Will neutering a 2yr old calm him down and stop aggression?
Sully loves the dog park but after about 10 minutes of meet and greet the crotch sniffing time is over and he goes into chase and run mode and then starts to get somewhat aggressive as in barking loudly and even wanting to bite at other dogs especially dogs that are close in size, but he will do it to other dogs smaller too. My wife says he is aggressive but I do not think so. I believe he maybe just starting to "show off" his maleness and strutt his stuff. I am getting him fixed in a couple of weeks and I am praying that this will settle him down. He is great when we are walking on a leash and does not seem to be aggressive unless he is on the leash within the dog park and dogs are around him. When we leave the park and we are walking the trail or at home and walking the sidewalks, he is not aggressive and listens well. So if some of you have had similar experiences with this type of behaviour, please tell me if the neutering will help or am I in trouble with the behaviour? I spoke to a lady that had a 11 year old sheepie that bit her friend when her dog was 2 and she was going to put him down but went to get him neutered and he was a different dog as different as night and day she said. I love this site and have read many posts and read it even before I got my Sully monster. Sully is full of life and love and as goofy as many of ya'lls dawgies...hope to hear from you soon!!  |
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| Neutering is a MUST, and will help but a good training and obedience program is as important. I don't know much about SB's but seem to remember that aggression is a common problem with them.
I would make arrangements for neutering but also look into a good obedience class in your area. Good Luck. By the way, we would love to see pictures of your dog, sounds like a very interesting mix  |
| I agree with the above, especially about the pictures - they would be awesome!
Neutering him is an excellent idea. The physical changes will help, and combined with a program like obedience he can learn or re-learn how to interact with other dogs. Another suggestion is to exercise him before going to the dog park. A common phrase on this board is, "A tired sheepie is a good sheepie," and I bet it would help with your boy, too. Good luck. |
| How old is Sully?
I agree that neutering him needs to be done regardless-- it'll make life easier on you and him in the long run. Sometimes though, normal play behavior in a big dog looks a lot different than it does in a little dog. In other words, it scares the crap out of people! It can be hard for giant dogs to engage in normal play at the dog park, especially a young dog who doesn't yet know his size and strength. I have a 135 pound Komondor that can be like a bull in china shop when it comes to playing with dogs smaller than him. He controls himself well if they aren't too excited but if they really initiate play, look out! He ends up knocking them down and when he play nips, people scream because they see their dog on the ground and him on top biting. He plays like that with our big OES and other dogs his size like that and it really is just that-- play. He isn't hurtful or mean, but it can look scary to people who don't understand-- and you're going to encounter a lot of very ununderstanding people at the dog park! We take both boys to day care where they're supervised by pet care professionals and play in different play groups all day, according to different styles of play. This works out great for our guys and they never have any problems with anyone getting upset about how they play there. Being a big dog isn't always easy. There's a lot of prejudice that comes along with it. |
kennycoolh2o wrote: I am getting him fixed in a couple of weeks and I am praying that this will settle him down. He is great when we are walking on a leash and does not seem to be aggressive unless he is on the leash within the dog park and dogs are around him. So if some of you have had similar experiences with this type of behaviour, please tell me if the neutering will help or am I in trouble with the behaviour? I spoke to a lady that had a 11 year old sheepie that bit her friend when her dog was 2 and she was going to put him down but went to get him neutered and he was a different dog as different as night and day she said. Sounds like you have an issue with dog parks that you and Sully need to work out (if indeed it is an aggression issue and not just overzealous play). It seems that the behaviour is location based, and training is probably the best solution (or avoidance of the dog park all together). How does Sully play with other dogs away from the dog park (other than his canine siblings)? I'd caution that neutering is not a cure-all (still a good idea though, if only for the not-able-to-breed status he'll gain). Barkley is no different now (neutered) than he was before. Absolutely the same dog. So, while some dogs show a marked change after being neutered, it is by no means a given - especially in an older dog. Removing testosterone will not change learned behaviours - like Mop Lover says, obedience or other training can help with the behaviour issues. ButtersStotch wrote: Sometimes though, normal play behavior in a big dog looks a lot different than it does in a little dog. In other words, it scares the crap out of people!
