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My young male dog is aggressive and protective. Will neutering help?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Miniature Pinscher | Male | unneutered | 5 months and 13 days old | 8 lbs

I have 2 litter mates, Mega & Radio. Mega is much bigger than Radio (he was the runt), and sometimes he can be extremely rough with him. They are 5 months (mini pins). Mega started becoming protective over me, & aggressive to others (puberty). The first time I noticed was when he charged at a visiting family member. Since then he tries to charge at neighbors. He's jealous when Radio play with toys or get attentions. Treats don't work with guest. Time outs aren't effective. Will neutering help?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jeffrey Milner

Veterinarian

Published on June 18th, 2017

Now is the best time to neuter them both. Neutered males are more docile and make better pets. When they reach sexual maturity at around 6 months and their hormones go into full swing so to speak, they may act aggressive toward other males and want to become dominant in the household. If you wait too long, neutering will not help. I suggest neutering all dog sin the house as soon as possible, then the hormones will die down in a few weeks. At this time, implement a training program with a trainer or by doing some research. The behavior will most likely get better, but that is not definite. Neutering with combined training is your best plan to change his behavior. .

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on December 18th, 2016
We actually have a great article on our website that explains exactly how to housetrain a dog: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining/0 Feel free to read over it, then post again if you have specific questions after that :)

Aggression between dogs in the same household is a complex behavior issue that is a bit beyond the scope of what we can cover in this format - feel free to request a one-on-one consultation with one of us if you want to discuss your situation in more detail, as we would need quite a bit more information about both of your dogs, their history, how they behave around each other, etc. to make any specific suggestions. If you prefer not to do a consultation through the website, I would encourage you to get in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate both dogs in person and help you come up with a step-by-step training plan to address the problem. You can search for a behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

In the meantime, I would recommend keeping the dogs separated to avoid any injuries and prevent making the problem worse until you can get an appointment with a professional to help you.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 26th, 2019
If his problem is aggression due to testosterone, then after neutering it can take up to 6 weeks for the testosterone levels to go down. If it has not been at least that long since his neuter then you should give him more time.

When you do introduce dogs, you need to do so in a neutral territory and then take both dogs from that neutral area to your house. If that does not work to lessen the aggression then I suggest you consult with a professional, in-home dog trainer in your area to help you work this through.

I like Bark Busters and they have a trainer in your area. Don't quote me on this but I think they do a free evaluation.

( https://www.barkbusters.com/dog-training-phoenix-westvalley )

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why is my male dog aggressive towards other dogs? Does neutering help?

Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. Because of this, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Certainly male dogs who are not neutered are more prone to fighting and aggression. Neutering him may help but it will not likely solve all the problems. Best of luck.

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Will neutering help my aggressive dog brothers stop fighting?

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My male dog is hormonal and snapping. Will neutering help him calm?

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My 7-month-old dog is humping and aggressive at night. How to stop?

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