Does spaying or neutering a dog calm them down?

If your dog is bouncy, runs off, or is a little too dog obsessed and you wish there was a dial to turn down the intensity a little, you might be wondering if neutering will help. To find out whether spaying or castration really makes dogs calmer, read on. For practical steps you can try today, take a look at our blog on how to calm your dog down. 

What is neutering? 

Neutering means surgically or chemically “de-sexing” your dog, which reduces sex hormones and their fluctuations. For female dogs, surgical neutering is called spaying (or ovariohysterectomy), where both the ovaries and uterus are removed. For male dogs, neutering is also called castration and involves removing the testicles.

There are clear health benefits, including lowering the risk of certain cancers and preventing unplanned litters from dogs who haven’t been health tested. But what about behaviour?

Do dogs calm down after getting neutered? 

That depends on what you mean by “calm down”. Neutering doesn’t stop puppies being puppies and your dog will still get the zoomies. 

For female dogs, hormones mainly fluctuate around the time they come into heat, also called being in season, which is usually twice a year. Outside of those times hormone levels can be fairly low. Unless there are irregular cycles or hormonal issues like phantom pregnancies, spaying is more about preventing litters and long-term health than behaviour change. 

It’s also worth clearing up the common myth, that every female dog should have a litter before being spayed. In reality, this can put the mother at risk, pass inherited problems to the next generation, and sadly add to the burden on rescue centres. 

For males, testosterone, can drive behaviours such as mounting, roaming, marking and even aggression. But it’s not the whole story. Fear and anxiety can also cause dogs to lash out, and in some cases reducing testosterone (and with it, confidence) may actually make matters worse.

This is why, if you’re considering neutering for behavioural reasons, it’s important to understand the root cause first. A vet or behaviourist can help, and if you’re uncertain, there are also temporary chemical castration options to try before making a permanent decision. 

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Does neutering change a dog’s personality?

Your dog is still your dog. Their personality doesn’t change, but hormone-driven behaviours may lose some intensity. Keep in mind: 

• Mounting isn’t always about mating, so neutering won’t necessarily stop it.
• Marking and territorial behaviour are still natural dog behaviours.
• Fear, anxiety and aggression don’t disappear, so recognising stress and anxiety is important.

In short, neutering may reduce some behaviours, but it isn’t a cure-all and habits your pup has already learnt won’t vanish. 

What to do instead 

If your pup has a sunny personality but is just a little over the top, the most effective thing you can do is increase their mental and physical exercise. A single walk or play session a day is rarely enough, especially for young or working breeds:

• Break up the day with two or more exercise sessions.
• Try ‘working walks’ that mix activity with obedience, scent work or retrieving games.
• Use training games around the house to focus their energy.
• Dog walkers add variety and social interaction.
• Explore weekend activities such as agility, obedience classes, group walks or longer hikes.
  

Don’t ignore genuine behavioural problems, they tend to get worse as behaviours become habits, even after the original trigger has gone. Targeted training is essential whether you choose to neuter you dog or not, and working with a behaviourist can help you understand how your own actions may be influencing the situation. 

Speaking to your vet 

Deciding whether to neuter isn’t just about if, it’s also about when. Your vet can guide you through more than just the surgery itself, including:

• Pros and cons based on your dog’s age, breed and health
• Costs, risks and aftercare
• The best time to plan the surgery

If you‘re wondering what’s normal for your dog check out our dog breed library with profiles on breeds like the Springer Spaniel or West Highland White Terrier. And if you’re planning ahead, our guide to calm dog breeds is a great place to start.