Calling all neutered male GSD owners

[Good_Karma]

The title of this thread could be interpreted two ways lol.

Anyway, we waited until our male was one year old. I think he still has a masculine face/features. We never really had many problems with marking or humping, so I can't say whether the surgery did anything to reduce these behaviors.

[Franksmom]

I had Frank neutered at 8 mos. No problems with humping or marking.
He started having some aggression issues with other intact males when he would see them. Some would say it's a training issue, to me it's a training issue that is driven by the hormones, stop the hormones and the training is easier.
He will be 3 in April and is starting to fill out real nicely, nobody ever mistakes him for a female so I guess he looks male. His breeder said his father wasn't completely filled out till the age of 4, so he seems to be right on track even though he was neutered at 8 mos.

[msvette2u]

it's a training issue that is driven by the hormones, stop the hormones and the training is easier.

This is the bottom line! I think it takes people who've neutered their bossy, bratty boys to recognize the difference!

[Bear GSD]

I neutered Bear at 6 months. My breeder suggested 18months, but I knew that he was going to do occasional doggie day care and boarding and they will not allow intact males beyond 6 months where I live to participate in day care if they are not neutured. The local Humane Society where we took classes also does not allow
unaltered dogs to take classes after the age of 6 months either.

I personally, if the situation was different would have waited, but I am not unhappy that I did it sooner and IMO Bear looks very masculine if you ask me.

[Stosh]

Stosh was neutered at 21 mos. My vet advised me to do it just before 24 mos or not at all. He didn't display any bad boy behaviors so I was tempted not to neuter at all, but since we go to herding trials I thought it was better to be safe than sorry. He still doesn't lift his leg to pee and he's 3 yrs old

[Cassidy's Mom]

I had planned to have Keefer neutered sometime after a year old, but no more than 2 years old, with no particular set point within that range. I ended up having it done at 15 months old. I never noticed a change in HIM as he matured, but I was starting to notice that other dogs were reacting to him differently, and I didn't want that to have a negative effect on his behavior.

We would go to the off leash park every weekend to throw balls for the dogs and let them swim, and he'd always been very social around other dogs. One day he was snarked at by other dogs 4 times, and I know that none of was because of anything he did. One of the times he was charged when he was in the middle of pooping, and another time I know he didn't even see the other dog before it was suddenly in his face. Whether or not it had anything to do with his hormones I can't say for sure, but I was concerned that if if continued he might develop a "get 'em before they get me" mentality, and since he was close enough to a year and a half old I went ahead and made the appointment.

[doggiedad]

i've never neutered my dogs and i've never had any
problems with spraying, humping, dominance, etc.

[doggiedad]

rotfl!!!

Originally Posted by Good_Karma

>>>> The title of this thread could be interpreted two ways lol.<<<<

Anyway, we waited until our male was one year old. I think he still has a masculine face/features. We never really had many problems with marking or humping, so I can't say whether the surgery did anything to reduce these behaviors.

[GatorBytes]

You have to factor health (future) in this too, not just behaviour or "appearances"

Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs Dogs Naturally Magazine

Interview w/ Dr. Sue - Cancer Vet
Dr Sue Cancer Vet | Angry Vet

she recommends
"to neuter males sometime between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four months"

and
Don't Make This Mistake When Scheduling Your Dog's Neutering Procedure

[robk]

GatorBytes, are you trying to get this thread locked? Once I tried to bring up scientific research concerning the cons of spay/neuter and the thread was locked immediately.