What to expect by not fixing him?

Mayor'sHaus · 12-29-2011, 10:19 PM

Hi,

I have a 4 month old working line male and I need to know what to expect in his behavior by not having him neutered. He has been getting a lot of socialization and love from everyone. It seems that half of everyone tells me to fix him and the other half not to. He has imported parents and a line of good hips. I want the possibility of studding him out and getting a pick from the litter in the future. As of now I don't want to fix him but I would like some realistic expectations of what to expect. At what age will I notice any changes? What about aggression??

Also, I would like to do Schutzhund so he may be more valuable as a stud for breeding. Correct me if this is wrong. I am a new GSD owner.

Thanks!

Germanshepherdlova · 12-29-2011, 11:55 PM

As far as what to expect if you don't have him neutered, I have 2 males one is neutered and one is not. The intact male is more dog aggressive than the neutered one. Neither of my dogs roam. I have heard many people say that an intact male would have a desire to wonder mine does not, I can take him out leash free so long as another dog doesn't pass by because then he'd want to fight. Other than that I have no behavior problems to report as far as my intact male is concerned.

My other male was neutered earlier this year, right after he turned 2. His behavior didn't change after being neutered-he is still just as dominant and stubborn as ever.

I think your dogs personality has much more to do with his behavior than if he is neutered or not.

**ILGHAUS** · 12-30-2011, 12:21 AM

I currently have two males.

Younger one is nine years old and neutered at the age of 24 months.

Older one will be eleven years old in about two weeks and is still intact. He was around females in heat and did not break a down stay when so commanded.

Neither dog has ever tried to roam or leave the immediate area when off leash.

The intact male was used in therapy around people with serious mental disabilities, medical equipement, and Alzheimer's patients. He was used as a demo dog in safety classes for young children and mascot for local fire department. He was stepped on, hugged tightly, and had his leashed jerked. He was with me while I was yelled at, bumped into, or thumped on the back by an individual trying to get my attention. He never curled a lip or made a sound or showed any distress or aggression.

He did stand between me and an aggressive individual who was acting in such a manner not related to illness or stress.

My next male will be neutured at approx. 24 months of age after X-rays show full maturity of growth. This dog will also be a dog used in public in many situations and various locations.

Both of my dogs have been safe to have around young children, delicate individuals, and animals of various species.

Veronica · 12-30-2011, 07:44 AM

I only have one dog, my first GSD, and he is 20 months intact. People told me if I didn't get him neutered, he'd be marking everywhere and humping everything. Not so.

There is lots of interesting information out there about waiting to neuter, at least until full physical maturity has been achieved.

At this time, I have no plans to have him neutered, and he is absolutely not breeding material.

Courtney · 12-30-2011, 08:05 AM

My intact male will be 2 in March and he does not do the things that I was warned about..leaving & roaming around, constant marking, humping. We have taken several OB classes and their have been bitches that were coming into heat..not that he didn't notice but he remained focused on me and there were no issues.

Mine will most likely remain intact and would never be bred.

martemchik · 12-30-2011, 09:08 AM

Mine is 17 months and intact, I've heard that personality changes very little after nuetering and the only thing you will prevent is roaming. If you plan on leaving him alone for any period of time in a back yard, then there is a chance he will jump a fence and try to find a female. I live in an apartment so that is not an issue. He has been distracted by a female just coming out of her heat, but he is young and will get better with age.

As with aggression, he is a dominant dog, but does not ever growl/attack first. But if he is provoked by another male growling at him, he will let them know that he is just as big and ballsy.

If your sole reason for not nuetering is that you might want to stud him, I'd take a look at what it takes to get your dog to be a good stud dog. Post a pedigree and people will let you know what kind of female you would be able to match him with assuming you do get him titled.

bocron · 12-30-2011, 09:13 AM

We have 5 intact males. Ranging in age from 2y to 10y, obviously we don't neuter as a rule around here. I never really found that neutering changed behavior that dramatically, but then again how would I know. The males I had neutered (mostly Rotties, back in the 80's when I had Rotties) were all older when I had it done, and they did get mellower, but you could also attribute that to maturity, so one never knows I guess. I will say that the one I had that was a humper didn't give up the habit after he was neutered.

