Published in Animals, the study by Chiara Palestrini, S. Mazzola, and colleagues examined the behavioral impact of gonadectomy in domestic dogs across a nine-month period. Because veterinarians offer differing advice due to limited clear evidence, understanding how spaying and neutering influence behavior is essential for informed decision-making by dog owners.
The study included 96 dogs divided evenly into gonadectomized and intact groups. Owners were interviewed at two time points: prior to surgery (T0) and nine months later (T1). They reported on various behaviors including eating, aggression, roaming, mounting, marking, and leash-pulling.
No significant changes were found in eating behavior or body weight across time for either sex or treatment group. However, gonadectomized dogs demonstrated notable reductions in mounting behavior, leash-pulling, and roaming. These behavioral shifts were observed only in the experimental group, suggesting that removal of reproductive hormones may influence specific motivational systems.
Marking behavior remained consistent for both groups, indicating that this behavior may be less affected by gonadal hormone removal. Additionally, in male dogs, owners reported a tendency toward reduced owner-directed aggression in the gonadectomized group, while no such change appeared in intact males.
The authors note that the literature remains conflicted on the behavioral outcomes of gonadectomy, and their findings reflect a nuanced picture: some behaviors shift measurably, while others remain stable. They emphasize the need for further controlled research to better delineate the role of gonadal hormones in long-term behavioral development.
Source: Palestrini, C., Mazzola, S., & Cannas, S., et al. (2018). Influence of Gonadectomy on Canine Behavior. Animals. Published September 1, 2018.
