@glorygirl16 Yeah anecdotally, I work with ex-racing greyhounds, so a large percent are males that are neutered around 4 or 5 years old. The only outward behavioural changes I’ve ever observed is far less conflict in multi-dog dynamics, and the ability to be placed into same sex resident dog homes.
Other dogs definitely respond differently to intact dogs, so desexing keeps them safer when you’re working on socialising. Plus there’s the long term health benefits. If I was OP I wouldn’t go into the procedure expecting big behavioural change, but I absolutely would do it.
@imagebeastmarkbeast Mongrel is the proper term for a mixed breed of 3 or more breeds and at least here a more polite term than mutt lol. Reddit can be a weird place sometimes!
@sfender If you want to try neutering do the temporary chemical castration first, as it lasts a few months (double check me on this timeline, but I know it's temporary) and then hormone levels return to normal. You can see if it hurts his confidence and his reactivity gets worse.
That being said, for behavior issues of definitely trust your vet behaviorist above your regular vet. Like others have said like others have said, neutering for reactivity/aggression is old school, and no longer recommended by vet behaviorist. I have heard neutering can help with marking, and potentially same sex dog-dog aggression.
@veroch I did that for my foster dog back then, I did it for six months, but 12 months was possible too. Afaik that's also the max, a year.
We did that, because he'd stop eating during high time female dogs in heat and it some point it got too excessive (almost two weeks of no proper eating) that we decide to do use the implant. His testosterone made him sick. His behaviour was normal and he started eating again.
@sfender Your vet sounds old school - we know so much more about spay/neuter now. And no, it’s probably not going to help with reactivity. On the other hand though, AFAIK, increased fear-based reactivity post neutering is only notorious in pediatric neuter (before sexual maturity). Your dog is 5. I’m inclined to think neutering would neither help nor hurt.
