Age to Neuter?

[Inziladun]

Hey, I'm trying to decide when to neuter my pup. The vet said 4 to 6 but that just seems so young to neuter. I definitely want my dog fixed, I don't plan to breed him or anything like that, I'm just trying to find out when exactly would be the best time to do it.

My two main concerns is one: him filling out all the way. Not sure if this is justified, but I want to make sure he fills out and gets that nice manly look(lol.) And two: waiting too long whereas he starts exhibiting some undesirable behaviors (such as marking territory, humping, and typical boy stuff.) I know these are all correctable, but if possible it'd be nice to avoid it altogether.

Hoping I could strike a nice happy medium here, I just want the best for my pup.

[Raziel]

HELLO! My boy is 13 months & intact! No problems so far.
I am not breeding him either, I just wanted him to grow properly.
I will be neutering him around 5 to 8 years of age.
Just google "neutering pros & cons."
GOOD LUCK with your boy!!!

[pupresq]

Here is a recent similar thread that might help:
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/ubb...rue#Post1334487

[mjbgsd]

I'd do it between 2-3 years at the earliest.

[Inziladun]

My mom seems to have a heart attack if I even suggest the idea of waiting til he's 2 to neuter. I'm more open to the idea, but I never have had to deal with an unneutered dog before. Mom seems to think the dog will have a huge urge to roam, hump, be more dog-aggressive and just overall will be a bigger handful if I wait too long to neuter him.

What do you guys think about this? Will the dog be a bigger hassle if I choose to wait until he's older to neuter?

[StGeorgeK9]

Actually, regardless of when the dog is neutered, he shouldnt be allowed the opportunity to just roam. Some males get much more dog on dog aggressive, some dont, it depends on the dog, the socialization and the training. IMO.

[selzer]

I agree with Betsy.

[kkalligher]

I have always neutered when my animals were young (under 6 mos). I have always had problems with them; some significant. I currently have an intact 13 month male GSD. He is developing perfectly and I have no social issues. I will not neuter him; ever. He is, by far, the most well adjusted and perfectly proportioned dog I have ever owned and the only one I have not neutered.

[IllinoisNative]

^^^When you say your other dogs had problems because of being neutered, are you talking about behavior problems or health problems?

Because I have two males who were both neutered at six months. I rescued them as puppies and it was required as part of the adoption and I haven't had any behavior problems with them at all. They are good with dogs, cats, kids. They get along with male and female dogs. I haven't had any dominance issues with them because I am the pack leader and they know it. They've never had a fight with other dogs or each other. They are seven and four years old and I've had them both since 9/10 weeks old. I socialized the heck out of them.

If you're talking about health issues, you may have a point...lol. Mine both have allergies. One with food and the other to life. Heh. I've dealt with hemotomas, chronic skin infections, back problems, etc. Although, I'm not sure that has anything to do with whether they were neutered or not. Don't know.

[triordan]

dresden was 10 months old when we had him neutered, he was pretty filled out already and big~