Will neutering help with aggression??

[msvette2u]

This is a 1yr. old dog, just coming into his own. I would say it's the optimal time for this type "aggression" to set in.
Remember aggression isn't "just" aggression, ever. There is a cause, but this pup's is probably partly due to fear (from the OPs post) and partly due to sexual maturity, again, from the OPs post.

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

testosterone hitting at puberty makes them slightly more brave, or willing to get on that limb and actually nip/bite/show a big show of aggression.

I agree. Testosterone is a "fight" drug. When confronted with a threat (real or imagined), the fight-or-flight response may well be tipped into "fight" rather than "flight" when lots of testosterone is present. That is why people who do SchH/guard work/pp don't neuter--they want that natural aggression that testosterone enhances. If they are the same people who are saying that neutering won't make a dog less aggressive...

Hormones affect behavior. Sometimes hugely. But adding or removing a hormone won't make much difference if the behavior is not addressed with training.

To the OP: This board tends to be fairly anti-neuter, so take that into consideration when reading the replies. You shouldn't base decisions on what one message board tells you, you should talk to your vet and trainer about it as well.

[msvette2u]

I don't know as it's anti-neuter as a whole, or just a few very loud folks?

My feelings are, "it can't hurt, just might help, plus there's the added benefit of removing the pet from the gene pool"

[chelle]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

I don't know as it's anti-neuter as a whole, or just a few very loud folks?

My feelings are, "it can't hurt, just might help, plus there's the added benefit of removing the pet from the gene pool"

I would have to agree that the board, generally speaking, is more so anti-neuter. At the same time, though, most posters take the time to explain why they feel that way.

I will say this board is the complete reason I have not have Bailey neutered.

I still might not make 2 years, but other than sniffing girls a bit too much, and peeing all over to mark when out and about, I'm not finding any negatives to not neutering yet. (oops, must add, some males, especially intact, are showing increasing aggression towards him.)

His brother was neutered last weekend, tho. I didn't question that for a moment.

I like your outlook on it - probably can't hurt, might help.

Very personal decision and one not to make lightly, or to make due to feeling pressure. All you can do is weigh the pros and cons.

[chelle]

Originally Posted by dakotaandhearts

Hi I have a one year old male shepherd, as a pup he was sweet and friendly so I never had him neutered. Recently as he has matured and grown he has become severely aggressive with people and other dogs. He acts as if he wants to sniff but then tries to bite. I don’t know what to do and its breaking my heart I can’t take him anywhere because of it. He will not even let the vet touch him. He needs tranquilizers for vet visits. I'm scared the neutering will be extremely dramatic for him so if it will not help with the aggression I don’t want to do it. Can someone please give me some advice??

I'd like to ask, though -- were there warning signs? Seems odd this behavior began overnight? Was the socialization continued as he got older? Just seems odd that one day he is sweet and friendly, and the next, an aggressive boy that must be kept away from everyone? Just wondering.

[dakotaandhearts]

Thanks everyone for all your responses. Yes there were some warning signs and I made excuses for him (he thinks he's protecting me, or he must have smelled something he didn't like on that person or it's just toy aggression). I realize now I was wrong to ignore it but it happened randomly. Now it has gotten to a point where he snaps at other dogs at the dog park when they come near him and when we walk he acts like he wants to be friendly with people but then snaps at them as well. He has not had a physical exam since he was just a pup because he will not let anyone near him. Even under tranquilizers he's very difficult to control even for the vet technicians.

[Freestep]

For one thing, I'd stop taking him to the dog park if you haven't already.

He acts friendly when he approaches people, then snaps? Sounds like he's trying to intimidate people. Either because he's insecure, or because he's being a macho spithead. Some dogs like to intimidate people just to see who they can scare and what they can get away with; it's like sport. if it's combined with dominant posturing, he's being a brat and you need to correct that behavior NOW. Please consult a trainer or behaviorist for help, because we can't diagnose or give training advice for this over the internet, it could be dangerous to do so. A trainer will be able to see the behavior and hopefully determine where it is coming from, and help you address it in an appropriate way.

If this were my dog I'd have him neutered yesterday.

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by Freestep

For one thing, I'd stop taking him to the dog park if you haven't already.

He acts friendly when he approaches people, then snaps? Sounds like he's trying to intimidate people. Either because he's insecure, or because he's being a macho spithead. Some dogs like to intimidate people just to see who they can scare and what they can get away with; it's like sport. if it's combined with dominant posturing, he's being a brat and you need to correct that behavior NOW. Please consult a trainer or behaviorist for help, because we can't diagnose or give training advice for this over the internet, it could be dangerous to do so. A trainer will be able to see the behavior and hopefully determine where it is coming from, and help you address it in an appropriate way.

If this were my dog I'd have him neutered yesterday.

Now it has gotten to a point where he snaps at other dogs at the dog park when they come near him and when we walk he acts like he wants to be friendly with people but then snaps at them as well

He's like a kid w/a new license.

I agree. Schedule the neuter. Ask for the tranquilizers, administer them at home, get him muzzled and in the car. If you don't have a muzzle, borrow the one his size from the vet.

They can give him something more heavy duty once you arrive at the vet, while he's still in the car.
Be sure to not feed him or let him have water at least 8 hrs. prior to the fun beginning.

Chelle, there are plenty of us who'd neuter sooner than later and recommend it. It's just that the ones who recommend leaving intact are more vehement about it and louder

[benbennett]

C-BARQ: Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire

First try to figure out what kind of aggression first.

Secondly asking whether to be neutered is politically loaded question.

The wikipedia page on nuetering is pretty much NPOV view. EVERYTHING MUST BE SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE NOT PERSONAL OPINIONS.

Oh yeah there is no scientific evidence to support thyroid disorders and aggression. There is one vet on the web that well is full of @!#$ and is hasn't spent the time nor money to do a real scientific study. Oh and most vets will incorrectly say there is thyroid and aggression relation, though the studies from university of Michigan say they could not find any relation between thyroid dysfunction and aggression.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."

Richard Feynman( from his final sentence in the Challenger disaster probe)

[hhn204]

i went to this forum tonight to ask about neutering my dog. he had a close call today...my dog put a hole in my neighbor's sleeve. people say you have to socialize the dog a lot when it is a pup which i did. i took my dog everywhere i go when he was a pup. when i walk him, anybody who wanted to pet i would encourage it, especially kids. since he turned 1 year old (he is 1.5 yr old now), he started to be more harder to control. now i cant trust him around anyone. with that close call today, i am thinking about neutering him to reduce that aggression. from the online searches i have done, it seems like the probability of solving the aggression issue with neutering is low.

i think i am going to take him to a trainer before attempting to neuter him. it is going to be expensive but i guess that is better then having an another close call.

let me know what you decide and how it turns out for you

now i need to go and find an expensive trainer