Have you ever neutered an adult dog and if so has it changed their behaviors and/or personality at all? I am thinking about neutering my (almost) 4 year old border collie/blue heeler mix, but I don't want to lose my quirky loving little buddy.
Neutering your adult dog...
Started by
jagermonster
, Jan 05 2012 11:11 PM
25 replies to this topic
#10
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- VibeTribe
- 14,139 posts
Posted 06 January 2012 - 02:37 PM
Nobody? Perhaps I should have asked about cats.
From what I understand it doesn't alter their personality in any way that makes the dog less fun or energetic. I have met dogs who keep up with aggression/humping after being neutered as it was already a learned behaviour by then - hopefully you would be nipping that in the bud (pun intended!) early enough to be done with it, tho.
#13
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 06 January 2012 - 02:52 PM
Tramp was already neutered when we rescued him, and Martin got fixed when he was a puppy. My friend did in hopes that her dog would calm down a bit, and that didn't happen. 
I don't have any advice other than good luck with what you decide to do!
I don't have any advice other than good luck with what you decide to do!
#14
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- VibeTribe
- 8,116 posts
Posted 06 January 2012 - 03:10 PM
We adopted a 3 year old dog that we ended up getting neutered after he did a number on my brother's face (in the dog's defense, EVERY dog we had when I was younger bit my brother, he had a knack for pushing their buttons. This one he grabbed his face and pulled 'em towards 'em to "give 'em a kiss." Freaked the dog out and he kinda barked/snapped. Got my brother for 75 cosmetic stitches in his face. Most others would have gotten rid of the dog. My folks knew better and knew it was my brothers fault).
We didn't know him for very long before we neutered him, so I can't speak for his personality prior to the snip. He was a pretty cool dog afterwards though. Smart sucker. Knew the boundries of the house w/o needing to be shown. Never left the property or the backyard even. Three open spots in the backyard, never tried to leave. He'd go do his business and then come stand by the back door.
We didn't know him for very long before we neutered him, so I can't speak for his personality prior to the snip. He was a pretty cool dog afterwards though. Smart sucker. Knew the boundries of the house w/o needing to be shown. Never left the property or the backyard even. Three open spots in the backyard, never tried to leave. He'd go do his business and then come stand by the back door.
#18
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 06 January 2012 - 06:25 PM
That's what I'm hoping for Lola.
Thanks guys! Sorry bout your bro's face gman.
Is it weird that I feel bad for him? Not sure why I'm having a moral dilemma over a pair of dog nuts
No worries bout my bro's face. To look at him now, you wouldn't be able to tell what had happened to him. They put in 75 plastic surgery stitches...real small and real tight. I don't even think there's a scar on his nostril that got split.
and don't feel too bad for 'em. He'll probably give you a look for a few days but...
. Most people neuter their dogs before they reach a year. If you never had a plan to breed him, then you really don't have a need for a dog w/nuts.
#22
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- VibeTribe
- 848 posts
Posted 10 January 2012 - 08:08 PM
Do it!!!! Look at how many dogs get put to sleep in shelters every day. Could be some of your dog's offspring someday. They can be real sneaky when trying to get to a female in heat.
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I foster for a rescue and have had to get a few of my [adult] fosters fixed but they were all with me for only a short time before, so I can't really speak from experience about personality changes after. Most people say they see no difference and if any, they just mellow out a little. Usually easy recovery for a male too.
He'll probably still hump other dogs because he wants to be the alpha dog. If you show him that YOU are the alpha and work on some socialization - you should be able to take care of the aggressive behavior.
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Good luck!
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Post a pic - LOVE Blue Heelers!<o:p></o:p>
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I foster for a rescue and have had to get a few of my [adult] fosters fixed but they were all with me for only a short time before, so I can't really speak from experience about personality changes after. Most people say they see no difference and if any, they just mellow out a little. Usually easy recovery for a male too.
He'll probably still hump other dogs because he wants to be the alpha dog. If you show him that YOU are the alpha and work on some socialization - you should be able to take care of the aggressive behavior.
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Good luck!
<o:p></o:p>
Post a pic - LOVE Blue Heelers!<o:p></o:p>
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#24
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- VibeTribe
- 12,073 posts
Posted 10 January 2012 - 08:22 PM
if you don't intend to breed him (and why you would, with so many dogs at shelters already, i don't know) i think it's cruel to leave him unaltered, with all the urges that come along with it. it's a nuisance to you, your friends and family who visit, your neighbors, and especially to your dog.
i adopted a black lab and had him neutered at just under a year. he lost the urge to hump everything that walked (and some that didn't ) and kept all his lovable dog traits.
i adopted a black lab and had him neutered at just under a year. he lost the urge to hump everything that walked (and some that didn't
) and kept all his lovable dog traits.
#25
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Posted 10 January 2012 - 08:24 PM
I had Jeebus neutered a few weeks after I got him -- at about 3-1/2
years old. He was a smart, fun, loving, and energetic dog both before
and after. He may have been a bit calmer / less prone to fight a few
months later -- but that may also have been age and/or his getting
used to his new surroundings.
Yep, I wondered a bit about if it was right/fair to do that
to another animal. I think if you haven't faced the question before,
considering what it means is a good thing. I concluded is would not
hurt him and would overall be better for him.
I believe that, unlike humans, dogs won't be all like, "Oh shit, now
I can never have children - and I soooo wanted them." It's not like
that for dogs. (Possibly IS for other animals?)
Anyway, I say: pick a good vet and do it.
years old. He was a smart, fun, loving, and energetic dog both before
and after. He may have been a bit calmer / less prone to fight a few
months later -- but that may also have been age and/or his getting
used to his new surroundings.
Yep, I wondered a bit about if it was right/fair to do that
to another animal. I think if you haven't faced the question before,
considering what it means is a good thing. I concluded is would not
hurt him and would overall be better for him.
I believe that, unlike humans, dogs won't be all like, "Oh shit, now
I can never have children - and I soooo wanted them." It's not like
that for dogs. (Possibly IS for other animals?)
Anyway, I say: pick a good vet and do it.
