Very Important Question on "Neutering", PLEASE HEL

Hi ALL,

I've been contemplating on the subject of neutering... My Shar-Pei is a very sweet-loving dog (but don't we all say that?), it's just when we come across other dogs when we're out on hikes, or jogs, that he starts to tug on the leash and tries to "get-at" the other dog. There have been times when he slipped out (okay, "backed-out" [he knows how]) of his collar and ran up to the other dog, but he generally just sniffs (but with all the body language of aggression). Unless the other dog growls or barks at him, sniffing (intense sniffing--ha-ha!!) is all he does.

But obviously, i'm tierd of his behaviour, and i've been contemplating on going on the "theory" of correcting his "bad-behaviour" by way of Neutering.
I know i could "calm" this behaviour down, if i purposely socialized/trained him on how to behave properly on our outtings, but i wouldn't trust it to the point of being able to take him out Off-Leash.

Last time i took him to a dog-park was about 2 years ago, and he always knew his place, and wouldn't dare start a fight. Basically, he behaved well, and socialized/played well with the others. So since its been a while, i've always wanted to bring him back to the dog-parks, to give him good socialization time, but i simply don't trust him to that extent anymore.

Judged by the way he acts On-Leash, i don't want to. And yeah, i think "is it just the leash thing", but i think Not. It's in his character.

I also feel at fault because i didn't spend as much 1 on 1 time with him as i did with my American Bulldog, and so i think that those very important first few months (for a proper foundation in socialization/training) past us by.

Mannn, i could go on & on about "how he is", but basically i was hoping to get your opinions on how effective is "getting your dog neutered" helps w/ aggression issues.

PLEASE HELP, ALL IS APPRECIATED, ALWAYS... AND THANKS.

 

You dont mention exactly how old he is.

Neutering will calm him down to a point although you will most likely need to work with him on leash (obedience and desensitization) after hes been neutered.
Depending on his age then there may be a habitual response to 'hopping' up or at least trying to at a female (or male in some cases) which can be worked with.
As for the aggression, it will cut down some of it, again though it depends exactly what the cause of the aggression is, for example if the only time he gets aggressive is when he is trying to do what comes naturally, he sniffs around a female (they can smell a dog in heat for about a 5 mile radius) and another male comes too close this can trigger off a fight between him and the other male or the female can turn on him and a fight will start so if hes neutered he wont be too interested in a female therefore reducing the possibility of fighting. That said, some dogs are aggressive anyway towards other dogs, if he goes off for no apparant reason other than he just doenst want another dog in his space then it wont stop that.
After dogs are neutered the drive to 'procreate' is still there for about 4-6 weeks (although Ive heard some vets say longer) but after that time the physical drive has gone and theres just the habit to work on.
Some dogs, even if neutered and spayed as young pups may still try and 'hop up' on other dogs (or cats ), sometimes it can be a dominance issue.

The majority of dogs involved in dog fights, car accidents, human bites/attacks are un-neutered males, they are more likely to get loose and take off searching for a female.

 

I agree with Delauk. It is not a miracle but it will help. Plus, there are lots of other benefits to neutering as well. Sort of a no-lose situation.

 

is there a reason why he has not been neutered? I say go for it, get it done, it will be better in the long run.
Then work on some behavioral issues, s.pend lots of time working on it

 

oOpPsS, he did it again!!

Okay, i took my dogs out on a morning jog, and ofcoarse my Pei sneeks out of his collar and charges at these two innocent, but larger dogs then he is. Again, all he did was sniff-sniff, and then pissed on the tree right next to them.
BUT, before he had gotten off-leash, he had been pulling on the leash trying to get over to those two dogs. My American Bulldog now likes joining in on the fun, and so he's now been pulling me at times like these. AND, it's not a good thing when an AB likes to "pull"... Their STRONG, and determined, but the good thing with my AB is HE LISTENS, so i can tell him to stop (basically anything, i he'll do it). But i can manage the pulling and tugging done by my "bad-boys", it wasn't that.
What did happen was, right before my Pei got off-leash, he started to growl and his desire to get over to those two strange dogs (w/ owner on leashes) grew intensely mad and excited to where he turned on my AB, and basically started a squabble with him.
So, as i was on the ground like a fool holding my AB back from doing serious harm onto his "buddy" (the crazy koo-koo Pei), my Pei gets off his collar and runs towards the other dogs.
BUT all he did again was sniff.

After my dogs aggression finally was under control and clam again, i asked the owner of the two dogs if his dogs were neutered, and he said "yes".

