[empalms]

I think this author is missing a major piece of dog park social norms where spaying & neutering are concerned -- behavioral changes that (ostensibly) arise from de-sexing dogs, particularly in neutering males. Maybe they should ask these other dog park goers _why_ they are so interested in status of their dog's reproductive organs...

In my own anecdotal experience, my male golden retriever (who I've spent considerable time socializing and training since adoption at 8 weeks), started to display some territorial and dominance issues around the 18mo mark. This behavior was particularly apparent around other intact males of equal-to-larger sizes than him, and culminated in a defensive fight with another (intact) lab mix.

I made the choice to schedule his neutering that day.

Since then (~6 months ago), his behavior has mellowed out considerably -- far more so than what I would otherwise attribute to maturing. I try not to judge people that harshly who make the choice not to neuter in the area (urban US city), but at the same time believe too many minimize an intact Fuffy's higher (IMO) propensity for dominant and aggressive behavior in social circumstances. Too often have I heard, 'he's a <retriever/doodle/some other family dog..>, obviously he wouldn't hurt a fly!' and it really grinds my gears.

Having an intact dog in a denser area is a huge responsibility (beyond potential offspring) and good owners should recognize this..especially if they're bringing these dogs into semi-controlled environments with strangers -- who, I'd posit, are more concerned about a harder-to-control Fluffy stepping over the line and their dog getting injured or worse, rather than causing an unexpected pregnancy.

[tw25511315]

The social density aspect is an interesting one. Of course, there is still the option of not having a dog in such an environment. This leads me now to wonder whether it's not a bit selfish to decide to mess with an animal's hormones to get them to conform to an unnatural environment. Not casting aspersions; every dog I've had was spayed/neutered.

[AuthorizedCust]

> This leads me now to wonder whether it's not a bit selfish to decide to mess with an animal's hormones to get them to conform to an unnatural environment.

Do dogs even have a natural environment? Dogs are separated from any natural source by many thousands of years, and done in a way to make them easy for them to be owned by humans.

[Kalium]

At this juncture? I would say a dog's natural environment is among humans.

[YarickR2]

Working/hunting dogs in rural areas (huskies, laikas) are very much in a natural environment, and no hunter in Siberia is going to neuter them.

[empalms]

Idk. I agree with the idea put forth by some of the other posters in that the natural dog environment is amongst humans. To me it’s about the ‘jobs to be done’ fit that’s important for a dog. If they are naturally (for that individual) placed in an environment activity-wise that’s positive for the individual physically and mentally, then density doesn’t seem such a big issue. The hormone messing is a fair point, but behavioral change isn’t the whole picture on sterilization positives, as I expect some with veterinary backgrounds would attest to - simply the one which dog park goers might be most concerned about (in my experience, at least).

Where all this comes in to play for me is that in rural areas there’s a lot more room for activities and less probability to run into ill-fitting or unsocialized/untrained dogs - thus mitigating a lot of social risk.

I think of it as a handicap but city dog ownership is not unattainable, given reasonably modest resources and hard work. I’ve lived in and raised dogs in both urban and rural areas, fwiw

[jeromenerf]

My family never had neutered dogs, male or female, but we were living in a rural area where people and dogs had a "culture" of good practices.

Every households had hunting dogs, guarding dogs, shepherd dogs or just, you know, family dogs. I guess their role in this "society" was much clearer than in dense urban areas.

[hnick]

Interesting the behaviour mellowed after the fact. When we did it for our rabbit - because he'd already become a little grumpy and aggressive bundle of hate - the vet said it's probably too late to revert the changes but at least he won't hump our feet. I'd assumed it's the same for dogs.

[tyg13]

What age was your rabbit? I heard similar things about my ex's rabbit, but he was at least 6 or 7 and much too far gone by that point.

[hnick]

Quite young still but I can't remember exactly. Definitely under 2 years and probably under 1, they mature quickly. He pretty much hates me now (male) but likes my wife, even though I feed him every day.