How Neutering Will Improve Your Dog's Behaviour

Neutering your dog is about more than just preventing puppies. While eliminating the risk of any accidental matings is definitely one of the biggest benefits of neutering, there are many more advantages to the procedure. Alongside health benefits (such as a reduced likelihood of developing cancer or prostate complications), one of the most overlooked benefits of neutering your dog is how much it can improve their behaviour. Here are just four main changes you may notice after neutering your furry friend. 

1. Reduced aggressive behaviour

While there are many factors that can cause aggression in dogs, one of the most common is sexual frustration. If dogs are kept from mating, they can start to display some very unpleasant behaviours, including excessive barking, biting, scratching and general attacks on owners and other dogs. Once your dog is neutered, he'll no longer feel the urge to mate. As a result, he's far less likely to experience any sexuality-based aggression or upset, keeping your household safe and peaceful.

2. No more urinating in the house

Neutering can also reduce the risk of your dog urinating in the house. When a potty-trained dog continues to pee where he shouldn't, there's a good chance he's doing it to mark his territory. It may surprise you to learn that this is a mating behaviour used to attract a female dog. As with aggression, once neutering has eliminated mating urges, your dog is less likely to pee in the house, meaning you can say goodbye to those daily cleanings.

3. Easier to train

When a dog has not been neutered, it can be a lot more difficult to train him. Mating urges and the scent of female dogs in heat can quickly cause unneutered dogs to lose focus on the task at hand. As such, neutering can help keep a dog's concentration in check, making it a lot easier to train them. This makes neutering particularly beneficial for dogs who need to be trained out of problem behaviours, like excessive barking or digging up the backyard.  

4. Your dog will be less likely to wander off 

When a dog is in heat, he becomes much more motivated to find a female to mate with. In turn, this can lead your dog to wander off when he shouldn't, making it difficult to walk him off-leash or allow him into your backyard unattended. Many owners find that wandering and roaming behaviours are greatly reduced after neutering, giving you peace of mind that you won't lose your beloved furry friend. 

For more information on pet desexing, contact a veterinarian in your area.

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