Are male dogs really better police partners? This study dives into the impact of gender, neutering, and training style on narcotics detection. The results reveal sharp contrasts in welfare, trainability, and behavior.
Sex and training style matter: In this study of 120 German Shepherds, researchers evaluated the effect of gender, sexual status, and training methodology on narcotics detection performance. The study found that male dogs outperformed females in trainability and that intact dogs outperformed neutered dogs in all relevant performance and welfare measures.
Why training method matters: Dogs trained with reward-based methods showed significantly fewer behavioral problems, better emotional regulation, and higher welfare scores. In contrast, dogs subjected to punishment-based training exhibited depression, aggression, poor control, and heightened stress behaviors. These findings strongly align with the core principles of NeuroBond and Behavioral Nutrition and Emotional Training.
Gonadectomy reduces working performance: The study concluded that neutering—regardless of gender—negatively impacted training outcomes and behavioral stability. Intact dogs responded more consistently to cues and displayed stronger handler attachment and focus, suggesting significant biological impacts of hormonal removal on behavior.
The final verdict is clear: If police departments want better results, they must ditch punishment-based systems and rethink neutering policies. Reward-based methods not only ensure higher detection accuracy but also protect the welfare of working dogs—a dual win for ethics and efficiency.
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