Info on neutering my GSD (see details)?

Question

I have a 4 month old male GSD. At his visit to the vet last week they noticed one of his testicles didn't fall and so he will be getting neutered on Tuesday...(I was planning on getting this done anyway but at 5mon.) I was wondering how this will change his attitude. He has been in obedience school for a 4 weeks now yet still won't walk on a loose leash (he is constantly pulling) Will getting him neutered help with this kind of thing? He isn't sexually mature so I highly doubt he is pulling b/c of the scent of a female. What behaviors will it change other than marking his territory and running off for females once he is sexually mature? Also, what kind of care will be needed after the surgery? Will they give him meds?? I plan on speaking to the vet about all of this but thought I'd see what you all had to say.

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Neutering is good for so many reasons. Unless you are a professional breeder, your dog should be neutered or spayed. There are far too many unwanted dogs in this world, who are neglected, hurt, or killed because of the lack of neutering. So thank you for being a good owner!

You have 2 topics in your question - one is neutering, the other is training. Let's address neutering first.

Your dog's personality will not change at all. I had both my pup's neutered around 6 months of age and they are the same now as they were then - if anything, they are more responsive to me now than before, and more loyal. This is good. My last dog (bless his soul) was neutered at about 4.5 years of age. I waited perhaps out of ignorance and because of $$ (I now know that there are free neutering clinics out there). After neutering, he was a better dog. His desire to roam was gone and he remained very loyal. Neutering him while young is also good - my older dog gained weight after neutering, so I later had to work on his diet.

Bottom line: don't worry about your dog - he'll be just fine after neutering. Your vet may give him antibiotics or pain medication, but he may not give him anything. Usually, vets use stitches that dissove in the body. So you won't even notice anything at all. Your pup may be groggy that day, so let him sleep and don't exercise him for a day or so. Follow your vet's advice carefully.

The second issue is training. Clearly whatever you and your trainer are doing isn't working. I'm a bit surprised that your trainer hasn't changed tactics (you might want to consider another trainer). I recommend a prong collar (NOT a choke collar - those often do not work and can really hurt your dog). A prong collar has little prongs and when used correctly, will give your dog a little "nip" (ask someone to show you how to put the prong collar on your dog and how to use it properly as this isn't very obvious and you can hurt your dog if you don't do it right). This "nip" simulates the nip an alpha dog gives to subordinate dogs when he wants them to obey. I had some problems with one of my pups walking. He failed to walk with a normal collar and he just choked himself with a choke collar. But with a prong collar, my trainer and I got him to be quite a little gentleman. Now, I can walk him without one. So consider changing how you train him for the "heel" command.

Good luck and enjoy your pup!

Answer 2

Neutering won't help with the leash pulling problem but will head off issues of dominance, aggression and chasing after females when he is sexually mature. It will also prevent reproductive diseases.

Most dogs and young dogs especially recover very fast from neutering. He will have a few stitches and the main thing is for him to leave his stitches alone and not exercise heavily for 7-10 days (that's the hardest part). He may be a bit groggy and out of it for a day or so but he'll recover very fast. Look out for any signs of swelling or infection. Overall, he should do fine. He won't need any meds.

Answer 3

Good Things About Neutering:
1] no running off to make puppies
2] less aggressive with other dogs
3] he will still mark his territory - all dogs, male and female, do that
4] it will not raise his IQ; but time, consistency, and patience will improve his obedience
5] You just take him home after surgery - he may still be a little snockered, so don't leave him outside alone
6] they don't give them meds, and the dogs don't seem to mind

Answer 4

uUsually a dog will become more calm after he is neutered. He will be more content just laying at your feet.

The pulling on a leash is probably because he is still young and has lots of energy. Continue taking him to that puppy class, he will learn. Some dogs just learn slower than others.