I get many emails asking if they should neuter their males dogs. The answer is not a simple YES or NO. If you ask just about any Vet they will tell you to neuter. Their reasoning is that neutering will control dominance and eliminate unwanted puppies. Both are valid considerations.

I believe that neutering is only going to control dominance if the dog is very young, around 6 months of age. Neutering kind of locks a young dog in puppyhood. If people wait and have a dominance problem or a dog fighting problem and the male is now 12 to 18 months old - neutering is not going to fix this problems. Those people are going to have to read my article on Dealing with a Dominant Dog and follow the directions there.

Dealing with the Dominant Dog eBook

WHAT DOGS SHOULD BE NEUTERED ?

1- I think that people who purchase or acquire a rescue dog should neuter their pets.

2- Many older dogs develop prostrate problems. Neutering is going to help these dogs. It often adds years to their life. I think they should be neutered.

3- People who purchase Rottweilers, or Pit Bulls for pets should consider neutering at 6 months.

4- Working dogs that are born with one testicle should be neutered but not until they are 2 years old. If these dogs are not neutered they run the risk of developing testicular cancer at about 5 years of age. Neutering before 2 years is going to effect the dogs fight drive and working ability. Neutering after 2 years is not going to effect the dogs working ability.

5- Any dog with a retained testicle should be neutered at a young age.

DOGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE NEUTERED:

I do not believe than any dog that is being used for personal protection, police service work or Schutzhund should be neutered (unless they are a monorchid). I may be wrong but I don’t think any working dog should be neutered without a medical reason.

I have found references to studies that have been done that show that males who are neutered have a 65% higher chance of developing bone cancer (females have a 35% higher rate of cancer) I have to be honest I do not know how accurate these are. This particular study related to 745 Rots - 15% of un-neutered males got bone cancer. Those Rots that were neutered had a 65% higher cancer rate.

It is very difficult to purchase a puppy with the hope of developing a stud dog. I can’t pick them and I have bred over 280 litters of working bloodline GSDs. I hate it when people tell me they are going to neuter the puppies they buy from me. I do not try and control what customers do with their pups, but I have seen pups from my kennel that have been neutered that I wish I had not been. I may have tried to breed them. This is the reason I do not agree with Vets that say that everyone should neuter their dogs because of the risk of unwanted puppies. I can honestly say that in 40 years of owning dogs I have only had one accidental breeding.

on Neutering

Question:

Hello,

I call you the "Guru" of German Shepherds and hope you can offer some help to me.  My GSD just had her 2nd (and last) litter of puppies and I'm having a major problem with a family I sold a pup to.  I don't show my dogs or anything like that - they are solely companions and family members.  I'm not a big breeder, as I said this is only our second litter, and it's our last.

This family wanted a show-quality puppy and we gave her an excellent show dog, he will no doubt earn many titles.  He is 9 weeks old tomorrow and has been with the new family for 3 days.  They took him to their vet who is suggesting neutering this puppy b/c he has one testicle that is not yet descended...  This woman is freaking-out and "devastated" and wanted to send him back, etc. b/c of the undescended testicle.  I've told her to please give him a little time, some puppies may not have the second testicle descend until up to 6 months old and it's not a cause for concern, plus he's still very young. 

The owner of the sire, Diana Updike of Von Tasz Shepherds, told them the same; she's been showing & breeding these dogs for over 27 years.  The familoy took this pup to another vet for a 2nd opinion and the was told that it's highly unlikely his 2nd testicle will descend if it hasn't by this age (he's only 9 weeks Sunday and the vet saw him Thursday) and so they are wanting to have him neutered.  I feel like I'm dealing with an ignorant, emotional family and frustrated because I know his testicle will descend shortly; there are NO problems with this in the bloodlines.  Also, in the first litter, the male we kept had the same situation, and his testicle descended by 12 weeks of age.  He's quite well in-tact=))

This family is now refusing to send him back to me according to our contract - basically will not return him b/c they will lose the deposit and have to pay for the shipping charges.  I don't know what to do to get her to calm down and just give him some time and if it doesn't descend, at least wait a couple of years before neutering!!!  She sent me this website to "educate" me.  http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&articleid=897 and is 100% convinced he must be neutered and I fear he will undergo this unnecessarry surgery...

Any advice you have is much appreciated.

Kindest regards,
Mindi

Answer:

You should read my article on Neutering. It is listed in my articles section. I recommend you visit my list of 300 dog training articles. You will find additional information that will help you. I have bred close to 400 litters and in my opinion you are dealing with Vets who lack experience. These are vets who are more interested in your wallet that your dog.

If you neuter the dog all guarantees are void. Then it’s in their hands and not yours.

Kind Regards,
Ed Frawley