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by Blitzen on 29 October 2008 - 15:10
I don't think this vet wants to neuter him now, does he?
Anyway, if the testicle is retained, it should be removed, but I don't see the rush to do it. If you are concerned that he develops all his male characteristics like a bigger head then you can wait a few years. If you don't care about that and if he's showing any aggressive tendencies, then I'd think about doing it a lot sooner. There is also the option of removing the retained testicle and letting the other in the scrotum. I'm not sure why anyone would do that with a pet, but some think it's the right thing. My son's Pomeranian had one retained testicle, they never had it removed, he lived to be 16.
I'm going to disgree with the advice to not allow him to sleep in bed with your kid. If he's not an aggressive dog and if your only goal is to have a great companion for your family, I don't see anything wrong with that. I've had dogs sleeping with me and my kids for 50 years. You might find that as he gets older, he will get too hot on the bed and may crawl off after an hour or 2. Right now he's bonding with your child and I can't help but think that's a good thing. Just watch him for signals that he's starting to get too cocky...things like growling at family members for no good reason or acting aggressive when you try to make him get off the bed. In that case, you will need to get him some training. That's not a bad idea in any case, GSD's tend to get bored if left to their own devices and a bored GSD is not a whole lot of fun to live with.
Good luck, you have picked the best breed there is for kids and to be a great family dog.
by tigermouse on 29 October 2008 - 15:10
I know that you love your puppy, but what you do now with him is vital to his development .
You need to be alpha and alpha says what goes:)
I assert my dominance by setting boundary's, these boundary's are there to help the pup understand who is the boss.
I always crate puppy's, for there own safety more than anything, it also helps with potty training so IMO is the best thing to do.
He will cry and make a fuss the first few nights but just ignore him he will learn.
make the crate a nice safe place to be warm blankets toys and chews and he will learn to love his crate. I have a job getting mine to come out LOL
Basic training I begin from as soon as they can walk!! start him now sit, down, stay, heel, and recall you need to be consistent and fair that is the key to training a good dog. corrections should be a firm "NO" never shout or smack just the word no should be enough for a young pup, use a solid collar NOT A CHECK check chains damage puppy's bones.
And keep the corrections on lead really mild.
remember he can only do what he has properly understood. if he cant do it he probably hasn't understood what you want
Whatever you do be consistent and don't let puppy win.
Here are my rules
NEVER
let him sleep in bed or go upstairs without permission
let him jump up
feed him at the table
allow him to do anything that you don't want him to do when he is older
and above all you must never give in, dogs are masters at playing mind games, if it works ONCE it will work again
let him walk through a door before you.(sounds silly but you are the boss you go first)
let him bite you , might seem funny when he is a pup but not when he is a fully grown dog!!!
by kountryangel on 29 October 2008 - 15:10
No not now , they want to remove it....but if it doesnt come down they want to at about 6 months...I will do whatever is best for my baby...hes such a loving puppy....I have 3 other dogs..a havanesse..a golden..and a mix,he gets along with all of them..but I have had to stop the rough play in the house..hes 11 weeks and 29 lbs..so the poor havanesse...He listens really well....I live on a farm and hes outside most of the time....I was wondering if i need to leash train him..he will be a free roaming dog,like the others...and to protect the yard.
by tigermouse on 29 October 2008 - 15:10
my post got cut off:( it was meant to say.....
enjoy him he looks like a real sweetie
Kind regards,
Tracie
by Kerschberger on 29 October 2008 - 21:10
http://kerschberger.com/Health.htm
kountrangel, this subject is so near my heart so just read this when you have time and you can contact the vet whom did the research.
by GregN on 29 October 2008 - 22:10
I have a 17 month old that has the same problem, he's currently in SchH training and is doing quite well. When he reaches 2 yrs old, I will have just the undecended testicle cut out. He will get to keep his one testicle. Some vets will want to take both, but some will take out the affected one. If you want to try to avoid the surgery in the future, get the hormone (HCG) therapy before he is 12 weeks old, which means now, as your chances will greatly be reduced if you wait any longer. If you do the hormone therapy and it comes down, you will never know if it would have decended on its own so the dog should not be considered breed worthy. Since you know you won't be breeding, I would go for the therapy but It would be your responsibility to make sure the dog is registered as such (limited registration). This was all recommended by a vet who is a reproductive specialist in Warrenton, VA. He did say he's personaly has seen dogs drop their testicle up to one year of age and he recommended taking the undecended testicle out at the 2 year mark. hope this helps
by kountryangel on 29 October 2008 - 22:10
I wanted to thank you all for your kind words,support. and info....and my baby boy thanks you to.
by weberhaus on 30 October 2008 - 00:10
I was wondering if i need to leash train him..he will be a free roaming dog,like the others...and to protect the yard.
Because of what you said about being a FREE Roaming dog i would make sure he gets neutered so that he is not out there making unwanted puppies and posibly passing on the undecended testical trait. If he gets mature and knows what to do with his Stuff that he does have he will go find a Female in Heat.
by jc.carroll on 30 October 2008 - 02:10
> I was wondering if i need to leash train him..he will be a free roaming dog,like the others...and to protect the yard.
Yikes! Of course he needs to be leash-trained!
Free roaming dogs almost never die of old age. I used to live where it was perfectly legal to shoot a free-roaming dog, regardless of whether or not it was on your property, under the cause of "it was chasing deer." (Used to live where hunting deer with dogs was strictly illegal.) Between cars, the tendancy for dogs to roam further and further as they grow (neutered or not), and a variety of other factors I do not advocate letting a GSD, or any dog for that matter, free roam unless he has been exceptionally well trained to know exactly where his boundaries are, and not to cross them.
Whether or not he free-roams, he still needs to be leash trained for the basic things like going to the vet, any time he might need to be taken off property... leash training, like simple training (come, sit, down, stay, no biting, etc) is just one of the basic essentials that all dogs must know.
In public many places have leash-laws. Even if your dog doesn't need one to stay with you, having him on one will be obeying local laws; and given the misconception many people have of GSDs, I find it's just safer to have your dog leashed and not need it, then loose and suddenly get into legal trouble.
I start training my pups with basic obedience at 6-weeks. ('come, sit, down.) Once they master that I start working on more advanced stuff. It's never too early to get your dog used to having good manners, regardless of whether he will be sport, show, or pet.
As for the bed-bit: my dogs are allowed on the bed ONLY when invited, and they must get of without complaint if I tell them too. If they get up without permission, I just tell them no, and shove them back over the side 
Same thing with the couch.
On other thing I just consdier basic manners: waiting till the food is placed on the floor, and they're given permission to dig in, and allowing me to take their dish / reach into it / basically respect my right to do whatever I want with their dish and and politely yield to anyone in the family who comes near it. (Especially important if you have small kids!!!)
by kountryangel on 30 October 2008 - 03:10
were we live there is no one around for miles...and my other dogs know the boundaries of where they can go,but theres not really any where they cant,...and theres no main road that enters our land..you have to cross like 3 texas gates...had my male for 8 yrs and hes still here coz theres no where he can get hurt....my main thing is to have a safe happy dog,,,,so he wont be breeding anything...and hes only 11 weeks so i hope it comes down still...fingers crossed.....he knows sit,stay,down,..and i play with his food when he eats like i did my other male...and he is ok with ithe knows no rough housing in the house..he listens very well...i tell him like 4 times not to do something...never yelling and he gets it,,,,,,but yes the leash training i may do...as it would make it easier for the vet visits...he wont leave the farm,but only for the vet visit....thanks again
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