Quote: Maggie Panucci

I have a girl gsd german shephard and a male, we got them fixed I think at 6 months or before a year as the trainer told us and the vet suggested. We fixed them both because we have a male and female did not plan on breeding we wanted family pets. Both from the same father but different mother. Hope that helps.
Maggie

Well, many people would wait for full growth. But in that situation, I am not second-guessing you in any way, because you had one of each sex in the house.

first I would like to thank everyone for there replies! I should have re-worded my question into a statement. I wouldn't do the pup thing just to have a better pet and I can't remember where I read/heard that before, but pupies were never an option, even if it were, I wouldn't breed for all the reasons my fellow posters mentioned especially the one with full shelters and unwanted animals being put down.
Well Ruby was fixed Thursday and we took Jack our 3 yr old male in and had him done as well. That is the reason....because we had two "live" ones at home!
I'm interested in knowing how much of an effect this will have on Ruby's growth. Can anyone elaborate more on that please? I had a feeling getting this done on Ruby to young might have its cons. I hate altering and it made fell sad that day it was done, but it was on the advice of the Vet so......what do they know?
Oh and btw HI CONNIE it has been a long time since I talked to you! We had to put Adanac down, the wife catheratized for 3 weeks and then the decision was made.........man it was the hardest thing to do and I am just starting now to feel a little less of an ache in my heart! Thanks again everyone and a LITTER was never an option just bad wording in post!!!!!!!
Mark R

We had drak first our male gsd shephard and we fixed him before a year old. We then got holly a year or year and 1/2 later and had her fix about the same time, the vet and trainer suggested to get her fixed before she gets her period.
After we got drak fixed he did after a year calm down and settle, not hyper and not jumpy anymore he became more serious and patient and always waiting for a command.
Holly at 1 yr and 1/2 still jumpy and a little hyper which hopefully will wear off soon. Maybe holly just needs a bit more time to calm down but the question if it made any difference or will make any effect on their growth, I don't think so and every dog is different and may be affected in differetly.
A coworker of mine has 2 german shephards, male and female and got them fixed and she also had previous german shephards which she did not get fix year ago, I will need to ask her because she most likely would know. I will let you know.
Maggie

 Quote: Mark Roland

Oh and btw HI CONNIE it has been a long time since I talked to you! We had to put Adanac down, the wife catheratized for 3 weeks and then the decision was made.........man it was the hardest thing to do and I am just starting now to feel a little less of an ache in my heart!

Oh, Mark, I am so sorry. You and your wife did all you could do. You made the best decision for the dog. I know that. I do hope you don't do ANY second-guessing.

thanks Connie! Second guessing was a daily state of mind for a long time! The biggest "what if" was maybe we should have left him dribble and just kept him outside 24/7 as opposed to letting the surgeon 'sling up' his bladder and not only stop the dribbling but render his bladder totally non-functional because he couldn't empty it and stretched it out like a beach ball.......a daily struggle with that decision still to this second as i write..... I don't know??????? Well we got little Ruby and she is a picture of health keeping our fingers crossed but ready for anything as always thanks again Connie! Mark.

 Quote: mark roland

thanks Connie! Second guessing was a daily state of mind for a long time! The biggest "what if" was maybe we should have left him dribble and just kept him outside 24/7 as opposed to letting the surgeon 'sling up' his bladder and not only stop the dribbling but render his bladder totally non-functional because he couldn't empty it and stretched it out like a beach ball.......a daily struggle with that decision still to this second as i write.....

But ... a house dog suddenly outside 24/7? Yes, plenty of dogs live outside, and very happily..... but one who is accustomed to having life in the family?

Here's the deal, as I see it: You make the best decision you can at the time. (IMHO, it was the best decision, period, but that isn't the point ....)

Abnormal nodules, ripe for pre-cancerous changes..... That guy had so much going on inside.... And yet he still got to have a life with people who loved and cared for him and made the best and most careful decisions for him.

The surgeon too gave it a shot, with the least destructive operation....

And that was all anyone could do.

JMO, Mark. That is how I see it, 100%.

your right Connie, we gave that little guy the best 14 months a dog could dream of......... period. thats it. I guess it would have been alot less if he ended up else where!

Hi Mark
I am very sorry about you having to put your dog down, It must of mean extremely hard for you.

Maggie