Effects of gonadectomy on scent-marking behavior of shelter dogs

In male domestic dogs, castration appears to reduce frequency of sexually dimorphic behaviors, such as mounting and roaming, but results for urine marking, another highly dimorphic behavior, are less clear. Using two different experimental designs, I studied effects of gonadectomy on scent-marking behavior during leash walks of dogs at two animal shelters in NY, USA (Cortland Community SPCA and Tompkins County SPCA). In the between-dog study, I compared intact males and females and gonadectomized males and females with respect to rate of urination (a highly sexually dimorphic behavior), likelihood of ground-scratching (a somewhat sexually dimorphic behavior), and likelihood of defecation (a sexually monomorphic behavior).
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research