Does spaying calm a dog down? If you have a dog with ‘challenging’ behavior, it’s probably a question you’ve asked yourself more than once.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer.
Spaying a dog can calm them down to some extent, but it’s not a magic bullet. If their behavior is being caused by surging hormones, then spaying may make a difference.
However, if their behavior is being caused by something else, its effects are going to be negligible.
But let’s rewind a second. Before addressing the question of whether spaying can calm a dog down, there’s another question to answer… namely, what exactly does spaying involve?
In brief, spaying is a surgical procedure performed on female dogs under general anesthesia.
During the procedure, the uterus and both ovaries are removed via an incision in the abdomen. It’s a safe procedure that, other than some mild discomfort, is relatively painless.
Providing there are no complications (which are rare), a spayed dog will be back to normal in around 10 days.
The primary reason for spaying dogs is to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Research has also suggested that spaying dogs can help prevent certain health problems, including pyometra (a painful and potentially deadly infection of the uterus) and mammary tumors.
Neither of these claims is contentious: even people who disagree with spaying won’t deny that it stops unwelcome pregnancies and certain health problems.
Where things get more complicated is when we start talking about the behavioral consequences of spaying.
An unspayed dog is at the whim of her hormones. A spayed dog isn’t. But is that enough to support the claim that spaying will always calm a dog down?
In a word, no.
Dogs are more than just hormones.
To understand whether spaying will help calm your dog down, you’ll need to figure out whether hormones are behind their behavior or if it’s something else.
If it’s hormones, then spaying might help. If it’s not, you’ll need to find another solution.
Before we start digging through the pros and cons of spaying, I have a heads-up for you.
Boisterous, uncontrolled behavior, whether hormonally driven or not, can be improved enormously by teaching your dog to take control of their emotions.
So before you do anything else, take a moment and watch the short video below where Dan Abelnoor (aka Doggy Dan) reveals a simple, yet highly powerful training technique that will help permanently calm the emotions of your dog (without the need for spaying)
Watch the video, implement the training Dan recommends, and you’ll see a huge improvement in your dogs ability to remain calm.
Here’s the link to take a look: Click Here To Discover How To Finally Calm Your Dogs Overexcited, Naughty Behavior Without The Need For Expensive, Unnecessary Surgery… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
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The Pros and Cons of Spaying
Spaying is a safe procedure that carries innumerable benefits. But ultimately, it’s an operation. And as with any operation, you need to go into the process with your eyes wide open.
Before you book an appointment with the vet, set your expectations by considering both sides of the spaying argument.
First up, the pros:
No Chance of Unplanned Pregnancies
The number one reason to spay your dog is to eliminate the chance of an unwanted pregnancy.
Puppies might be cute, but there are already more than enough unwanted pups in shelters up and down the country.
Spaying your dog ensures you don’t inadvertently contribute to a problem that’s already out of control. So unless you have a very good reason to breed your dog, spaying is the responsible thing to do.
No More Inappropriate Sexual Behavior
Granted, female dogs only tend to display sexual behaviors when they’re in heat, but even so, it can be frustrating. Spaying puts an end to those behaviors in short order.
Reduced Aggression
Unspayed female dogs tend to be a lot less aggressive than unneutered males. But if another unspayed female dog invades their patch, they’re rarely welcoming.
If your dog only gets their claws out around unfixed females, spaying is likely to have a significant impact on this kind of hormonally driven aggression.
An End to Roaming
When an unspayed female comes into heat, the urge to roam kicks in.
If there are no eligible bachelors in the near vicinity, she’ll not hesitate to seek them out. The end result is poor recall and an increased risk of losing your dog.
A Calmer Temperament
An unspayed dog is at the whim of her hormones; an unspayed dog isn’t.
And while spaying doesn’t change your dog’s personality, it does mean they usually become more laid back, with a calmer, more consistent approach.
Medical Benefits
Many people chose to spay their dogs for the associated health benefits.
Some of the health conditions that can be prevented or risk-reduced as a result of spaying include:
- Mastitis
- Ovarian tumors
- Breast cancer
- Uterine prolapse
- False pregnancy
- Cystic ovaries
- Cystic pyometra
As an added benefit, spaying reduces hormonally driven aggression, reducing the chance of your dog being injured or infected as a result of a dog fight.
Ending the Heat Cycle
When you spay a dog, you end its heat cycle. As well as bringing an end to things like roaming, this will also stop the frequent urination and bloody discharge that are part and parcel of a dog coming into heat.
The result?
Less mess and fewer assaults on your sanity.
Dog Driving You Crazy? Click Here To Discover How To Quickly Calm Your Dogs Overexcited, Naughty Behavior… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
The Cons Of Spaying Your Dog
Spaying a dog unquestionably carries numerous benefits. But what about the cons?
It’s Not a Magic Bullet
Some people think that spaying is going to magically transform their dog into a model of good behavior. It’s not.
Spaying will usually help your dog approach things in a calmer, more laid back way. If they display unwanted sexual behaviors and hormonally driven aggression, it’s going to help.
- But will it change your dog’s personality?
- Will it stop fear-based aggression?
- Will it correct problems caused by poor training, an unhealthy upbringing, or genetics?