Maria99F4 · 12-30-2011, 09:20 AM

Hi,
i have a 4 and a half moth old shepherd and i am also debating on having him neutered, and was also thinking of having him studded out to have a pick of the litter. however i was also thinking of how smart shepherd dogs are and was thinking of maybe getting a female and breeding them to donate the pups to the police force, search and rescue, and the handy cap. however im not sure if that would work. im gonna wait to have him neutered for a while yet. i had an un neutered male before and he was an amazing dog, i never had any issues with him.

Courtney · 12-30-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maria99F4

Hi,
i have a 4 and a half moth old shepherd and i am also debating on having him neutered, and was also thinking of having him studded out to have a pick of the litter. however i was also thinking of how smart shepherd dogs are and was thinking of maybe getting a female and breeding them to donate the pups to the police force, search and rescue, and the handy cap. however im not sure if that would work. im gonna wait to have him neutered for a while yet. i had an un neutered male before and he was an amazing dog, i never had any issues with him.

You will soon find out why your "plan" is a really bad idea. I can say with 100% certainly a police department will not be interested in your donated puppies.

martemchik · 12-30-2011, 09:36 AM

And the can of worms has opened...

I'll just give you the facts. To get the pick of the litter means you are getting one dog out of a littler of about 10, what is going to happen to the other 9? Police forces/service organizations/SAR people all like to see a proven line of working dogs. They like to see healthy dogs and proven parents. They don't take donations, they purchase their dogs. Many police forces have breeders they tend to go to, they don't just go to someone that has never bred before and ask them for a GSD. Your dog is 4.5 months old, you have no idea what he will be like in 2 months or even 2 years.

I'll leave it at that. Many people don't nueter their males even though they never plan on studding/breeding. It's not hard to control your dog when he's intact if you know what you're doing and are watching your surroundings. Probably 75% of people I have talked to about the topic have said that it doesn't change a grown dog at all, they will still act the same way. They might not get the same reaction from other intact males and so it might prevent those fights/scruffs but many will still hump if they are humpers and dominate if they are alpha type dogs.

12-29-2011, 10:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mayor'sHaus New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 8	What to expect by not fixing him? Hi, I have a 4 month old working line male and I need to know what to expect in his behavior by not having him neutered. He has been getting a lot of socialization and love from everyone. It seems that half of everyone tells me to fix him and the other half not to. He has imported parents and a line of good hips. I want the possibility of studding him out and getting a pick from the litter in the future. As of now I don't want to fix him but I would like some realistic expectations of what to expect. At what age will I notice any changes? What about aggression?? Also, I would like to do Schutzhund so he may be more valuable as a stud for breeding. Correct me if this is wrong. I am a new GSD owner. Thanks!

12-29-2011, 11:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Germanshepherdlova Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 2,935	As far as what to expect if you don't have him neutered, I have 2 males one is neutered and one is not. The intact male is more dog aggressive than the neutered one. Neither of my dogs roam. I have heard many people say that an intact male would have a desire to wonder mine does not, I can take him out leash free so long as another dog doesn't pass by because then he'd want to fight. Other than that I have no behavior problems to report as far as my intact male is concerned. My other male was neutered earlier this year, right after he turned 2. His behavior didn't change after being neutered-he is still just as dominant and stubborn as ever. I think your dogs personality has much more to do with his behavior than if he is neutered or not. __________________ You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Germa...96574693743892

12-30-2011, 12:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
ILGHAUS Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North Central FLorida Posts: 8,296	I currently have two males. Younger one is nine years old and neutered at the age of 24 months. Older one will be eleven years old in about two weeks and is still intact. He was around females in heat and did not break a down stay when so commanded. Neither dog has ever tried to roam or leave the immediate area when off leash. The intact male was used in therapy around people with serious mental disabilities, medical equipement, and Alzheimer's patients. He was used as a demo dog in safety classes for young children and mascot for local fire department. He was stepped on, hugged tightly, and had his leashed jerked. He was with me while I was yelled at, bumped into, or thumped on the back by an individual trying to get my attention. He never curled a lip or made a sound or showed any distress or aggression. He did stand between me and an aggressive individual who was acting in such a manner not related to illness or stress. My next male will be neutured at approx. 24 months of age after X-rays show full maturity of growth. This dog will also be a dog used in public in many situations and various locations. Both of my dogs have been safe to have around young children, delicate individuals, and animals of various species. __________________ TJ Karl's Kids Program Inc Animal Services 2000 Education * Community & Emergency Services Member of Assistance Dog Advocacy Project (ADAP) ADAP Blog