Ain't that the truth. If Sully is just playing, albeit a little rough, then maybe you just need to find suitable play companions (suitable owners, that is...) |
Craig Duffield wrote: ButtersStotch wrote: Sometimes though, normal play behavior in a big dog looks a lot different than it does in a little dog. In other words, it scares the crap out of people! Ain't that the truth. If Sully is just playing, albeit a little rough, then maybe you just need to find suitable play companions (suitable owners, that is...) I am on my ow camaign to ensure that big dogs aren't discriminated against based on size. 
Everytime a smaller dog does aything that they say is so cute" that would get my big dog sensored I say - hmpf when Marley does that you don';t think its soo cute.  |
| Hi and welcome to the forum!
Yes, good idea to get your boy neutered. You will not see the difference right away as it takes several weeks for the hormones to dissipate from their body after neutering. But, It does definately make a difference in behavior. Here's some interesting tidbits regarding offleash parks and intact dogs that come from my dog friendly city. Vancouver has 40 offleash parks and signs are posted that intact dogs and females in heat not allowed. The burbs where I live, and also has numerous parks does not have these rules but generally most that go are aware of the rule. Understandably females in heat but why intact dogs included you may ask? I'll explain a few paragraphs down. You've kinda got two things going with your boy - his age and the fact he's intact. It's been my experience that at around two there are now coming onto their own as adults and will try to establish themselves above others (especially those younger) in dog parks. The pack heirachy mentality. Kinda like upright males in their 20's that do chest thumbing and lots of rah rahs at bars..lol. (not intended to insult the males of this forum)
While your boy may be the friendliest fellow at the park and may not be the instigator - those that made the rules for the dog parks in Vancouver based on numerous expert advice view intact dogs as potential problems. The other dogs are jealous of his status as being intact places him above them in status and thus they need to put him in his place. There's a whole lot of postering and stuff that usually goes on to the untrained eye. To avoid all the potential conflict the parks board made the rules regarding offleash parks in my city. Neutered/spayed dogs may still have potential conflicts but are less likely to go through the jealousy and dominace postering. They are all basically the same. (It's the same with cats as well - the intact males in the neighborhood are considered the most dominant) Once neutered they do not roam or have to fight off others in the neighborhood to establish a wide territory- they're happy just to stay close to home living a docile life. So in a nutshell, you will probably continue to have problems at offleash parks when you have an intact male - the other dogs will continue to challenge him and thus neutering will avoid that too. Neutering does make a difference and I'd highly recommend it. While not a cure all for behaviors - the things they learned before neutering - such as leg lifting or other behaviors remain. It does calm them down and they also have less chance of developing prostrate cancer in later years. It's often been said on these forums that our breeds sometimes have problems due to lack of tails and hair in the eyes - thus giving other dogs mixed messages. Other dogs may also get annoyed at being rounded up by our guys. I'm always watching and if I see a dog is getting upset at my dogs form of play I distract and take them away from the situation in order to avoid conflict. If you really pay attention to the forms of play regarding the different breeds it's facinating. The Huskies, GS for example, love the rough housing play and throat grabbing. This could be interpreted by some as aggressive especially to those not dog savy but it's how they play! Many herding breeds will also do the hip check or butt nipping and this is how our guys play. Although the butt nipping should be discouraged as some dogs take offence to this. Most dogs love the play/chase game and will do the play bow to initiate the game. Butt down with front of the body up and tag wagging. Humping while humorous to humans should always be discouraged even if dogs are neutered as this is a form of dominance. Many dogs take it in stride but others do not like the challenge and may be the instigator to a fight. It's always best to stop it before it may escalate. Look out for dogs that approach yours with tails sticking straight up as they are approaching in a dominant fashion. Tails up means I'm the alpha over you. If the other dog (hard to tell with our