How does testosterone affect dog behavior?
Yesenia Osinski
2025-07-02 15:57:01
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: 10
Testosterone is a hormone that is closely linked to confidence in many species, including dogs. Behaviour issues in an unneutered dog are often linked to a lack of confidence, anxiety and fear. By neutering a dog and reducing the testosterone levels, the lack of confidence, anxiety or fear can become more pronounced, making those already difficult behaviours even worse. Testosterone is a valuable hormone from a behaviour perspective. The #testicles are a major source of testosterone production in dogs. When we #castrate or #neuter a dog, testosterone levels drop dramatically.
Maci Conn
2025-06-20 20:50:46
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Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, responsible for many traits typically seen in intact (non-neutered) male dogs. These include aggressive behavior, roaming, and other sexual behaviors. Testosterone levels directly influence these behaviors, which is why many pet owners opt to neuter their dogs. After neutering, many dog owners report a noticeable change in their pet’s behavior. This includes reduced aggression, less desire to roam, and a decrease in marking territory or mounting. These changes are a direct result of the lowering testosterone levels. However, it’s also important to note that not all behaviors are influenced by testosterone, some behaviors might be habitual or learned, which means they may not change after neutering.
Alden Leffler
2025-06-20 20:00:26
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Testosterone influences sex drive and sexual acts, searching for mates, territorial behavior such as urine marking, and aggression between males. Testosterone may also affect confidence and the role of the experience of fear in some dogs. Removing the testicles removes the primary source of testosterone in the body, resulting in changes in sex drive, hormone-related behaviors, and hormone-related health concerns. Neutering will result in a reduction in sexual behaviors, seeking mating opportunities, and urine marking. Some of these sexual behaviors can be dangerous, resulting in fights between dogs, roaming and being injured by cars, fences, poisons, and other threats, and neutering will decrease these risks. There is conflicting evidence at this time, but it is possible that neutering males before puberty may correlate with increased aggression directed toward strangers and strange dogs. Neutering was historically considered a crucial part of therapy for all dogs displaying unwanted aggression.