1.https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201805/neutering-causes-behavior-problems-in-male-dog

Found another article, that got me stirred. The hypothesis was “neutering can create vs subdue aggression in male dogs.

There are (3) EXTREME and GLARING flaws with this study. I can hardly then, talk about the studies conclusions, therefore. Those control flaws are where the focus of my article will lie, but I’ll share my insight  as to what the results suggest:

FIRST: the (3) control flaws:

1) You cannot study the effects of neutering as it relates to aggressive behaviors, and simply EXCLUDE all of the dogs expressly neutered to resolve aggression. CRAZY!  That had to be carefully designed in

2) There is simply NO ACCOUNTING for the natural developmental stages of young dogs. Any dog, neutered or not, is NOT aggressive under 4mo of age. Aggression shows up in bulldogs and terriers around 4mo, and most other breeds at 6mo. WE  NUETER routinely betweenthe ages of  2mo-6mo,  That they become aggressive after neutering, is simply NOT proven to be ANYTHING other than natural development.

3) We have breeds known to have more propensity, to act more like their wild-counterparts, in regards to aggressive behaviors. And, we have  breeds that we created specifically, arresting developmental patterns to become more like their stages, of early youth. You cannot trust a study that targeted only 10 specific breeds (and by the way, WHAT WERE THE BREEDS?!) . IMPOSSIBLE. There are over 400 (closer to 500) AKC registered breeds alone. And there are breed organizations around the globe, that the AKC doesn’t include. Again- too unfair a sampling. LUDACRIS!

It’s NATURAL for almost any dog, and with almost every breed, to develop some aggression. Even watching our domesticated dogs & puppies PLAY, shows the educational process of learning how to effectively BATTLE each other. Adult dogs WILL battle ( & puppies “play-battle” .) over resources (food, mates, control of packs or territory. ) AND, domestic dogs will have “conversations” (battles)  over what I call t”he 4 B’s” : Bones, Beds, Bowls & Balls. These “conversations,” are often only “resolved,” through aggression. It’s why no toys are in daycare facilities, and no food treats allowed in dog parks. Your domestic dog has a tendency to fight for these things.  This is normal and EXPECTED, regardless of being in-tact or nueterd.

*We do, however know from both human and animal studies (many studies) , that specifically the hormone TESTOSTERONE is linked to aggressive behaviors. Look specifically at athletes and body-builders, that take supplemental testosterone. There are higher incidents of aggression, and violent and aggressive crimes, found in males on surplus testosterone.

In consideration of the fact that we now are neutering younger and younger to control Pet Overpopulation (shelters and rescues neuter even 5-week old kittens and puppies, vs the traditional age of 5 months, which is physiologically the best for the pet. Nuetering between 5-6mo allows enough growth first, but before higher risks of developing cancers.) The AGES of the dogs in the study, needed to be evaluated against EACH OTHER, in age-specific c groups, vs. an all-aged dog study.  Too important to ignore. 

*On a side note regarding nuetering to control pet overpopulation (homeless pets are neutered before adoption- now at any age/ hopefully still excluding sucklings, and before release to society) I HIGHLY approve of nuetering  just as many animals as we can, but disagree with early nuetering. Particularly in male dogs with a Vas Deferens as a urinanary duct, thisi s not “full sized” prior to 5-6 Mo. Nuetering younger, leaves adult dogs with narrow ducts. Couple that with a KIBBLE diet, high in ash and  with synthetic minerals, crystallized urine and stones become a risk of early death to pets. And if early death doesn’t occur, it dramatically effects quality of life.

I’m regards to NATURAL DEVELOPMENT.  young dogs are at their MOST INNATELY SUBMISSIVE stage/age. These predators that we keep as pets, are much like wild predators, as compared to how and when they develop, maybe not to the same end-point.  As they age, is when we see aggressive behaviors emerge, regardless of when/if they were neutered, or remain in-tact.

Let’s  take for example, lion cubs. Cubs are uneducated and physiologically (developmentally) incapable of hunting and killing prey. BUT, as they develop, momma lion teaches cubs the lessons they’ll need to learn, AS they are READY and DEVELOPMENTALLY able to achieve success. I should mention these are very NATURAL behaviors of predators, seen in EVEN our dogs and cats that we kerp as pets. Predators are in competition with each other, and  fight for territory or to guard resources,. We deem these very natural behaviors, as “unduly aggressive” in our pets. We expect our dogs to adapt to much more humanized behaviors.

Dogs that are neutered, though changed physiologically, will still develop mentally, socially and emotionally. They gain physical, mental, emotional  and societal skilsl that lend to future battles, in competition.  Remember, they operate in a competitive society, with “rank” governing their status, and access to available resources. The higher the rank, the more available pack resources are, to the individual. These resources are worth aggressing over.

And, in regard to the limited breed sampling, and factoring in having breeds with higher propensity towards aggressive behaviors, remember that  EVEN “non-aggressive breeds” turn out aggressive individuals. A breed by breed comparison, would also have to have been included,.

• But mostly, to disregard ALL individuals ON PURPOSE, that were neutered expressly to control aggression, to me seems like THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE  negligence in this study, in regards to sampling  I want to here from these dog-owners THE MOST, in regards to their observations, both before and after nuetering. Is that not the MOST OBVIOUS place to start?!

In conclusion, this study did not take natural development into account,, breed differences, compare like-age to like-age individuals, and completely disregarded the results of nuetering animals specifically to control aggression. This study was almost a complete waste of time to read. I deem it as “non-conclusive based on lack of format and controls”

NUETER YOUR PETS!

❌⭕️, JILL

PS: thank you again, Matt Gardner, for your incredible interest in the topics that concern many dog owners, and for forwarding the original article. 👍