I put this in another post and it seems to have generated no interest at all there.  I really found it to be fascinating and you can do the questionnaire with your own dog, if you care to.  Only certain breeds were studied though.  A tip if you like.  I wrote down my answers, intending to repeat after I had accomplished some training exercises.  I didn't get around to re-doing it but if you'd like to you will have to record your answers yourself.  As soon as you go to re-do it your original ones are wiped out.

Below is my post from the other thread.  Hope this is OK.  I can't believe you won't find it interesting.

Is anyone here familiar with the C-BARQ test and data results from analysing it?  This is one synopsis:  http://www.cdoca.org/downloads/files/Early%20SN%20and%20Behavior.pdf  There are papers available on individual topics studied as well but in this one it is possible to see summaries of the results on whether neutering (or spaying) reduces or increased aggression.

You can find more information on C-BARQ here:  http://vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/

I'm really surprised no one has commented on this, or seemingly read it.  I guess no one is a research fanatic like me?

I read some of it but to be honest it went straight over my head, I'm not as bright as some of you on here judging by some of the posts posted at times, or maybe I just love dogs but like you said I'm not that into facts and figures unstuff. :)

Thanks for this survey, Jetstone Jewel, it's fascinating--I take it they selected breeds on the basis of their popularity (and/or possibly breeds known or perceived to have a reputation for aggression)?

Also, how interesting that so few respondents gave their reason for neutering as "required by breeder/shelter." I don't know of a shelter that doesn't insist in neutering animals so can only infer that the study sample have come almost exclusively from breeders. Wouldn't the life experience of coming from a shelter as opposed to a breeder influence the potential for the dog's aggression?

I have to admit I haven't read the full summary yet (I'm supposed to be working on other research today...:) but also wonder about the impact of age at which an animal is neutered...can't wait for a quiet read tonight!!!

To Jay15 - These are all things addressed or explained in the second link.  My understanding is that the survey was developed to help those training service dogs, whether for police work or therapy dogs or whatever, to pick, train and look after in the best way, the best dogs.  Aggression would certainly be a key component, you can't have aggressive seeing eye dogs, but it was not the basis for selection, as a glance at most of the breeds would suggest, I think.  My interpretation.

As to your last point, the age at neutering, exactly what they say, needs to be studied.  The whole area is lacking in study.  This one attempts to make a start.

I'm sure you will enjoy the read.  The first link is mostly a summary.  More in-depth analysis is available in a couple of papers as well.

I had my first GSD castrated when I new no better (he was 4 years old), (I'm on my third dog but I'm still a novice, but I learn loads from here) and it made not a jot of difference to his aggresive behavior (I stupidly thought it would), so that's all the facts I need to persuade anyone thinking of having their dog castrated, solely to stop aggresion, to try and alter the dogs behavior through training instead. That's one thing I have learned through experience.

> Also, how interesting that so few respondents gave their reason for neutering as "required by breeder/shelter." I don't know of a shelter that doesn't insist in neutering animals so can only infer that the study sample have come almost exclusively from breeders.

Not read the links yet but although rescues required my dogs to be neutered I'd never give that as an answer for why they're neutered, I'm sure other people are the same.

I have to admit to only reading it briefly, but for me, the numbers of dogs used in the study is insufficient to produce any realistic results. I must be lucky too, every neutered dog I have ever had (8) doesn't fit with the findings of the study.

"every neutered dog I have ever had (8) doesn't fit with the findings of the study." I don't see how that's possible.  No single category had every dog tested in one extreme or the other.  And there were several areas of interest, it's not possible for your dog to not fit in any of the findings.