Hi:  I too have a very large (115) male shepherd that sounds like he could be  your dogs brother.  He does not seek the company of people, especially kids, or other dogs,  he is purely my boy, a serivce dog at that;  which defines aggression differently, he is only allowed one bite period and he will have to retire.  Believe me, I take him very seriously.   He is terrible at the vet, I only muzzle him and make them keep him muzzled, I have not left him at a vet since he was neutered (at 10 months old as he is a monorchid (forgive my spellling)  and YES YOU HAVE TO GO UP INTO THE DOGS STOMACH ETC. area to find the other testicle due to that being precancerous. 

Now that you know the history, my concerns for your boy is:  if they plan to keep hun  overnight is someone there all night?  If not, you are better of taking him home that evening.  Why can't they do his surgery earlier in AM and watch him for the day and send him home that evening??

I would definitely get the closest emergency clinics number if you do take  him home, as my boys mother almost bled to death after spaying.  Seutchers did not hold or something and she was 7 years old.  I do believe somewhat unusual though. 

He will hopefully be fine;  but I do share your concerns.  Yes they are trained to handle dogs of this nature, but as said before,  they usually behave once you are gone.  Nanci

Prager:   A Big  10=4 to your thread..Why are you neutering this male..I do not condone it either and have stated this here many times...Prager said it for me no need for me to say more.. He is correct.

YR

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Oh please don't be like the crazy people who come into the clinic I work at and do not want to leave their dogs for any procedures unless they stay. Often times, this just stresses the dog out more. You would be surprised how many 'aggressive' dogs are calm once away from their owners. I would ask your vet if you can bring him in muzzled, stay in the room while they do the pre-surgicial exam (and pre-surgicial blood work if applicable) and then stay while they sedate him. I doubt they will let you be in the room while he is intubated, or while he is coming out of the surgery. Just trust they know what they are doing, and let them do their job. I wouldn't think he should have to stay overnight unless it is an invasive neutering. We normally intake the dog for surgery around 8:30am, and he is ready to go around 4:30pm that same day. Good luck!

with dogs that are a problem, i stay with them until they are sedated, carry them into the o.r. and then leave.  i return when they have recovered sufficiently to go home.  that way the vet and attendants don't have to deal with the dog unsedated.  i have had dogs that are impossible for others to handle and this eliminates the problem.  vets who don't go along with the plan don't get my business.  the last thing i want is for someone to get bit.
pjp
p.s. i have also used muzzles if i think there is any chance of a bite.  better safe than sorry.

Interesting thread Sayth,
Glad you posted this, though it opens a can of worms it is a can that should be explored.  First off I would have written what Two Moons wrote.  I have found that the dog that I have been concerned with leaving at the vets did quite well.  They tell me that he does better with me gone!  Now that is humbling.

Also, like Prager and Yello stated, I do not nueter.  Unless it is necessary to keep the dog alive I do not nueter.  I know this gets a world of flack, but as long as our country remains free, before the animal rights advacates take our rights away, I will not nueter a dog.  Way to much hype that nuetering takes care of all aggression, behavioral problems and on and on.  IMO this is something that has been over stated and propagated by the A.R.A people and missled and uninformed vets. 

It is your choice though, just do a little more research because you can't put them back on this guy if you act hastily.  Good luck.

Oh yea, on the aggression issue, it will depend on how he perceives the world and people around him.  Prager is offering help, take it.  I would caution you though that it may not be simple.  Until one sees and evaluates this dog in person it is hard to say how much work or even if training will fix him.  If there is genetic issues also than its a new ball game.  Give a little more info. 

Sorry Sayth, I did not read your second post.  You cleared up a lot.  I would still give lots of thought to nuetering IMO.  Do some real serious research by unbiased, informed people and unfortunately they are not usually vets.