Life after neutering...... - Page 1

 My 6 1/2 month old GSD pup has been diagnosed with bilateral cryptorchid, his testicles never dropped. I know that in time, I will need to have him neutered, but I intend to hold off on that for as long as possible. 

Now, I have never experienced owning a neutered dog and I don't know what to expect in terms of overall changes in behavior and attitude about life, etc. I think I know how I would react. ;>)
Anyway, I know he can't be a show dog, nor used for breeding, obviously.
Once I have him neutered, what might I expect in temperament changes, drive, trainability, motivation, energy etc.?   If he makes the grade, can he still compete in Schutzhund?    Will he be less trainable in protection work?   Will he grow up to be fat, lazy and uninterested?
I will appreciate any and all advisements on this unfortunate turn of events...

Hi Gator!

Well, in my own experience I neutered our West German working line male when he was 18 months.

He was more annoyed by the Elizabethian collar than anything else, I took that off and he never looked back. :D

He's still got all his drive on the Schutzhund field and is a nice good weight that he carries without problems.  In my experience you have a lot (not everything I know folks, calm down) to do with your dog's drive.  Lots of play, lots of keep away with a special toy and then more play after that.

Not fat and lazy unless you over feed him and give him a couch.    The last couple males I had neutered did not affect them at all, they were pets but full speed ahead and protection pets.  I'm working two spayed females now and it really doesn't affect their work or drives!

It changes some more than others.  Jack, (deceased) never changed him one iota.  Josh, thankfully, it did change him... I've never known testosterone (sp) be such a problem in a dog, he was a nightmare!  Buddy,  still "asks" every dog he meets for sex bless him... he's not bothered about the gender either, he'll be 12 in four months.  None of mine have been / are fat!

I never noticed any change with neutering.  I think it's a myth to assume it "calms them".  I had a high drive lab that was no different after neutering.  Quite honestly he probably will not even notice he'd been "altered", especially since there was nothing "swinging" down there in the first place. LOL  You don't miss what you aint ever had!

I think he will be just fine and still the same loveable guy you've grown to adore.

Personally I don't think much changes - my last Schutzhund dog was neutered at 4 and he did just fine, before and after. He got neither fat nor lazy, and I didn't notice any particular change in his attitude or activity level. A friend of mine said that the best sport dog she ever owned was a neutered, very tough, rescue GSD. He got every title available - pronounced in protection -in both Schutzhund and Ringsport........ I'm sure that many will tell you dogs need the hormones for protection work, but I would give it a shot nonetheless if that is what you want to do with your fellow. (I've seen intact males wimp out on the protection field BTW.)  For many people - men probably more than women LOL - neutering seems to be a giant psychological hurdle to overcome. I don't think you can look at it in the same way you look at it with people -  your dog is not going to end up with a falsetto bark and feminine characteristics! If he doesn't do as well as you had hoped for, maybe he wasn't cut out for Schutzhund anyway -  in which case, in this day and age there are many other sports you can consider..........

I know you are feeling bad right now, and  are very disappointed with the way things have turned out for your boy. But I would suggest that you start moving forward, and if SchH is what you want to do then go out and do it - he may surprise you!!!

The changes you might note, if any, are going to be almost exclusively what you bring to the equation. Keep him lean, give him proper exercise and intellectual stimulation, proper and extensive socialization, and do Schutzhund with him and enjoy him. Assuming he has the drives to do work now, and assuming you know how to bring those to the forefront and develop them, there should be no changes and no limitations except for not being able to show and breed. Neutering is not the worst thing that could happen to this dog, or to you either....lol.

Personally I think it bothers the owners more than the dog! All ours are neutered/spayed not one fat/lazy dog here! As far as drive for working, no issue there whatsoever my dogs would play/work all day if I'd let them.  We did their BH and now are onto Utility in AKC obedience.  Just on a side note, our neutered Shepherd actually caught one of our rescues dogs that were in heat so it certainly doesn't stop everything! And this boy was neutered at 6 months of age.

You are definately making the best decision for your dog also the earlier you get it done the easier the surgery on him. Your vet might also want to do an ultrasound to find out where they are, they can certainly travel a bit! One of the rescues it took the vet over an hour to find one testicle. He had alot of pain and stitches etc he was also 2 years old and it would have been much easier on him if he had been done younger.

Amy

Other than my current intact male Trigger, I've had all my Shepherds neutered over the years. Didn't really notice much difference with any of them except they all sounded like Chiwauauas afterwards. Just kidding :)

My dutch was spayed due to she had several faults pregn. after her heat and could not think. She still is a high drive. The only thing that has stopped her at the age of 9 is having having a platelet issue.