In the end, your dog will still be the same dog that you love, even after it has been neutered. Your dog's personality and energy level are determined by its environment and genetic makeup, not its reproductive hormones. Most often the only changes that you recognize in your pet will be a decrease in negative habits.
Neutering is a reasonably safe process; however, you can expect sharp changes in your dog's attitude right when you bring them home from the procedure. These side effects can range from increased aggression, depression, anxiety, or even clinginess; however, they only last for a short amount of time.
This change is not immediate as it may take weeks after castration for the hormones to gradually dissipate from their system. Other changes you can expect after neutering is a desire to stay closer to home, less urine marking, less fighting, a calmer demeanor, and added affection.
Generally, spaying or neutering your pet will not change its personality. If there are any effects on behaviour, they tend to be positive (reducing unwanted behaviour). Spaying or neutering will not change your pet's affection level or playfulness.
Dogs that have been neutered will not be free of hormonal behavior issues right away. This is because in most cases, it can take anywhere from two to four weeks, and sometimes even as long as six weeks, for all the hormones to leave your dog's body.
The recommended age to neuter a male dog is between six and nine months. However, some pet owners have this procedure done at four months. Smaller dogs reach puberty sooner and can often have the procedure done sooner. Larger breeds may need to wait longer in order to properly develop before being neutered.
Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer, if done before six months of age. Your spayed female won't go into heat.
According to several studies, the main behaviors that are affected consistently in male dogs following neutering (I guess I am being politically correct now) include: decreased sexual behavior (primarily, mounting behavior), urine marking (depositing urine on objects), and roaming.
Most dogs recover relatively quickly from neutering. A little wooziness is not unusual; post-anesthesia anxiety and fussiness is normal. Young dogs may want to return to play as soon as the same day. However, dogs should be kept calm for 10 to 14 days after surgery, or however long your veterinarian recommends.
It is widely – and falsely – believed that neutering “calms a dog down”. However, an adult or adolescent dog's basic temperament is relatively independent of testosterone, and neutering won't make any significant changes to his intelligence or personality.
Your vet will probably recommend that your dog gets plenty of rest for the first 48 hours following surgery and avoids any form of strenuous activity. No walking, no playing, and no running around! Stitches can easily be pulled apart, leaving a painful open wound that will be at risk of infection.
Anxiety and Depression
Before neutering, your male dog will have many hormones that'll cause a higher sexual drive. However, after neutering, this drive will start to decrease, which may confuse him and leave him anxious, nervous, and with a changed personality due to the hormonal imbalance and hormonal changes.
The short answer is that no, your dog isn't likely to be less hyperactive after getting spayed or neutered. It won't change their personality much, if at all.
Can I calm my dog down by having him neutered? This is a really common question, and (as usual…) the answer isn't straightforward. In general, however, neutering will have no effect on your dog's personality, but it may influence his mood and make some behaviours more or less likely.
A University of Georgia study, based on the medical records of more than 70,000 animal patients, found that the life expectancy of neutered male dogs was 13.8% longer and that of spayed female dogs was 26.3% longer.
Dogs neutered before puberty don't experience this rise in hormones and their long bones particularly continue to grow for a longer time resulting in greater height when growth does cease than their un-neutered counterparts.
Frequently, neutering helps with behavior problems, even if done much later, so don't give up on it just because you've missed the optimum time. Intact male dogs tend to have more difficulty concentrating on tasks and to show erratic behavior in the vicinity of a female dog in heat.
NEUTERING – THE NEGATIVE SIDE
Neutering changes his appearance. Your dog will look different because his testicles will no longer be present. If the absence of these organs is a cosmetic problem for you, discuss testicular implants with your veterinarian. Neutering may cause weight gain.
Increased health risks: While both spaying and neutering come with certain health benefits, they also can lead to a higher risk of other ailments. Some studies indicate older dogs have an increased risk of cruciate ligament rupture, hip dysplasia, incontinence, and tumor development after neutering or spaying.
The recommended time to spay or neuter a dog is six to nine months. But if your dog is healthy, there is no specific age limit to having the procedure done.
The traditional age for neutering is six to nine months. However, puppies as young as eight weeks can be neutered as long as there aren't other health problems. An adult dog can be neutered at any time but there is a larger risk of complications.
It is not necessary to stay up, or sleep next to your pet and you can leave your dog alone after surgery for short periods as long as they aren't likely to lick their stitches. In fact, many dogs will appreciate some quiet time and the opportunity to sleep after the anaesthetic.
Make sure you place your dog in a quiet place, in dim light, during the recovery process. The bed must be comfortable and the room temperature should be pleasant. If you have other pets at home or children, keep them away from your dog.
The first week after your dog is spayed or neutered is the critical week where you want to make sure your dog is not playing rough or running or jumping. A few days after the procedure, it is probably OK to involve your pup in controlled leash walks – this includes walking up and down the stairs.