Neutering and body odour

[Puppywithattitude]

Looking to get our 3 year old neutered, he is lead reactive and the vet has suggested he might improve?
I also wondered if he is likely to smell less? Sometimes he is really whiffy it's quite unpleasant.

If he's genuinely reactive because he's scared of other dogs then neutering is likely to make him worse.

The smell is more likely to be related to food, potentially an ear infection, literally nothing related to being neutered or not.
I would speak to a trainer about his lead reactivity before making any decisions about neutering.

We've done the behaviourist route, he was bitten a few times when he was a puppy so seems to have developed a 'stay away' attitude when he is on lead. He has improved slightly but appears to recognise the breeds that bit him.
Dh is reluctant to 'butcher' him, but day care kennels won't take him now he's older and still intact and he's missing out socialising.

Mine smelled less after neutering. It seemed to be coming from his feet. He still smells though.

I don't think it's his food, he's on hypoallergenic kibble and has no odd foods as he doesn't tolerate stuff well.
The smell isn't constant but when it's bad it's bad, I thought it might be linked to hormone surges perhaps

Bumping for potential vets.

We've done the behaviourist route, he was bitten a few times when he was a puppy so seems to have developed a 'stay away' attitude when he is on lead
He has improved slightly but appears to recognise the breeds that bit him
Dh is reluctant to 'butcher' him, but day care kennels won't take him now he's older and still intact and he's missing out socialising
If he’s scared of other dogs why are you socialising him at daycare?!
He’d surely be far happier not interacting with other dogs..?
And I agree with a PP, if he’s fear aggressive neutering will probably make him worse not better

He hasn't been to day care for some time.
He plays well with other dogs but he hates being on a lead if he sees another dog.

I would suggest trying the suprelorin implant before castration it is a chemical implant that lasts 6 or 12 months that reversibly chemically castrates the dog. After the implant wears off or if you remove it the effects disappear in 4-6 weeks.
I have used it in several entire dogs to test the waters for castration where there is a serious concern of it worsening behaviour I insert it under sedation under the skin of the inner thigh so it can be easily found and removed if necessary.
Ordinarily it can be done in a routine consult in the scruff like any other injection.

Is smell linked to testosterone? I’ve been wondering this about my rather stinky 6 month old boy?

If he has the potential to be aggressive I wouldn't go down the route of permanent castration.

Can you try the implant or injection for a few months so you can see whether it will make any kind of difference to his behaviour?

You don't want to risk castration if it makes it all worse.

He's never done anything other than bark aggressively if he is on a lead and is another dog is approaching.
Never gone in for a first bite, but will defend himself.