12-30-2011, 07:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Veronica Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SW Michigan Posts: 1,243	I only have one dog, my first GSD, and he is 20 months intact. People told me if I didn't get him neutered, he'd be marking everywhere and humping everything. Not so. There is lots of interesting information out there about waiting to neuter, at least until full physical maturity has been achieved. At this time, I have no plans to have him neutered, and he is absolutely not breeding material. __________________ "Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog." -Charles F. Duran

12-30-2011, 09:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
bocron Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Milton, Georgia Posts: 1,459	We have 5 intact males. Ranging in age from 2y to 10y, obviously we don't neuter as a rule around here. I never really found that neutering changed behavior that dramatically, but then again how would I know. The males I had neutered (mostly Rotties, back in the 80's when I had Rotties) were all older when I had it done, and they did get mellower, but you could also attribute that to maturity, so one never knows I guess. I will say that the one I had that was a humper didn't give up the habit after he was neutered. __________________ Annette Holbrook www.coppercreekdvg.com- All Breed Schutzhund Club Home of Umarek von Hugelblick, my good luck charm!

12-30-2011, 08:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
Courtney Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,922	My intact male will be 2 in March and he does not do the things that I was warned about..leaving & roaming around, constant marking, humping. We have taken several OB classes and their have been bitches that were coming into heat..not that he didn't notice but he remained focused on me and there were no issues. Mine will most likely remain intact and would never be bred.

12-30-2011, 09:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
martemchik Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,049	Mine is 17 months and intact, I've heard that personality changes very little after nuetering and the only thing you will prevent is roaming. If you plan on leaving him alone for any period of time in a back yard, then there is a chance he will jump a fence and try to find a female. I live in an apartment so that is not an issue. He has been distracted by a female just coming out of her heat, but he is young and will get better with age. As with aggression, he is a dominant dog, but does not ever growl/attack first. But if he is provoked by another male growling at him, he will let them know that he is just as big and ballsy. If your sole reason for not nuetering is that you might want to stud him, I'd take a look at what it takes to get your dog to be a good stud dog. Post a pedigree and people will let you know what kind of female you would be able to match him with assuming you do get him titled.

12-30-2011, 09:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
Maria99F4 New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: PA Posts: 14	Hi, i have a 4 and a half moth old shepherd and i am also debating on having him neutered, and was also thinking of having him studded out to have a pick of the litter. however i was also thinking of how smart shepherd dogs are and was thinking of maybe getting a female and breeding them to donate the pups to the police force, search and rescue, and the handy cap. however im not sure if that would work. im gonna wait to have him neutered for a while yet. i had an un neutered male before and he was an amazing dog, i never had any issues with him.

12-30-2011, 09:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
martemchik Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,049	And the can of worms has opened... I'll just give you the facts. To get the pick of the litter means you are getting one dog out of a littler of about 10, what is going to happen to the other 9? Police forces/service organizations/SAR people all like to see a proven line of working dogs. They like to see healthy dogs and proven parents. They don't take donations, they purchase their dogs. Many police forces have breeders they tend to go to, they don't just go to someone that has never bred before and ask them for a GSD. Your dog is 4.5 months old, you have no idea what he will be like in 2 months or even 2 years. I'll leave it at that. Many people don't nueter their males even though they never plan on studding/breeding. It's not hard to control your dog when he's intact if you know what you're doing and are watching your surroundings. Probably 75% of people I have talked to about the topic have said that it doesn't change a grown dog at all, they will still act the same way. They might not get the same reaction from other intact males and so it might prevent those fights/scruffs but many will still hump if they are humpers and dominate if they are alpha type dogs.

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