guys) also places his tail up means he's up for the challenge. If one dog then places his tail down...he's backing down and acknowleging the other is the boss. One dog may roll over and show their belly or place their tail between the legs - these signs mean..okay I'm submissive and have no interest in being boss over you..I know you're alpha over me. Yet again you can have two dogs do the meet and greet and both start wagging tails..hey lets be friends and play. Anyhow always watch the signs especially the tail straight up of others meeting your dog and of his reactions. There are other signs as well but harder to see..such as making themselves appear bigger aka hackles up, postering..slow walk , head held high and erect..ears upright (okay not usually our guys but other breeds regarding the ears). Submissive dogs on the other hand appear to make themselves smaller..crouching or lowering their head. Direct eye contact amongst dogs is also viewed as a challenge and dogs greet each other in the side to side fashion and avoid the direct stare. Unfortunately many humans, expecially children don't know this rule and will meet a new dog eye to eye and thus are the ones likely to get bit moreso than adults. Sheesh I'm rambling - apologies! Hope that helped and good luck with your boy. It sounds as if you've got a fantastic furkid family. Good luck to you! |
| Definitely neuter. It may change the dog or it may not. As far as the nipping and biting, thats not aggression thats a sheepdog thats herding. This is what the dog would do to a sheep thats not listening..nip on the butt to get it going in the right direction. Both my dogs do this at the dog park, one more so then the other. Marianne is right though, some dogs may not take this kindly and if you see this at the dog park you need to call your dog off.
Again the DOG IS NOT AGGRESSIVE, he's just doing what his genes are telling him to do. |
| welcome from fla i live right down the street from desiel what a handsome boy!! good luck |
| Oh what a cutie. We had a St Bernard about 32 yrs. ago. She was extremely stuborn, but a sweetheart. What you have is a drop dead gorgeous dog, that is huge and scares people that are use to bending over to pet their dogs. You have a herding breed mixed with a working breed and both have dominate personalities. Dog play for our big guys is no different from how the little dogs play.....except for size.
Neutering him will help in time ( about 6 weeks ). It won't help with the owners of little dogs being intiminated by the larger dogs. I would like to see dog parks have a section for the toy, " designer breeds ". |
| What´s the difference between a St.´s behavior and a OES´s? |
 Thanks for all of ya'lls input. I figured with all the reading on the subject, that getting the Sully monster fixed would be our best choice for his health and his well-being. He is definately more sheepie than a St Bernard, and the only thing I notice about him differently is that he has a more square muzzle. He loves being "the boss" when it comes to the other dogs in our household, but my lil ugly mix terrier Sophie is the queen bee and she will let Sully know right away. Poor Sully monster just wants to play, but thank goodness my wife has our new lil Boston terrier that gives Sully what he wants...wrastl'n. He is ever so gentle with her and we laugh at how Dutches takes so much advantage of his gentleness.
"welcome from fla i live right down the street from desiel what a handsome boy!! good luck" Thanks suzptcruise!! I believe that Sully and Desiel are brothers as I have found out from where Desiel was adopted from that Desiel came from the same area that Sully was born, and hopefully I will hear from Desiel's daddy soon to get more info. Yeah Sully is coming into his own and he will be 2 in July so we are going thru the terrible 2s if you will. But Sully just loves me and my family and absolutely craves our attention and loves to stay at our side. I believe St Bernards are not aggressive dogs as I grew up next door to a St and he was so good to me and all the rest of my buddies on the street. I really do not believe it's his behaviour that makes him "appear" to be aggressive as much as it is biology. We cuddle him and he plays well and stops on command if he starts to get a lil too rambuxious. He does very well on the leash as I trained him with a Halti and now he does not wear it all. He goes down when commanded and sits when told and of course loves to shake with you regardless if you ask him to or not...sound aggressive? I am thinking of taking him to a doggie day care a couple of times a week, and will be looking into it later this week or next. If you have any questions about the Sullymonster...just ask and again thanks for your help! |
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