few months to manifest, as this is the time it takes for the testosterone level to decrease.
Why did my dog get aggressive after neutering?
If we neuter our dog and once we get home we notice he is aggressive, it doesn't necessarily have to be related to a behavior problem. some dogs come home stressed, still disoriented and in pain and an aggressive reaction may simply be due to this situation. This aggressiveness should disappear within a few days or improve with painkillers.
On the other hand, if the dog already showed aggressiveness related to dimorphic sexual behavior, once neutered and after a few months, it can be expected that the problem is under control. In any case, other measures are always recommended. But, especially in bitches, castration can increase your aggressive reactions. This is a more common problem in female dogs that have been spayed at a very young age, when they are less than six months old. These bitches are considered to be more likely to react aggressively to strangers or, if they were aggressive before the operation, their aggressive behavior worsens.
This is explained by the fact that estrogens and progestagens help to inhibit aggression in female dogs. Removing them will also break the inhibition, while will increase testosterone. Hence the controversy surrounding the castration of aggressive female dogs. In any case, if a dog becomes aggressive after surgery, it is probably aggressive that has nothing to do with the sex hormones that have been removed.
What to do if my dog became aggressive after neutering?
If the aggressiveness after castration is due to stress suffered by the operation or the pain that the dog feels, as we say, it will decrease as the animal regains its stability and normality. So the best thing to do is to leave him alone and not punish or scold him, but ignore him. It is essential not to reinforce this behavior to prevent him from interpreting that he is achieving a goal in this way.
However, if the cause is different and the dog was already aggressive before the operation, it is necessary to act. Dog aggression should never be allowed to become commonplace. On the contrary, it must be dealt with right from the start. It will not resolve "in time", as it will likely increase and can have very negative consequences for the safety of other animals or even people. If the dog finds that aggression works for him, it will be increasingly difficult to eradicate this behavior.
First of all, we must take him to the vet. There are some diseases that have aggressiveness as one of their clinical signs. But if the vet determines that our dog is completely healthy, it's time to go to a dog behavior professional, such as an ethologist. He will be in charge of evaluating our furry friend, looking for the cause of the problem and proposing the necessary steps to resolve it.
Resolving our dog's aggressiveness after neutering, and before the operation, is a task in which, as caregivers, we must be involved. That's why it can be so interesting to use an application like iNetPet, as it not only allows us to communicate in real time with a trainer, but also facilitates the trainer's contact directly with the veterinarian, whenever he needs it. This aids in monitoring the dog and implementing treatment measures. Aggression can be resolved, but it requires time, perseverance and the joint work of professionals and family.