🎙️ The Hormonal Impact on Your Dog’s Behaviour: Neutering/ Spaying 🐾

Listen here using the player above, on your podcast app by following, or watch on our youtube channel.

In the latest episodes of the Wagging Tales Podcast, we’re taking a deep dive into one of the most debated topics in dog care—neutering and spaying—and how these surgeries affect your dog's behaviour. If you've ever wondered whether neutering or spaying is the right choice for your dog, these episodes are a must-listen!

Episode 40: Should I Neuter My Male Dog? 

and Episode 41: Should I Spay My Female Dog? explore the critical behavioural in male and female dogs and how their hormones impact everything from reactivity to focus, guarding, and mood. We break down the effects of testosterone and progesterone on your dog’s everyday actions, decision-making, and social interactions.

Why Is This Important?

Understanding the hormonal influence on your dog’s behaviour is key to making the right decision when it comes to spaying or neutering. Both episodes look beyond the medical and legal sides, and focus purely

on how these procedures can shape behaviour, highlighting that training might often be the answer rather than surgery.

What We Cover Across Both Episodes

Here’s a snapshot of the fascinating points discussed:

🧬 The Role of Hormones

In male dogs, testosterone is responsible for confidence, focus, and the way your dog interacts with the world. We explore how neutering can affect these behaviours and whether it really reduces issues like aggression, reactivity, or wandering. In contrast, for female dogs, hormones like progesterone play a big role in mood, guarding behaviours, and reactivity, particularly during their heat cycles. Understanding how these hormones work can give you better insight into your dog's behaviour and guide your decision on whether or not to spay.

📈 Behavioural Development and Timing

Both episodes focus on how hormones affect behaviour as your dog matures. In male dogs, we discuss how testosterone influences their natural development and what happens when you neuter too early or too late. For females, we examine how their heat cycles can bring out behaviours like increased guarding or moodiness and how timing a spay can influence these behaviours.

👀 Training vs. Surgery

While neutering or spaying is often recommended for managing behavioural issues, we challenge this idea by diving into the root causes of those behaviours. Many issues blamed on hormones can actually be addressed through proper training and behavioural management. We stress that understanding your dog’s needs and working with their natural behaviours can sometimes be more effective than surgery alone.

🐕‍🦺 Living with Multiple Dogs

Do you have multiple dogs, particularly females? We discuss how hormonal dynamics change in a multi-dog household and what you should consider when deciding on spaying or neutering. Female dogs, in particular, can have fluctuating dynamics with other females during their heat cycles, which makes understanding these hormone-driven behaviours even more crucial.

Why You Should Listen/ Watch

Whether you’re considering neutering or spaying, or just want to know more about how hormones affect your dog’s behaviour, these episodes are packed with practical insights. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of your dog's behaviour, and whether surgery is the right choice for your furry friend—or if training and behavioural adjustments are the better solution.

🚀 Don't miss out—catch both episodes on your favourite podcast app or watch them on YouTube!

Support Us

If you find the Wagging Tales Podcast helpful, consider supporting us through our Patreon page to help us keep improving the show and bringing on expert guests.

Sponsored by Noble Canine | www.noble-canine.com

Follow us on social media for more tips and insights:

• Facebook: Noble Canine HQ

• Instagram: @noble.canine

• YouTube: Noble Canine