Will Neutering a Dog Make Him Pee Less?

Intact male dogs will have a higher tendency to mark their territory with pee. Neutering a male dog might make him pee less but it depends on his age, size and how well trained he is.

  1. Significance

    • Marking is a natural behavior, and a dog's pee sends signals to other dogs. His urge to mark is driven in part by the sex hormone testosterone. When a dog is neutered, the testosterone levels drop significantly.

    Misconceptions

    • Inappropriate urine marking is a training issue, and it's perfectly possible to have a house-trained intact dog who never pees inside. However, intact dogs are more likely to mark outside.

    Size

    • Tiny dogs are notorious for being harder to house train than large dogs. It's important to be vigilant about house training and neuter toy dogs when young. If peeing is still a problem, consider a belly band (see Resources.)

    Time Frame

    • Neutering a dog at six months old will have the greatest chance of him peeing less. It's not such a sure thing if he is neutered when adult because peeing can become a learned behavior.

    Benefits

    • As well as possibly curbing marking, neutering a dog may make him less aggressive towards other male dogs, and less distracted if there is a female in heat in the neighborhood.