5 Myths About Neutered Dog Behavior

Dog castration is one of the most commonly discussed topics among dog parents. There can be a lot to read about the topic and sometimes…it’s just too much! To help you out, we have compiled five myths about dog castration. When you decide that your dog should be castrated, you should know that this decision will affect his life for good. Knowing the aftermath of dog castration will make you feel more secure about the choice.

Dog castration or dog sterilization?

The most inaccurate information which circulates around dog castration is probably the following: male dogs are castrated and female dogs are sterilized. This is not entirely true as the two can be carried out both on male and female dogs.

If you are looking for a 100% secure contraceptive for your dog, choose castration and not sterilization.

Dog castration means removing the glands responsible for hormone production. Testicles are removed in male dogs and eggs in female dogs. The following side effects could occur: incontinence and skeletal and/or growth disorders.

On the other hand, sterilization causes the reproductive organs to stop functioning.  

Five false statements about dog castration

1.  Your castrated dog can’t experience pleasure anymore

This is simply wrong! With only a few animals capable of feeling pleasure during sexual intercourse, your dog is not among them. Sex is, for dogs, a matter of natural instinct only.

If you decide to castrate your dog to stop him from rubbing himself against people or things, you may as well consider training your dog instead. Likely, rubbing is a psychological phenomenon which has more to do with behavioral issues than sex drive. If you castrate your dog, you are not depriving him from sexual pleasure, but are removing his sex drive.

That said, if you castrate your dog, there are high chances that he’d keep rubbing himself against people or things if the underlying behavior has not been corrected.

2. Your castrated dog is now infertile

Yes, but not immediately after castration! After the first days of a successfully carried out castration, your male dog could still get another female dog pregnant. Due to the phenomenon of dormant sperm, you should carefully watch your dog when you are out on a walk during the first days after the surgery.

3. Your castrated dog is exactly the same

In the eyes of other dogs, your castrated dog is no longer the same dog as before. Whether male or female, your castrated dog is no longer regarded as male or female, but rather as a gender-neutral dog.

4. Your castrated dog is now fat

After castration, your dog needs less energy. This is because of the significant hormonal changes your dog goes through after the surgery. Not knowing how to monitor the weight of a dog without using a scale, many dog owners will feed their dogs the same amount of food, causing their dog to gain weight.

5. Your castrated dog is more fluffy

Half-truth! Does your dog have long and fine hairs and/or he belong to the red-coated breeds? If yes, your dog is likely to become more fluffy after he gets castrated.

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