Aggressive Behavior/Neutering Male GSD

[drdexter33]

Hi there.

I have a one year old GSD and want to ask a question concerning whether or not neutering him is a good idea, since I doubt I'll be breeding him.

He does have some aggressive tendencies and several people intimated that this bad behavior may increase in the next year for reproductive reasons.

They also said that it greatly reduces the risk of illness and of course testicular cancer.

As a guy, it's also kind of an emotional issue too..

thanks

doug

[wolfy dog]

Neutering is not a "fix-all". It is a personal decision. You could first try to "fix" him with training and good management and go from there. Has he been to formal training? If so, are you following up, giving him plenty of exercise and mental stimulation?

[msvette2u]

I believe it makes dogs more tractable and easy to train. Lessens the "attitude", if you will
Since you don't have a reason to keep him intact (breeding) you can feel safe and good about neutering him.

[drdexter33]

Yes, we run twice a day (20-30 minutes each time) and he is in training which we also work on. I do leave him during the day while I go to work, but i go home every day without fail to see him and take him to go potty.

He really is a pretty good boy.

I love him.

He's my best friend...

[Shade]

I agree with both statements, training and exercise are a large factor but also neutering takes a edge off. Do all three and it will help

It's a personal decision but he's had a good dose of testosterone and if you don't need him intact for either breeding or sport then go ahead and get him neutered

Just remember it takes a few weeks for all those hormones to dissipate so don't expect immediate results strictly from the neuter. As stated exercise and obedience are a large factor that need to be addressed as well

[jocoyn]

There are a lot of threads and heated discussions on this so you may want to do some digging and reading of pros and cons.

[selzer]

Neutering will not make him healthier. It will reduce the risk of testicular cancer which is rare in dogs, it increases the risk of prostate cancer, hemangiosarcoma, and osteosarcoma (bone cancer). The last two can affect young dogs and the prognosis is very poor. Testicular cancer has a good prognosis. I would neuter only if the dog had an issue with those parts. But, lots of dogs are neutered without any side effects, or cancer down the road. We are talking increasing risks, from like 1% to 2.5% or something like that, they are all still only a risk.

With dogs (males), removing the hormones can affect behavior. It can make training somewhat easier. It is not a cure-all, it must be accompanied by regular/consistent training, socialization, and management.

[Twyla]

Altering isn't the first fix to go for in working with aggression. First determine what the aggressive tendencies are - fear aggression, male aggression etc, then decide if it would benefit the dog to alter now or later in a training program for the aggression. As others have said you will still have about 6 weeks wait time for the hormones to clear out of the system. Occasionally, after altering, the aggression worsens.

[Gretchen]

I can't speak for health, but for behavior, neutering at 1 year old does not seem to affect behavior / aggression. In a training group of our breeder's, there was one family with an aggressive, reactive male. I remember hearing a heated fight with the owner and the breeder, because the GSD owner thought her male would become less aggressive after neuter which was not the case. I think if you neuter very young, you might have different temperament.

Another thing that owners of very well mannered intact dogs have mentioned to me, is that even though their dogs are not aggressive, other males may want to challenge them. So if you keep your dog intact, you may have to watch behavior of other males.

[robk]

If the aggression is fear related, neutering will probably not help.