The Benefits of Dog Neutering

Learn how dog neutering offers both health and behavioral benefits. It's important for the safety of your dog and others to have him neutered in his puppyhood. Humane societies and dog rescue facilities neuter dogs from six weeks of age, however the average age is between five and eight months.

Unfixed Dogs Are often Aggressive

Dog neutering helps prevent aggressive dog behavior. When face to face with other male dogs and even humans, an unneutered one will act aggressively. Even if not provoked, he will feel an urge to battle. Aggression greatly decreases once a dog is neutered. In puppies, aggression usually disappears completely.

Dog Neutering Prevents Marking in Your Home

Territorial marking is a concern with unneutered male dogs. They will mark their territory in every corner of your home. This leaves the pet owner facing horrible urine stains, bad odors and destroyed furniture.

The reason for the scent marking is first to warn other male dogs that there is a dominant male on the premise. Second, it is to let females in heat know that there is a strong, healthy male in the house. The dog will mark instinctively, so until a dog is fixed, there is little one can do to stop him.

Unneutered Dogs Will Roam

It is instinctive for a male dog to seek out a female dog when she comes into heat. As a female dog enters into a heat cycle, she emits pheromones, a chemical odor designed to attract the opposite sex. A male dog can smell pheromones for miles and will bolt as soon as he is given the chance. The reason the dog strays is simple. He's searching for the potential mate because his testosterone urges him to find her.

Even if you keep your dog caged or leashed while outside, the dog will make every attempt to escape. The same is true of those pet owners who opt to have their pet undergo a vasectomy rather than a full neutering thinking it is nicer to the pet. If there is testosterone in the blood stream, the dog is going to roam.

Dog Neutering Protects Your Pet's Health

Pet owners do not always consider the health benefits to a dog neutering. Unfixed male dogs face a higher risk for a number of health issues. They include:

  • Hernias
  • Perianal Adenocarcinomas (cancerous anal tumors)
  • Perianal Adenomas (benign anal tumors)
  • Prostate troubles
  • Testicular cancer

Anal and testicular cancers' growth increases in animals with testosterone in their blood stream. Neutering your dog will greatly decrease the risk for anal cancer and remove the risk of testicular cancer.

How Dog Neutering Helps with Obedience Training

Once a dog is no longer thinking solely of finding a mate and taking care of his sexual urges, he will respond to training. Fixed dogs train more quickly, listen better and usually develop a much longer attention span during obedience training.

 

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