10/12/2025
đš Controversy Alert: Letâs Talk Castration & Neutering đš
Iâve owned dogs for over 30 years nowâtrained them for just as longâand in that time Iâve lived with around 30 dogs of every background you can imagine: males, females, spayed, entire, puppies Iâve bred, puppies Iâve bought, dogs Iâve rescued, rehomed, and rehabilitated. With that amount of lived experience, you learn to see patterns that arenât always obvious to people whoâve only ever had one or two dogs in their life. And one topic that remains consistently controversial is castration and neutering. Should you do it? Should you not? Who is right? Who is wrong? Thereâs a growing trend in modern society leaning toward not neutering dogs at all, and while I appreciate where that perspective comes from, I also think it can be risky advice when given broadly without context. So letâs look at this more analytically.
Historically, neutering was the default recommendation. Many rescues neutered dogs before maturityâsomething I now believe caused long-term physical and behavioural issues for a number of dogs. But at the same time, the majority of pet dogs today do not live in natural social groups. Theyâre single dogs or live with one other dog, typically of the same s*x. Theyâre not part of a stable, multi-dog household where natural social pressures, regulation, and communication occur. Yet we still expect them to navigate adolescenceâa notoriously turbulent developmental periodâwithout those social buffers.
My home dynamic is unusual. I have multiple dogs: males and females, entire and spayed. I donât currently have any castrated males, but I have a blend of ages and s*xes that creates a much more natural social ecosystem. When a young male or female comes of age, you see the hormonal shifts, the dynamic changes, the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) influence from older dogs. Older males and females will suppress, shape, or redirect less desirable adolescent behaviours long before I ever have to intervene. The older males will bulk out, coat thickening, muscle mass increasing, a natural hormonal presence that quietly asserts itself and suppresses some of the younger malesâ more extreme urges. The older females often establish the rules of social etiquetteâstepping in, correcting, regulating, and influencing behaviour among younger dogs. This is normal. This is how dogs develop when they live in a group that reflects nature.
Most pet homes donât have that dynamic. And thatâs where adolescence becomes a minefield. I often say, âI love my adolescent dogs, but I donât always like them,â and anyone who has lived through adolescence with a dog knows exactly what I mean. This is where we see aggression, anxiety, thrill-seeking behaviour, boundary testing, over-arousal, frustrationâall peaking at a time when the dogâs hormones are raging. I would confidently sayâalbeit anecdotally but based on decades of experienceâthat a huge percentage of behavioural problems seen later in life are created or cemented during adolescence. Likewise, many of the dogs that end up in rescue or rehomed are adolescents. Not because theyâre âbad dogs,â but because their owners simply werenât prepared for the reality of this developmental phase.
Without a social group to help regulate behaviour, a single adolescent dog can easily become overwhelmed by instinctual drives: ranging further, seeking mates, showing competitiveness, displaying aggression towards perceived rivals, and generally behaving like a hormonal teenager who has just been given too much freedom and too many opportunities to get it wrong. Itâs no different from a group of 18-year-olds at a pubâadd a bit of Dutch courage and suddenly someone who is normally calm, pleasant, and sensible becomes loud, pushy, reactive, or combative. Hormones change behaviour. It doesnât define who they are, but it influences what they do. Adolescence in dogs works exactly the same way.
And this brings us to the debate around neutering. Yes, there is science indicating potential health risks when neutering too earlyâorthopaedic concerns, increased likelihood of certain cancers, physical changes, behavioural shifts. These are important considerations. But the counterpoint is this: owners must first survive adolescence with their dog unscathed without that hormonal load tipping the dog into behaviours they cannot manage. For some families, that isnât realistic. For some dogs, adolescence becomes so extreme that owners begin contemplating rehoming, surrendering, or even euthanasia because they feel utterly overwhelmed. And if removing the testosterone or reducing hormonal intensity can save that dogâs home, that dogâs future, and that dogâs life, then dismissing neutering outright becomes irresponsible.
There is no universal right or wrong here. There is only what is right for your dog, your household, your experience, and your ability to manage adolescence. Thatâs why, when clients ask me about neutering, I give them a balanced, informed perspective based on experienceânot dogma. I encourage them to research thoroughly, to understand both the behavioural and health implications, and then make the choice they feel confident with.
There is no perfect answer to the castration and neutering debate. Do what is best for you, your dog, and your household. Educate yourself on the pros and cons, consider your dogâs temperament and behaviour, and think carefully about your ability to navigate adolescence without additional support. If youâre considering neutering, the ideal window is typically after 12â18 months, or even later if possible. But if youâre genuinely struggling or concerned about safety, welfare, or long-term behavioural fallout, consult both a veterinary professional and an experienced behaviour specialist to get a balanced, informed opinionâone that aligns with your values and your dogâs needs. Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with the decision you make, knowing it is based on insight, preparation, and what is right for your individual situation.
