20 month old schutzhund male - this is when I decided to decide on neutering

ayoitzrimz · 11-21-2011, 04:31 PM

Dont know what to do...

He's obviously not going to be a world champion dog - his grips are not and never will be full, he doesn't have much (true) defense drive and works solely out of prey (I have a great helper in our club and even he cant bring the D out of him) and so I don't know what to do.

He's now 20 months old, perfectly behaved around the house, good on-leash / off-leash, no excessive marking, no wondering, great recall, just an awesome companion.

So now's the time I decided to neuter him when he was a puppy (I wanted to wait until after 18 months). And I have to make a decision...

No issues with other dogs but he does challenge unfixed males (he's ok with fixed males).

Don't know what to do - I know being intact helps in the sport but I want to be responsible, I want to do the right thing, and I kind of want to shut the vets up and have them leave me alone about it already...

Oh also, I'll never breed him - too many health issues (allergies) and I'm not exactly a knowledgeable breeder (I'm barely a knowledgeable owner lol) so I'll leave that one up to the pros...

Don't want to start another neuter / don't neuter thread but I'm just confused and not sure what to do (I wish we could have a do-over button in real life this way I dont have to see this as such a large decision).

dawnandjr · 11-21-2011, 04:36 PM

So your wondering if neutering him will change the way he is in Schutzhund (for the worse), since he has no (to little) defense drive. Or will leaving him intact help bring out the defense drive or at least not hinder it?

ShenzisMom · 11-21-2011, 04:38 PM

Do what is best for YOU and YOUR DOG. Not the vets.

southernfiction · 11-21-2011, 04:56 PM

Amen, Cassie. This is a totally personal decision. What I'm reading is that you really, really don't want to have him neutered. So don't. If you need to later, then you'll know.

elisabeth_00117 · 11-21-2011, 05:07 PM

This sounds like my male!

Like, to a "T"!

Personally, I am keeping my male intact, just because I believe it is a healthier choice for him.

He will be 3 years old in April.

BowWowMeow · 11-21-2011, 05:17 PM

If this were my dog I would neuter him for health reasons and also so that I wouldn't ever have to worry about an accidental mating.

I think you're going to get every opinion in the book on here though so I guess you'll just have to make an informed decision.

GSDElsa · 11-21-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayoitzrimz

I know being intact helps in the sport but I want to be responsible, I want to do the right thing, and I kind of want to shut the vets up and have them leave me alone about it already...

Do what you want to do............this will turn into a debate, just so you know

(kidding...hopefully)

However, why do you think this?? I"ve never heard of such a thing. OK, maybe doing it early would make him mature less "manly." But once development is done, I can see no legtimate reasoning that staying intact helps with SchH.

Virginia · 11-21-2011, 07:42 PM

I've heard that police like to use intact male dogs for patrol K9s because they are more aggressive. I'm not sure I buy it completely though. All the facets of temperament are more complex than a simple correlation between testosterone and X,Y and Z.

Mrs.K · 11-21-2011, 08:04 PM

I wouldn't even want my dogs to be worked in defense....

Draugr · 11-21-2011, 08:08 PM

If you don't want to, then don't. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders concerning the necessity (or lack thereof) of breeding him, so as long as you can manage him, I don't see the need.

You definitely shouldn't succumb to the vet's bullying (forgive me for the assumption but from how you phrased it, that is what it sounds like is going on).

Shenzi's mom said it best. Do what is best for you and your dog. Not anyone else.

11-21-2011, 04:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
ayoitzrimz Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New York, NY Posts: 503	20 month old schutzhund male - this is when I decided to decide on neutering Dont know what to do... He's obviously not going to be a world champion dog - his grips are not and never will be full, he doesn't have much (true) defense drive and works solely out of prey (I have a great helper in our club and even he cant bring the D out of him) and so I don't know what to do. He's now 20 months old, perfectly behaved around the house, good on-leash / off-leash, no excessive marking, no wondering, great recall, just an awesome companion. So now's the time I decided to neuter him when he was a puppy (I wanted to wait until after 18 months). And I have to make a decision... No issues with other dogs but he does challenge unfixed males (he's ok with fixed males). Don't know what to do - I know being intact helps in the sport but I want to be responsible, I want to do the right thing, and I kind of want to shut the vets up and have them leave me alone about it already... Oh also, I'll never breed him - too many health issues (allergies) and I'm not exactly a knowledgeable breeder (I'm barely a knowledgeable owner lol) so I'll leave that one up to the pros... Don't want to start another neuter / don't neuter thread but I'm just confused and not sure what to do (I wish we could have a do-over button in real life this way I dont have to see this as such a large decision).

11-21-2011, 04:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
dawnandjr Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Macedon, NY Posts: 1,054	So your wondering if neutering him will change the way he is in Schutzhund (for the worse), since he has no (to little) defense drive. Or will leaving him intact help bring out the defense drive or at least not hinder it? __________________ Dawn Brogan German Shepherd Yoko von der Burg Austerlitz pedigree information http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/germ...html?id=713938

11-21-2011, 04:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
ShenzisMom Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Brampton, ON Posts: 839	Do what is best for YOU and YOUR DOG. Not the vets. __________________ -Cassie Handler For: Shenzi: Female GSD Zira:Female Dobermann

11-21-2011, 05:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
elisabeth_00117 Crowned Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 7,246	This sounds like my male! Like, to a "T"! Personally, I am keeping my male intact, just because I believe it is a healthier choice for him. He will be 3 years old in April. __________________ Battleborn Hundesport Wild Winds Archangel Raphael "Stark", HIC (2009-04-10) Wild Winds Zephyr "Zefra" (2011-04-15) *Beau* 03/08/97 to 06/07/10

11-21-2011, 05:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
BowWowMeow Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 14,793	If this were my dog I would neuter him for health reasons and also so that I wouldn't ever have to worry about an accidental mating. I think you're going to get every opinion in the book on here though so I guess you'll just have to make an informed decision. __________________ Ruth & the 4 Legged Rescue Gang Rafi the malaroo http://www.dogster.com/dogs/693238 Gio & Varda, the krazy kittens ....In my heart: Cleo Kitty Chama Kai Basu Massie

11-21-2011, 04:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
southernfiction Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: central Mississippi Posts: 90	Amen, Cassie. This is a totally personal decision. What I'm reading is that you really, really don't want to have him neutered. So don't. If you need to later, then you'll know.

11-21-2011, 07:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Virginia Master Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 650	I've heard that police like to use intact male dogs for patrol K9s because they are more aggressive. I'm not sure I buy it completely though. All the facets of temperament are more complex than a simple correlation between testosterone and X,Y and Z.

11-21-2011, 08:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mrs.K Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6,381	I wouldn't even want my dogs to be worked in defense....

11-21-2011, 08:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
Draugr Master Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 677	If you don't want to, then don't. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders concerning the necessity (or lack thereof) of breeding him, so as long as you can manage him, I don't see the need. You definitely shouldn't succumb to the vet's bullying (forgive me for the assumption but from how you phrased it, that is what it sounds like is going on). Shenzi's mom said it best. Do what is best for you and your dog. Not anyone else.

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