Finally getting neutered. Opinions please!

[celloyogi]

One of the major concerns with companion animal research into dog behaviour is the bias associated with owner reported based research. So I would be careful about interpreting this evidence.

It's not likely much is going to change... data for companion animals will always be (primarily) owner-reported and no matter how sneaky we get with survey techniques, there is no way around the subjective nature of the reports. Short of researchers doing home visits ($$$), only researching their own dogs (<N, not worth it), it's always going to be fuzzy stats.

Although, really, all stats are fuzzy. Give me something, I'll give you something else back. You know it's bad when you pick your analytic techniques based on what you want the data to show, not necessarily based on what data you have.

 

[Caro]

I absolutely agree with Ontarioshelties on this one. Avoid taking him into situations that make him feel insecure if you want to prevent the insecurities. While neutering him may make him less of a target, you are still going to have to work on the insecurities as they won't just magically go away.

 

[AusnAsh]

Those are still all good points. It is absolutely necessary to know both sides. There's always going to be a benefit and something that wasn't as desirable.

Sorry OntarioSheltie. I'll try to make it clearer what I'm trying to convey. With bigger dogs, Asher shows signs of insecurity but, when it comes to smaller dogs, he often tries to stand right up next to them. His body posture is tall over their back and his tail wags high in the air. This has made me believe that he's dominant. Recently, I've been noticing that it could go either way. He either wants to initiate play by riling the dog up or will be persistent and stand there for a while that. I do have to remember that he's still a teenager and goes through those tendencies.

Regarding the linkage between testosterone and insecurity. I'm worried because I've heard that neutering a dog will take away the little confidence that they have. That the testosterone gives them confidence. I'll try to find a reputable article to back it up if I can. But you are completely right. I knew Asher was insecure and noticed how other dogs would pick on him but I hadn't linked it to the fact that he's so timid. I just pinned it on hormones alone.

And I don't really take Asher to a dog park. Not the ones that are confined at least. That's where the trouble starts. Instead, I take him to a dog beach that has a variety of dogs within a large area. If Asher becomes too insecure, I always present him with the opportunity to step back. I also stand in between him and the dog and try to make it a positive experience. Neutering won't fix this and perhaps he'll always be timid, but I only want to do what's best for him. We never go to parks that cause trouble. I just wish I had more friends with mellow dogs. It'd sure help trying to find a playdate buddy

 

[xerospin]

The confidence/insecurity part I was worried too when I neutered Ajax. He is the ultimate example of a shy Sheltie although only towards strangers. But it didn't make him behave any different. I wouldn't say it got better, but its not worse either. Just to offer you my own experience with a shy dog.

But I do have one question. Is it true neutered male dogs present more aggression towards intact males? My neutered dog will snip at my friends dogs if they are in tact....

 

[Silaria]

But I do have one question. Is it true neutered male dogs present more aggression towards intact males? My neutered dog will snip at my friends dogs if they are in tact....

Edan was neutered at 8 months and I have never seen any signs of aggression, extreme shyness, or any of the other negatives that have been mentioned here. He's a well adjusted Sheltie. The only thing he gets skittish about is thunder and fireworks.

When it comes to in tact males, Edan has played with other in tact male Shelties as well as other dogs -all dogs we knew and in a controlled environment. The only time any "aggression", and I use that term VERY loosely, was shown was when the in tact males got too pushy and Edan was telling them to back off. It never escalated beyond that.

 

[xerospin]

So it really varies from dog to dog. But my other male, neutered at 6months remain a puppy like personality. No aggression ever toward anything.

Ajax was neutered at 18months, after being sexually mature and ever since is not very happy to be around intact males dogs. Does anybody share the same experience?

My friend is saying having a dog neutered after one will increase his aggression toward other intact males. It's true for my dog, just wondering if it stands for anyone else?

 

[AusnAsh]

The confidence/insecurity part I was worried too when I neutered Ajax. He is the ultimate example of a shy Sheltie although only towards strangers. But it didn't make him behave any different. I wouldn't say it got better, but its not worse either. Just to offer you my own experience with a shy dog.

Thank you for your experience. Sounds like Asher and Ajax are similar. Though, unfortunately (and completely my fault as a new Sheltie owner) he isn't most comfortable around other dogs. It's great to know that another dog experienced shyness and didn't get worse after castration.

I'm also wondering about the connection between neutering after one year and increased aggression. You said that your dog experienced this? Was it Ajax?

