Male dog castration

[DillieTantie]

I really need some advice and experience here.
We have 2 male dogs. They get along fine. One is 3 yrs, the other is 2 yrs. The older dog is senior in the dog pecking order. This is causing issues when they are out for walks as senior dog seems to make it his mission to protect junior dog, even though junior dog is happily submissive with other dogs and therefore never gets into difficulties. I rarely dare to let senior dog off the lead, as he tends to wander, but felt sorry for him last weekend, and did so. All was fine, until junior dog ambled across to another dog for a sniff. All was fine until senior dog spotted it and hared across the field to rugby tackle the innocent other dog. There was no biting or fighting, he just seemed to want the other dog to be gone.
We are seriously considering castration and have a pre-knackering check-up booked for next week. We do not expect an immediate effect in an adult dog, but we do hope that he will:
a) eventually stop wandering.
b) eventually stop stressing about being top dog and therefore being the protector of junior dog.
I need to ask if these hopes are reasonable? Also, what happens to the dynamic between the two dogs? Will junior dog become top dog? If so, could he go from an easy-going jessie-type dog to being the same protector dog as senior dog is now? We just cannot afford to have them both "done" at the same time, but we could afford a second op in a few months' time.
I would be grateful for advice from anyone who knows about such things.

Hi Dillie,
We've just had our 8mth old Rottie castrated as he was starting to try it on a bit too much but we know castration won't stop behaviour it can only lessen it slightly at best.
If it is your older dogs nature to "protect his pack" then the only way to stop it is to make sure you are the pack leader and not him. Dont' you watch Ceaser Millan? If not you need to :O)
Our Rottie Tyler is a very dominant breed but we trained him from puppyhood that he is the bottom of the chain in the house, the last thing we want is him thinking he needs to take charge because we can't. Oh don't get me wrong, it isn't all roses...he does try to assert himself, especially with me as I am but a lowly female and pregnant LOL but he trusts my partner 100% to deal with "encounters" with other dogs and people which leaves him free to just relax, be friendly and play. He has no need to be defensive as that is my partners and my job and if we don't show any sign that defense is needed then he doesn't worry about it.
I might be wrong but I bet your first natural reaction when you see another dog when your out with your two, or your youngest runs over to say hello is "Oh no, this is going to be trouble" - your eldest will pick up on this as clear as day and take it to mean that if you're worried then its beacuse the other dog is a threat and he must protect against it.
Dogs tend to form better relations quicker without humans around as we just throw confusing signals in to the mix!
I always get Tyler to wait to see how the other owner (not the dog) reacts to our presence, if the owner seems concerned at all then I don't allow tyler to go say hello...if the owner seems relaxed then I give Tyler the release command and let him get on with it. Occasionally of course the other dog may still object to Tylers presence or overenthusiastic play but as soon as they show their displeasure, by a snap or growl, Tyler comes back to me as he trusts me to deal with problems....dogs don't tend to waste their time fighting unless they are really pushed into a corner, defending their teritory or a female in heat or wound up by over stressed owners emenating fear signals.
As for the wandering, if he is going too far you could try treats. Reward him with a treat everytime he comes back to you and lots of praise when you call his name but NEVER shout, loose your temper, shove him immeadiately in the car or punish him if he doesn't as quick as you would like or he will just learn that coming back to you usually results in an end to fun so why should he. Start the treat training at home, in the garden where he can't wander to far, they reckon adult dogs learn "new tricks/commands" after 80 repetitions so perservere. Hopefully he will quickly learn that his name, or a whistle or rattle of a treat bag mean come quickly and you will get a lovely treat!!!
Of course i am no expert, i just watch a lot of ceaser millan LOL but I apply his teachings religiously and they have always worked for us.
I would still recommend the castration too as it will lessen his instinct to protect territory and pack a bit .... but it won't get rid of it, that will take training, so good luck! and let us know how things go
XXX
Pagen