How To Deal With Female Dog Aggression After Spaying

Female dog aggression after spaying doesn’t happen, right? After all, isn’t that one of the perks?

Obviously, eliminating the risk of unwanted pregnancy is the primary goal of spaying. But isn’t getting a calmer, more docile dog at the end of it part of the bargain?

It’s certainly what a lot of people think. For years, spaying and neutering have been touted as magic bullets. Whether the problem was disease prevention, roaming, urine marking, humping, or aggression, turning your dog’s reproductive organs over to a vet’s scalpel was said to be the way to cure it.

As it turns out, things might not be that simple.

There’s no question that spaying and neutering both carry an enormous benefit. Hundreds of thousands of stray and unwanted dogs are euthanized every year; the number one way of reducing that number is to reduce unplanned pregnancies.

But just because spaying is very, very good at one thing doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good at everything. Take aggression as one example.

If your dog used to have lots of fights with other intact females over breeding privileges, there’s a good chance that behavior will reduce after spaying.

But if those fights were triggered by one of the numerous other things that can lead to aggression, don’t bank on your dog hanging up their boxing gloves just yet.

So, what exactly is going on? And more importantly, how do you deal with it?

The one thing for sure is that deal with it you’re going to have to. Whether your dog showed signs of aggression before spaying and continues to show those signs now. Or whether the aggression has only kicked in since the procedure, the sooner you start tackling it, the better.

Ultimately (and unfortunately), aggression isn’t one of those things that will simply disappear of its own accord. If you want it to stop before it escalates into something more serious, you’ll need to put the work in.

We’ll tackle what that entails (and why it’s necessary) shortly – in the meantime, I’ve got a recommendation for you.

Before you start getting panic-stricken at the thought of a lifetime of aggression and bad behavior, take a moment to check out Dan Abdelnoor’s Dog Calming Code over at the Online Dog Trainer. (see video below)

Designed as a complete solution to aggression, the program takes you through what you can do to keep your dog calm and controlled at all times.

Regardless of what’s making them flip out at the moment, practicing the advice in the code will make all the difference.

Here’s the video link to take a look: Click Here To Discover How To Finally Solve Your Dogs Frustrating, Unwanted Aggression Problem… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!

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Why is My Female Dog Aggressive After Spaying?

Before we start getting into why a female dog might be aggressive after spaying, let’s just take a moment to understand what spaying is.

Pros and cons aside, spaying is simply the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female animal. In basic terms, it’s a procedure that makes them incapable of reproducing.

That, as anyone who’s familiar with the problem of stray and unwanted dogs will know, is a huge and very valid reason for its use.

But where things get more complicated is when certain benefits are ascribed to the procedure that go way beyond its basic purpose.

A Magic Bullet?

The medical and behavioral benefits of spaying have been touted for so long. And at such volume, spaying has become less of a means to stop unwanted pregnancies and more of a magic bullet.

And that’s where the problem lies. Because whatever else spaying is, a magic bullet it ain’t.

Sure, there are certain things it MAY help with. Most owners report a decrease in inappropriate sexual behavior, less aggression towards other unneutered females during the heat cycle, reduced roaming, reduced incidence of certain types of cancers and other health complaints, and even a calmer temperament.

But is all of this guaranteed? In a word, no.

The only thing spaying guarantees to do (unless the vet took a nap during the procedure) is to stop the possibility of reproduction. Everything else is a gamble.

Why?

Because dogs are more than the sum of their parts. They’re sentient beings with their own personalities, their own histories, and their own habits.

Spaying may remove their ovaries, but it’s not going to wipe their minds. If they’ve already developed certain habits and certain personality traits, they’re not suddenly going to forget all about those the moment they wake up from the anesthetic.

A Hindrance Not a Help?

So, we know that spaying isn’t going to cure your dog of all behavioral woes. But could it actually do the opposite? Can it make a previously well-behaved dog act aggressively?

For now, the jury’s still out. Some owners have reported an increase in fear-based aggression and increased aggression towards family members after spaying. As spaying can lead to a decrease in estrogen and oxytocin (two hormones that have anti-anxiety, calming effects), there could well be some truth in the suggestion.

That said, studies around the topic are small and still up for debate.

The Key Takeaway

The most important point in the whole argument is this: spaying won’t undo a lifetime of bad training habits and poor socialization. If your dog wasn’t an angel when she went into the veterinary clinic, she’s not going to sprout wings and a halo while she’s in there.