So i'm now thinking, regardless if it's a female hormone thing, or leash-thing, a territory/space thing, a dominance thing, a "lets go running" thing, or even just a protective thing, when my Pei gets EXCITED, and he can't get to that stimulus like "RIGHT-NOW", he get's c r a z y and is ready to start some s h e i t e ! ?? ! No matter who (animal preffered) it is. AND I'M TIERD OF IT.

To the point where i'm seriously considering to chop his friggin balls-off!!!

-EXCUSE ME-

My whole thing is, i'm sorta against that whole theory of neutering to correct a dogs aggression issues. I want to beat the odds by way of good socialization, and training.
SHOOT, i've been dealing with it this long, i just need to get through all those wrinkles and into his head, and straighten up his way of thinking.

Or is it mine that needs ironing..??

Anyhow, like you guys mentioned even after the operation, i'll still have to correct his bad-ways, that would still come by instinct. And in the example of the female hormone thing, i believe that is a good reason to have the operation done. AND of coarse the testicular-cancer/prolonged life-span thingamagine.

But for agression issues, i'm finding myself stubborn.
BUT one day, i just might find myself caring for an out-patient...

THANKS GUYS.

 

...

 

My partner is a behavioral psychologist. While she was studying for her degree she did some research on female-to-male gender reassignment. One of the pervasive themes she ran across was how incredibily powerful the affect of testosterone is in increasing sexual drive and feelings of aggression, control, and territorial issues.

Trying to correct behavior that is being affected by testosterone is sort of like trying to talk sense into a crack addict. It's more effective once the chemistry is under control

So while you may still have work to do in the manners and obedience department after neutering, removing the testosterone will make the work much easier and effective, as you'll be dealing with simple behavior, rather than the effects of the hormone on the behavior.

In the mean time, I'd suggest you get a better collar, a head halter, or a harness. One the dog can't back out of. One of these days he may run up to a dog who has worse aggression problems than he does.

 

I'm not sure I understood all that. Why exactly don't you want to get him neutered? Neutering isn't a punishment. It is actually very beneficial for the dog, because of the cancer thing and it just calms them down, etc. There is no good reason not to. Your 'thing' against the "theory" that neutering to correct aggression issues shouldn't stop you from doing what is best for your dog. Yes, you can use training to correct aggression issues, but this should have started long before he had aggression issues. It is going to be much more difficult now. It can still be done but I just don't get why you just won't have him neutered.

And I second the getting a better collar thing. It doesn't even have to take a dog with aggression issues, it could take one scared dog. I had a female who was not at all aggressive but she was very shy and if your dog ran up to her she would freak and "sheite" would go down. Then there are also cars, etc.

I went through something very similar with a past dog. He was a 3 yr old St. Bernard named Stanley, oh, and he weighed 180 lbs. St. Bernards mature a lot later than other dogs so .... Stanley as a puppy was as sweet as he could be, and we didn't get him neutered for various stupid reasons. As he got older, and I realized we may have a problem, like I said, he was 180 lbs and fully aware of his capabilities so it was a giant problem. We got him neutered and it helped a lot. He calmed down quite a bit, stopped escaping from the house, was just a much happier dog. He still had some issues out in public but they were 110% better. When I got my current male St. Bernard, I decided to get him neutered right at 6 mos. and did a lot of training with him as a puppy and socializing so I wouldn't have a giant problem as he gets older.

 

A martingale collar might be a good option for this dog....he should'nt be able to back out of it.

 

You guys are great!

>>>Trying to correct behavior that is being affected by testosterone is sort of like trying to talk sense into a crack addict. It's more effective once the chemistry is under control<<<

You know i've heard an explination like this before, and it means A LOT MORE n o w.

As for the collar thing, yeah, alls i need to do is tighten it up a notch, and "BAM", we're cookin like Emeril!!

And yeah, i always knew that a time may/would come where my dog will get it from a "testier" dog then his cute little butt. Actually, there have been times where i thought he was going to get his life lesson, but it never came, yet... I don't plan on it though. It won't. No more mistakes/sneek-outs. Nothing to worry, i got em.

I'm going to see how he does throughout the next two weeks on every outting we go on. If there's improvement to his behavior, then i'll stick with the training. If he ever blows it (even after improvement) then he going under, and becoming an out-patient. I'll give himself & i 2 weeks... THX AGN.

Ohh, he turns 3 years mid-November.
At what age is it too-late/not useful for neutering??

 

so what was your reason for not neutering? I don't really understand why not.