Enzo’s Story: Why I Love Chemical Castration

Are you considering castrating your dog? Or maybe you’ve heard of chemical castration and wondered what the fuss is about?

Let me tell you about my Border Collie, Enzo, and why chemical castration was the best decision we made for him.

Puppy Perfection… For a While

Enzo is a 3-year-old Border Collie. When he was a puppy, he was the dream. Super clever, eager to learn, loved people, loved dogs—basically the kind of pup that makes you think, “Wow, I’ve nailed this dog ownership thing.”

And then… adolescence arrived.

When It All Kicked Off

Around 18 months, things started to unravel. Enzo suddenly found life a lot.

• He became super over-aroused, brain switched off, couldn’t think.

• Around certain women, he’d start licking, chattering (the Flehmen response for the nerds among us), and eventually humping. His whole face would flush red/pink like a teenage boy at his first school disco.

• He got reactive—especially with other entire males.

• At home, he became more territorial.

Basically, my clever little puppy turned into a hormonal hot mess.

Enter: Chemical Castration

We decided to try chemical castration. Honestly? It was brilliant—at first.

After about 6 weeks, the difference was clear. Enzo seemed happier, calmer, and finally able to make decisions without his hormones running the show. It felt like we’d given him some breathing space.

But here’s the twist…

The Downside Nobody Warned Me About

Testosterone isn’t just about humping and marking—it’s also confidence. And when you take it away, sometimes the cracks start to show.

Enzo became more anxious around strangers. He even had a couple of moments where he growled and air-snapped when people tried to touch him. Not because he was “bad,” but because he was scared and no longer had that hormonal cushion of confidence.

So we went back to basics.

Rebuilding Confidence

We spent months building Enzo back up:

• Teaching him to move away when uncomfortable instead of getting stuck.

• Giving him permission to say “no thanks” when strangers wanted to pet him.

• Advocating for him (because really, why does every stranger in a pub feel the need to touch your dog?).

Over time, his confidence returned. And when the implant wore off, he actually got even better.

The Long Game

When the first implant ran out, some of the old issues—like reactivity towards males—crept back in. So we gave him a second.

Now, after the second implant has worn off, Enzo is a happy, confident, entire male. He’s finally able to live with his testosterone, not be ruled by it. The implants gave his brain the time to catch up with his body during that stormy adolescent stage.

Why I’m a Fan

Chemical castration wasn’t a “quick fix.” It was a tool that gave Enzo (and us!) the space we needed to help him grow into the dog he is today.

It:

• Gave him a break from being overwhelmed by hormones

• Gave us time to train, support, and build him back up

• Was temporary—so we could see how it suited him without committing to permanent surgery
  

Now, at 3 years old, Enzo is a confident, sociable, entire male. And I truly believe that chemical castration played a huge role in helping him get here.

If you’re weighing up neutering, I’d say this: don’t assume it’s the only option. Chemical castration might just give your dog the breathing space they need to let their brain catch up with their body—just like it did for Enzo.