Is castrating my dog the best option? What is the cost?

[AaronC76]

My dog Leo is a German Shepard/Thai mongrel cross and is 15 months old. Recently he's been asserting himself as the top dog amongst the other two dogs we have, his mother and sister, and is also becoming very protective of the family.

Today there were a couple of incidents, one where someone went to pick up my niece and he jumped on them trying to protect the child and scratched their arm quite badly, secondly whilst he was sat at my feet a friend tried to stroke him and he snapped quite viciously at their hand, again I think he was protecting me.

He is otherwise a really friendly, loving dog and I am worried that if he does bite someone we will have to have him put too sleep which would break my heart!

In the past I have only ever had bitches so don't have the experience with males, or Thai dogs for that matter, and I was wondering if cutting off his knackers would calm him down and reduce the risk of anyone getting bitten?

Does anyone have experience like this and what sort of damage would I be looking at in vets fees?

NB. A diy job of tying some twine around his balls til they drop off, as was suggested by the mother in law, is not an option so please don't suggest similar methods!

Many thanks in advance for your helpful replies ?

[Sheryl]

It is a good idea to have him neutered but as prior poster said, not likely to help with the specific behavior you mention.

 

What it will help with, is making him much less likely to roam far afield (risking getting hit by traffic) and get into fights with other male dogs. Both of which will happen with an unneutered male unless you are able to ensure he is always penned in...and even then, if their is a female dog in heat anywhere in the neighborhood, he'll manage to zip out at the first opportunity.

 

But for the type of aggression you describe, neutering has nothing to do with it. You'll have to train him.

[meatboy]

you need to be very firm and show him your the boss.when you command you use a different tone of voice,very high pitched,then when he starts to listen you reward him,with a treet from your pocket.and let him know you have them with you at all times.

if he dont listern NO TREET. by neutering him will calm him down,my wife's thighs and legs used to be bruised and scratched by him wanting to exspess his feelings,now its only me that does it.

[Oxx]

Just one tip:  when you get him neutered, do NOT be there are he comes around from the anaesthetic.  It's just too heart-wrenching.  The experience still haunts me.

[meatboy]

46 minutes ago, Oxx said:

Just one tip:  when you get him neutered, do NOT be there are he comes around from the anaesthetic.  It's just too heart-wrenching.  The experience still haunts me.

we experienced the same thing,got to the vets a half hr.early,and when he came round still laying down,but when he saw me he couldnt stop wagging his tail.the tears flowed and after 5yrs.i can still see him now.

 

[dick dasterdly]

I think castrating male dogs also has health benefits when they get older - e.g. less likely to have prostate problems.

[dick dasterdly]

5 hours ago, meatboy said:

you need to be very firm and show him your the boss.when you command you use a different tone of voice,very high pitched,then when he starts to listen you reward him,with a treet from your pocket.and let him know you have them with you at all times.

if he dont listern NO TREET. by neutering him will calm him down,my wife's thighs and legs used to be bruised and scratched by him wanting to exspess his feelings,now its only me that does it.

"you need to be very firm and show him your the boss.when you command you use a different tone of voice,very high pitched".

 

This made me laugh, purely because I use the opposite approach - my 'command' voice is far deeper and more authoritative than my normal voice!

[wcoast]

Agree, deep tones portray alpha

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[meatboy]

19 hours ago, dick dasterdly said:

"you need to be very firm and show him your the boss.when you command you use a different tone of voice,very high pitched".

 

This made me laugh, purely because I use the opposite approach - my 'command' voice is far deeper and more authoritative than my normal voice!

i also use the same tone on the wife,its worked for over 30yrs.and yes she does get a treet,normally its a lump of gold.

[AaronC76]

Thanks for the advice guys, the deep voice and make myself look big approach is working. I will try the reward approach as well which should work well I think because the other dogs should get onboard with it as well. If the boy sees the girls being rewarded I'm sure he wouldn't want to be left out of getting treats!

[dick dasterdly]

1 hour ago, AaronC76 said:

Thanks for the advice guys, the deep voice and make myself look big approach is working. I will try the reward approach as well which should work well I think because the other dogs should get onboard with it as well. If the boy sees the girls being rewarded I'm sure he wouldn't want to be left out of getting treats!

The only other 'tip' that springs to mind is keeping any eye out for when he is getting close to you or family members in a protective/aggressive/jealous way and, when you think this is the case, making him move away.