 

[xerospin]

Yes its ajax and I only noticed recently. My friends shiba is a bit of a pervert that displays anxious behavior in a group of dogs while trying to hump my friends female Aussie. Ajax would deliberately walk over to him and nip his face. To me he seems to be correcting him? I'm not sure but the shiba never got angry. Just stood there while ajax nip him. He did this several times, nip, walk away, comes back and nip again.

Another time is my friends intact Samoyed, he also displays the same kind of behavior like the shiba. Ajax hates it and will growl at him if he comes near him.

But when we ran into a stray male dog the other day, it was fine. They sniffed and that's it. Ajax didn't get mad. So I'm guessing he just doesn't like "pervert dogs"? Lol I must reiterate its only towards intact males. With other neutered males he did not display any kind of aggression.


Apart from this I have not notice any personality changes in Ajax after neutering. He has always got on well with other dogs and always scared of strangers.

http://flic.kr/p/dDpxTV alfie is on the left. Ajax right

 

[mbfrench]

So I've finally decided to get Asher neutered. He's now over 1 year old and is doing significantly better around other dogs. Before, he would automatically lunge, growl, and bark. Now he wags his tail and actually sniffs (except for a few dogs, which I believe are other males). The only thing is that he stands quite tall and brisk. Asher's tail wags wide yet I still feel like he's trying to be dominant. Another important thing to note is that he has a "gay tail" so sometimes I'll think that the tail over his back is just excited. Does anyone have experience with a high tail carriage in their sheltie? I'll try to get a video of it soon and post it here. He's also continued to bark at other dogs that he either hears out of sight or at dogs he sees in the distance.

The only reason I wanted to wait to neuter him was that people told me his hormones needed to balance, but I believe that he's ready. I've checked out as many articles on here as I can and they've raised a few suspicions. The first and foremost being that it won't solve his aggression. It seems that he's changing his learned behavior (the "fear aggression") but could it go the other way and make him even more insecure?

Any insights would be great! I'm really hoping that it'd solve/help his problems with roaming or bolting out the door, licking female's private areas (he goes nuts over that. quite nasty!), and ultimately his fear of other dogs. Thank you all!

I don't know if the licking issue will subside..I never had that issue here with Mia when she first came home.She was still intact,and remained intact till she was just about 9 months old. The boys then all neutered.

I have an intact male here,will be a year old this month,and when he is excited,his tail is ridiculously high. See picture~ (Bi-black is mine)

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/601381_10200103841453177_1200457986_n.jpg

Here he is relaxed,the tail is no wheres to be seen,it sets flush,and down where it should be. These pictures taken the same day,around the same dog,which was Blakes first time meeting. So I think circumstances,raised his tail,and also in second photo he was focused on me.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/526568_10200103827292823_81682818_n.jpg

I have to say,I find it quite unattrative,but he was excited...over the top!

When he is relaxed and playing here at home in his own surroundings,his tail carriage is normal.But it was'nt when he first came home at 5 months. I thought once it may have been the reason he was offered to me. But it turns out,it was not.

Door bolting..that is something,that an owner & dog must work on in training,and it starts at an early point. Learning to sit/stay..learning to pay attention & listening. I never had a problem with a door bolter. Not ever,because it was something they knew was not a desired behavior.

I do want to add,I do not favor females. When Mia was first made available,I told my husband that having an all male house was my preferance. But she was so very special. And when she was well enough,she was spayed. Today,she is queen of this house,the boys bow to her & take good care of thier sister.
And there is also a cat in residance...a male..

 

[AusnAsh]

Apart from this I have not notice any personality changes in Ajax after neutering. He has always got on well with other dogs and always scared of strangers.

http://flic.kr/p/dDpxTV alfie is on the left. Ajax right

Hm that does sound like a correction sort of thing. As if he's telling the Shiba that, "you should stop doing that". Does he ever growl in addition to nip whenever he comes into contact with other dogs? Mushu usually does it if large dogs corner him or if they bump into him. He hates rough play.

I wish I could see the pic It's private. And I love the names Alfie and Ajax!

I have an intact male here,will be a year old this month,and when he is excited,his tail is ridiculously high. See picture~ (Bi-black is mine)

What a beautiful bi-black. I'm impartial to that coloration. I was planning on getting a bi-black but then there weren't in the litter so Asher became mine (which I don't regret). That is quite the tail carriage. It's similar to Asher's. The only difference is that Asher's is held even higher up over his back. It doesn't rest on his back. I believe that it also has to do with him being higher energy and being over-excited.

That's true. I suppose the bolting is a training issue. I've just heard that it's related to dogs wanting to search for females. I've also seem numerous accounts of dogs calming down a bit after being neutered. They become less anxious to get out. But, I definitely was planning on teaching him soon to stay indoors if he's ever presented with the opportunity to bolt