The effect of spaying will come down to individual personality, physiology, and history. Some dog owners report a miraculous change in their dog’s temperament after the procedure. Good for them. Does that mean you will too? Possibly… but very possibly not.

If your dog hasn’t been socialized, hasn’t been trained, and has been practicing all kinds of bad habits since they were a pup, then you’re going to need to look beyond the surgeon’s knife for a solution.

WATCH VIDEO: Discover How To Finally Solve Your Dogs Frustrating, Unwanted Aggression Problem… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!

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How to Stop Female Dog Aggression After Spaying

If your dog is acting aggressively after spaying, you already know the answer to whether spaying gets rid of undesirable behavior. But if spaying isn’t the answer, what exactly is?

In fact, it’s less of ‘a’ thing and more of a combination of things.

Figure Out the Root Cause

The first step in addressing aggression is to figure out what’s causing it. For example, some dogs display aggressive tendencies because of poor social skills; others display them because of territorial instincts.

Make a note of exactly when your dog acts aggressively, and the circumstance that lead up to it.

Do they act aggressively when…

Someone approaches them while they’re eating or playing with a toy? If yes, it could be a sign of resource guarding.
A visitor comes to the house, a mailman enters the yard, or another dog loiters around the gate? If yes, it could be a sign of territorial aggression.
An unfamiliar dog approaches them on a walk, they hear a loud noise, or get taken to a new environment? If yes, it could be a sign of fear-based aggression.

As well as looking at the circumstances that lead to aggression, consider their history. If they’re a rescue dog, for instance, they may have a troubled past that’s led to today’s behavioral problems.

At the same time, be honest about their training and socialization – have they been properly and consistently trained since puppyhood?

It may take some head-scratching, but the more you understand the context of the aggression, the better positioned you’ll be to stop it.

Practice Positive Reinforcement

If there’s one thing dogs love more than anything, it’s attention. Positive attention is best, but even negative attention will do at a pinch.

Regardless of what kind they get, it all serves to reinforce the behavior that got them it.

Next time your dog starts displaying undesirable behavior, resist any temptation to shout or scold or punish. Not only will it damage the bond you have with them and make them less trusting of you, but it won’t do a single thing to actually correct the behavior.

Instead, practice positive reinforcement. Obviously, that doesn’t mean lavishing them with treats regardless of whether they’re snarling and lunging or not.

It means marking good behaviors and calm moments with praise and rewards in order to reinforce and encourage them.

Say, for example, your dog tends to bark and lunge at other dogs on walks. Start by figuring out how far away you can stand from other dogs without causing a reaction. Staying at this threshold, reward them each time they remain calm and controlled when another dog passes by.

Over time, you can work on decreasing the threshold, continuing to use praise and treats to mark their progress.

By the time you’ve finished the training (be prepared, it may take some time), your dog should have developed enough positive associations with other dogs not to react to them in an aggressive or inappropriate way.

Increase Their Exercise

Boredom leads to frustration, and frustration leads to aggression.

Put an end to the cycle by adding some more exercise into your dog’s day. Structured walks are obviously vital, but don’t overlook the importance of games and play sessions that stimulate their minds as much as their bodies.

If their age and heath is willing, you might even want to sign them up for an agility class – as well as providing exercise, it’ll also serve as a good form of obedience training.

Teach Them to Stay Calm

If you want your dog to stop reacting to their triggers, don’t expect them to do it alone. You’re not going to come home one day and find them practicing meditation or reading a self-help book. If you want results, you’re going to need to put the effort in.

Fortunately, it’s not as hard as it sounds. If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to check out the Dog Calming Code at the Online Dog Trainer.

The program isn’t complicated, and it’s not going to test your training abilities to the limit. What it is going to do is re-train and rewire your dog’s brain to stop them from losing the plot whenever they come across a trigger.

If you want a calmer, less reactive dog who actually listens to your commands rather than barks all over them, you’ll find the program invaluable.

Final Thoughts

If anyone tells you that spaying will get rid of behavioral problems, take what they have to say with a pinch of salt.

While it’s true that spaying can reduce some of the less desirable behaviors caused by the heat cycle, it’s not a cure-all that’s going to magically transform sinners into saints.

If you want to address your dog’s behavior, you’ll know by now that you can’t simply rely on the scalpel. Basic obedience training, behavior modification, and teaching emotional control are all crucial.

It may take a little more work than simply handing them over to the vet and keeping your fingers crossed, but the results will be much more rewarding.