Duggan had been neutered approximately 7 weeks ago whilst under anesthesia for his TPLO surgery. Since this time I have made several observations for those of you who are interested. Firstly, the lead pulling and crazy behaviour associated with marking immediately stopped. He pulls slight when tracking a mole in the yard or if he’s searching out the right spot to poop. He has started alert barking at things that never bothered him previously and had completely ignored, things he used to observe and was socialized too as a pup. He’s just over 2 now FYI. He seems to have lost his confidence and has become somewhat fearful towards certain things and any kind of rapid body motions or loud voices made by humans. He hasn’t shown any signs of resource guarding his food but I’ve been working with that for the past 45 days and he hasn’t had a chance too; not sure if that relevant or coincidence due to training. He seems to be more family oriented and watches us closer which to me seems related to a loss of confidence. He hasn’t been allowed to play with other dogs because of restrictions but seems to want to but is fine if he has to walk by them. His threshold seems to be about 4 meters. I’m wondering if some of these observations are due to the restrictions he’s been under since October and has matured but there’s definitely a look in his eye now that never existed before which again I attribute to a loss of confidence. My wife is happier with him but I miss the spirit and way he carried himself prior. On a side note...the original leg which took longer to heal is now totally healed and the second has healed faster than the projected timeline but still has about 4 weeks before he can start to play and be let off lead. He has been approved for swimming and walking on the beach and stairs. Can’t wait to resume training and i anticipate the relapse and a bit of work to get the recall back to what it was. Thanks for reading. Any input welcomed, as I said these are just my uneducated observations.
That's interesting. Going from what I've read on here (zero first-hand experience here) a castration can make an already fearful dog more fearful, but it won't make a confident dog suddenly less confident? It might very well be connected to his forced isolation/recovery. Interested to hear what the others have to say.
Finn is 4 now and the same observations after neutering here! Finn is neutered at 1,5 year of age. Finn’s fearfulness augmented! Started barking, also more family oriented. It could be our story!
Maxx was neutered 4 weeks ago (at 6 months - which is what we pretty much have to do in Australia) and we have noticed zero change in him. Perhaps because he is so young.
I have never noticed this in my neutered dogs, have had 3 males neutered. I think it more related to his enforced rest and not going out.
I’ve never noticed any changes in the dogs i’ve had neutered, but they were younger so that might be the reason? But it’s pretty hard to say how the enforced rest is playing a factor.
In a trial of one (female spayed at 6 months) I have noticed more tendency to bark with age. Not barking outside but when inside, at things outside e.g. unknown passing people talking (neighbours are fine). I put it down to protecting us. I am glad to hear Duggan's progress post surgery
An interesting read @Johnny Walker. An 'uneducated observation'? If you mean that you have no scientific/behavioural qualifications, well yes 'uneducated' - BUT you know Duggan through observation over a period time both pre and post op. You know your dog and have spent much time training. There may be an element of the effect of the restrictions together with an element of maturing affecting behaviour. The removal of testosterone through the neutering must have an impact though otherwise why do it? I do appreciate that you didn't want to neuter Duggan, so your observations will help him as go forward together.
Are there any reports of the experience of recovering from anesthesia being significant or traumatic for animals. Because besides the neutering, that is something else that all the neutered and spayed animals have in common. From my personal experience I was scared and disorientated and the memory has made me fearful of being under anesthetic again. And when we had Harley spayed she was confused and also vomited. I am just hypothesizing here. The same as the use of Benzodiazapines after trauma can impede the processing of memories related to the trauma and therefore correlate to a increaed chance of PTSD I am wondering if the post op recovery in a vet practice with smells and sounds and also the cognitive effects of anesthesia could not also be a contributer to fearful behaviour? My experience with Harley is that she is a very sensitive dog and one significant negative experience with a person will make her wary of interaction or at minimum, inhibited in her interaction with that person.
Please keep us updated on this when you are able to resume more normal activities with Duggan; in this way you will be able to make an even more informed observation. I had my last Lab neutered at 7 months as he was under anaesthesia for an investigation. He did eventually develop a more fearful nature but not until he was about 4 yrs old. His character was also sensitive, as described by Harley's owner. Once he reached the age of 2 he became a delightful dog that could be trusted anywhere. Now we have Caspar, also 7 months, and I am certainly not wanting to have him neutered until he is at least a year old, though he is a far more feisty specimen than his predecessor, and anything to calm him down would be welcome. I feel very conflicted after reading various articles on this forum, but would not be able to cope with him if he started showing sexual behaviour around other dogs. I look forward to hearing how things go with Duggan.
Really interesting as I was just thinking about this the other day and was wondering if it had any effects as well. Could the look he gives me be a fear of going back to the vet. He’s had to be put out 4 times now in the last 7 months and what I was wondering more specifically is that does he consider this punishment ( adversaries) for something he’s done and therefore more fearful of making a mistake and having to go back again. Does he think I’m “beating him” ??
my boy is almost 18 months. I have been going back and forth between neutering and not neutering. My old lab I had neutered at 1 year and he didn't seem to pull as much as Huck does and he seemed more mellow. But I don't know if that is just a sign of different temperament. Huck is SO much different that Cap. Huck won't swim, hates the car and doesn't have the typical lab appetite. Do you think neutering will help to calm him down? (he is a terrible counter surfer). I have tried everything the trainers have said do with no success. He is quite stubborn
