Dalmatian Dog Behavior: Castration Information

December 13, 2006 on 8:30 am | In Dalmatian Articles |

Most owners of Dalmatians favor castration when they understand the role of testicular androgens in their dog’s behavior. The fact that secondary sex characteristics are not profoundly affected by castration is reassuring to those who fear it might feminize their Dalmatian dogs. Many are also reassured to learn that the adrenal cortex produces gonadal androgens and tends to take up the “slack” created by castration. In behavioral terms relevant to the owner’s concern, this means that castration of a mature dog will not cause it to revert to puppy behavior, become sissified, or run from a burglar.

When interviewing a local veterinarian, we came across one owner who called in to complain that her 10-year-old Sydney Silky Terrier was engaging in marathon copulation with her 1 1/2-year old Silky female, who was then in heat. The client’s fear was that the dog might die of a heart attack due to the furiousness of his sexual activities. The vet asked if she had considered castration and was told that this had been performed when the dog was 2 years old in an effort to stop his leg-lifting in the house (which had not abated). The vet advised the client to have the female spayed. This was done and at least the sexual problem was solved. Correction of the household urination required a 6-week I behavior program.

When supported by remedial behavior programs, castration may help alleviate habitual running away or roaming, fighting (other males), house urination and sexual mounting. Pre-existing problems that may persist or become intensified after castration without behavioral programs include aggression toward owners, children or outsiders, fighting with female dogs, and fecal house-soiling.

In a recent study, three of fifty-seven male dogs with various problems castrated at 2 years of age found the following:

* Aggressive toward, or fear of strangers: No significant improvement.

* Urine marking, mounting, roaming away from home: 25- 40% of the dogs cut their unwanted behavior by 90%; 60% of the dogs did so half as often.

* Aggression toward family members: Fewer than 33% showed a marked improvement.

* Aggression toward other family dogs and outside dogs, and territorial aggression and fear of inanimate objects: 35% of the dogs showed a 50% improvement.