Only 1 testicle dropped at 12 weeks - Page 1

I have a couple of questions. 

I have a 12 week old male that only has one testicle descended.  Is this serious at this age?  Should I go ahead and have him neutered?  He is from very good bloodlines and I had hoped to breed him...........which leads me to my next question.........

Can a neutered dog compete in Schutzhund?

Bruce Morrison

There is still a possibility the testicle will drop.  You should not get him nuetered at this point.  A nuetered dog can still compete in Schutzhund,. If for some reason his testicle does not drop,  I would wait until 18mos or older to nueter him as hormones play a big role in proper development, both physically and mentally. 

I agree, wait it out.

When is the approximate "deadline" for testicle descention?

If you really like the dog for work, I would wait and if at 6 mo the other testicle is still internal, I would have it removed by a veterinary surgeon.  It will be in the abdomen and it will not be difficult for a good surgeon to remove it.  Then keep the good testicle and work him, as he only needs one to be all male in his brain.  Just do not breed him as one does not breed a monorchid which is what a one testicle dog is called.  Enjoy him in the work and do NOT take away the hormones he will have enough of in the one descended testicle.  If he does not pan out for work requiring bite work, by all means neuter him if you want.  Barb Eichman, M.D. Adlerbach German Shepherds

Eva, I do not believe anyone can give you a "deadline" for testicles to descend.  I've have *heard* (warning - second hand info) that a dog as old as 9 months can have a testicle drop.  From my own personal experience, I had a male pup who at 15 weeks had only 1 in the sack, and the breeder offered a replacement.  Is that too early to make a decision?  Maybe, maybe not. 

In any case, my vet recommended the dog have the undescended testicle removed as it would be more prone to testicular cancer.  However, there was no time table.

To the OP, you can still compete in SchH with a dog with one testicle, two testicles, or three (still waiting to see that), just as you can compete in SchH equally well with a mutt vs a pure bred.  Enjoy training your puppy, and don't sweat it just yet.

Yvette