No, no, and definitely not…
Spaying is many things, but a magic bullet it is not.
Boisterous and unruly behaviors have little to do with reproductive hormones.
If your dog’s problems go beyond surging hormones, spaying isn’t going to do a thing.
It Increases the Risk of Obesity
First up, spaying doesn’t make your dog fat. It does, however, change a dog’s metabolism and hormonal makeup.
A spayed dog doesn’t need as many calories as an intact dog. If you continue to feed them in the same way as you’ve always done, you put them at increased risk of obesity and the associated health risks that come with that.
It’s Expensive
Spaying costs anything up to $300, depending on variables such as where you live, the age, health, and breed of your dog, and where you get the procedure done.
If you spay to eliminate the risk of unwanted pregnancies, it’s a price worth paying. After all, the cost of feeding multiple little mouths is going to add up to a lot more.
However, if you’re spaying purely as a means of calming your dog down, it’s worth considering how much bang for your buck you’ll be getting.
Spaying your dog might reduce hormonally driven behaviors. But it’s not going to magically transform them if their behaviors are rooted in deeper problems.
It Increases the Risk of Certain Diseases
Spaying drastically reduces the risk of numerous life-threatening health conditions. However, some studies have suggested that it has the reverse effect on certain other conditions.
Losing reproductive hormones appears to negatively impact the endocrine system, resulting in low thyroid levels.
Spayed dogs are also believed to be twice as likely to develop hemangiosarcoma of the spleen and five times as likely to develop hemangiosarcoma of the heart compared to unspayed females.
It’s Not Risk- Free
Spaying is generally considered to be a harmless, trouble-free procedure that carries very little risk of complications and side effects.
That said, it’s still an operation that’s performed under general anesthetic. For some dogs (especially older ones), that in itself can be risky.
If spaying has been recommended for medical reasons or as a way of controlling undesirable behaviors, the benefits will generally outweigh the risks.
Even so, it’s important to go into the process with an awareness of the potential complications of surgery.
Related Post: Help! My Dog Goes Crazy Around Other Dogs
Alternative Ways to Calm a Dog Without Spaying
First and foremost, spaying is an excellent way of controlling unwanted pregnancies. Its ability to reduce the likelihood of several serious diseases is also worth shouting about.
But as to its calming effects… the jury’s still out.
If hormones are to blame for your dog’s unwanted behaviors, spaying is going to be a big help. But dogs are way more than just hormones.
So if your dog is boisterous because of a lack of training, fearful because of a lack of socialization, or aggressive because of its temperament. Then spaying them isn’t going to help matters one little bit.
If you want to find a permanent solution to your dog’s behavior, you may need to look beyond the scalpel.
Before doing anything else, figure out exactly what the problem is.
If the problem is aggression towards other females, unwanted sexual behaviors, and roaming, spaying is going to be beneficial.
If the problem is general boisterousness and unruliness, you might have more success with one of the following methods.
Teach Control
Hyperactivity, over-excitement, and boisterousness are all signs of a dog that doesn’t know how to control its emotions.
But by teaching your dog how to exercise control with the step-by-step calming exercises Dan talks about over at The Online Dog Trainer, You’ll see a much calmer dog without the need for spaying.
Because by introducing Dan’s techniques into your routine, you’ll be teaching your dog to see you as a leader – a vital step in getting them to pay attention to your instructions.
Used regularly, you should soon see a noticeable improvement in your dog’s behavior.
Practice Positive Reinforcement
Dogs can be demanding. They want your attention, and they want it all the time.
Whether it’s positive attention or negative, they don’t really care. If it’s coming from you and it’s coming their way, that’s all that matters.
Next time your dog starts jumping and acting crazily, ignore them. Simply turn your back and leave them to it. If you shout at them to stop or reach out to soothe them, you’ll unwittingly reinforce the behavior with your attention.
Wait for them to calm down completely. Once they do, praise their good behavior and reward it.
By ignoring the bad behavior and rewarding the good, you’ll teach your dog what kind of behavior gets them what they want and what kind of behavior doesn’t.
Increase Their Exercise
A bored, frustrated dog that isn’t provided with adequate exercise is a dog that’s going to cause you problems. That’s not the dog’s fault – if you were cooped up in a house all day long with nothing to do, you’d probably get a little antsy too.
At a minimum, dogs need an hour of combined activity a day. Look to add an extra walk or two into their routine. Games are also a great outlet for their energy, as are agility classes.
While we’re on the subject of exercise, don’t forget the importance of exercising their brains. A few interactive puzzles and food dispensing toys will go a long way to keeping your dog happy and stimulated.
Final Thoughts
Spaying offers substantial benefits, including eliminating the problem of uncontrolled breeding and reducing the risk of life-threatening cancers.
But will spaying magically cure all kinds of boisterous behavior? No.
If your dog is roaming, getting aggressive when other females wander onto their territory, or displaying undesirable sexual behaviors, spaying is going to help.
And while spayed dogs do tend to be more laid back than their intact counterparts. That doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to be that way.
If your dog’s rowdiness is rooted in behavioral or environmental issues, as opposed to hormonal ones. It’s going to take a lot more than spaying to fix the problem.
