Sterilization
By Scotty Valadao – Accredited Animal Behaviourist (Canine) (ABC of SA™)
In addition to stopping unwanted pregnancies, sterilization tends to be curative when the problem behaviour the dog is exhibiting is of a sexual nature. The male dog will exhibit behaviours which are influenced by testosterone i.e. humping, scent marking, roaming (to find mates), reactive behaviour towards other males and often reactive behaviour to determine its rank in the canine pack.
Statistics (overseas) prove that the majority of dog bites to human are made by un-neutered males. The largest of percentage of roaming dogs are un-neutered males and the largest incidence of dog to dog aggression happens with un-neutered male dogs.
Research, both here in SA by the late Dr. Odendaal and by experts overseas, has shown that when a male dog is sterilized there has been a definite reduction of certain problem behaviours, such as the following:-
Mounting Behaviour Reduction of 60%
Roaming Reduction of 90%
Intra Male Aggression Reduction of 60%
Urine Marking Reduction of 50%
This was based on sterilization only and no behaviour modification was undertaken.
In an adult dog it can take between 6 weeks and up to three months for the testosterone levels to drop completely and for a change to be seen in the dog’s behaviour. This is where the use of behaviour modification can help to change the behaviour.
I have found that a great number of dogs that appear to ignore their owners and engage in unacceptable behaviour such as trying to take over the pack, growling, nipping, biting etc are intact males. When the sterilization has been completed, the behaviour seems to improve very quickly – the dogs seem to pay more attention to the owners, the reactive behaviour improves and with behaviour modification major changes can take place.
In addition, I feel that to keep a dog intact, without being allowed to engage in its natural instinct of reproduction, is frustrating to dogs. Remembering that a dog’s sense of smell so much stronger than our own, and an intact male can scent a female in heat from a few kilometres away and cant do anything about it!
Another point to bear in mind that taking an intact dog for a walk can be somewhat challenging! He smells different from the other dogs and will be a ‘red flag’ to other dogs he comes across possibly resulting in reactive behaviour.
Myths
Disadvantages of Sterilization
When recommending sterilization I always suggest that this subject be discussed fully with your own vet who can point out any possible disadvantages.
It does involve risks from anaesthesia and surgery
It is my own opinion that sterilizing your dog is part of responsible pet ownership and only reputable breeders should have dogs that are entire.
Research, both here in SA by the late Dr. Odendaal and by experts overseas, has shown that when a male dog is sterilized there has been a definite reduction of certain problem behaviours, such as the following:-
Mounting Behaviour Reduction of 60%
Roaming Reduction of 90%
Intra Male Aggression Reduction of 60%
Urine Marking Reduction of 50%
This was based on sterilization only and no behaviour modification was undertaken.
In an adult dog it can take between 6 weeks and up to three months for the testosterone levels to drop completely and for a change to be seen in the dog’s behaviour. This is where the use of behaviour modification can help to change the behaviour.
I have found that a great number of dogs that appear to ignore their owners and engage in unacceptable behaviour such as trying to take over the pack, growling, nipping, biting etc are intact males. When the sterilization has been completed, the behaviour seems to improve very quickly – the dogs seem to pay more attention to the owners, the reactive behaviour improves and with behaviour modification major changes can take place.
In addition, I feel that to keep a dog intact, without being allowed to engage in its natural instinct of reproduction, is frustrating to dogs. Remembering that a dog’s sense of smell so much stronger than our own, and an intact male can scent a female in heat from a few kilometres away and cant do anything about it!
Another point to bear in mind that taking an intact dog for a walk can be somewhat challenging! He smells different from the other dogs and will be a ‘red flag’ to other dogs he comes across possibly resulting in reactive behaviour.
Myths
- My dog won’t be a good dog watch dog if it is sterilized.False, if anything the dog will be more devoted to its human family. The so called ‘bad’ watch dog would be a bad watchdog whether sterilized or not.
- It will change my dog’s personality. Dog owners tend to accord anthropomorphic properties to their pets and feel that a neutered dog will somehow be less “manly” and a spayed bitch will only be interested in eating all day. This is not true. Castration does not affect a dog’s nature; he retains his aggressive and playful instincts.
- Sterilization will make my dog fat. False, although the lower average metabolic rate of sterilized dogs will make it easier for some dogs to gain weight, this can be eliminated by cutting the daily food intake by about 15% subsequent to the sterilization procedure. Remember, sterilization will not make your dog fat - too much food and not enough exercise will make your dog fat!
- My dog will get lazy. False, whether a dog is lazy or not depends entirely on its temperament and personality.
- You should always let a female have one heat period before sterilization. False, the only thing allowing a bitch to have one session may accomplish, is the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy!
- Undergoing sterilization is dangerous. As with all procedures that require an aesthetic, there is always a degree of risk, but if the procedure is undertaken by a licensed vet, the routine sterilization procedure is actually less dangerous and stressful than the complications that could happen in pregnancy.
- My dog is a male! - This comment normally comes from men! In addition to the benefits listed below, dogs conceive purely on biological instinct and don’t feel deprived by sterilization, but a dog that is not sterilized will suffer from extreme frustration if it scents a female in season and cant get to her. The result of this could easily lead to behaviour problems and even reactive behaviour – you are stopping the dog from following its natural instinct – to propagate the breed. See the benefits of sterilization in order to answer this one – the benefits are many.
- All female dogs should be allowed to have one litter before sterilization.There are absolutely no health benefits by allowing this at all. In actual fact female dogs that are sterilized before the first heat cycle have much lower risks of developing mammary cancers.
- Sterilization will assist in eliminating marking behaviour which occurs in the home as well as lessen the amount of humping that male dog’s exhibit.
- Another point to consider is that an intact male dog is seen as a threat to other dogs when out for a walk as they smell different – sterilization will change this and the threat of reactive behaviour from other dogs towards them will be reduced.
- A dog that is not sterilized is often anxious and frustrated. The extent of this can depend on the dog’s personality and by having the dog sterilized it will assist in calming the dog down. This is more common in males than females.
- Sterilization can increase our dog’s life expectancy. Sterilization prevents testicular and prostrate cancer and eliminates uterine infection and the risk of mammary cancer in females.
- It will reduce the possibility of your dog going ‘walk about’ to find a potential mate.
Disadvantages of Sterilization
When recommending sterilization I always suggest that this subject be discussed fully with your own vet who can point out any possible disadvantages.
It does involve risks from anaesthesia and surgery
- Not all dogs recover quickly and some may need post-operative care and/or observation
- Side effects, such as loss of appetite, lethargy and diarrhoea are possible.
- There has been research done that indicates that although spaying reduces the incidence of reproductive cancers and uterine infections, that spayed bitches do have a higher risk of developing other types of cancer, joint problems and thyroid disease.
It is my own opinion that sterilizing your dog is part of responsible pet ownership and only reputable breeders should have dogs that are entire.
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