Castration

[LEZ MACK]

My vet has recomended that my german shepherd be castrated if he gets done will he lose his guarding instincts

[Illyria54]

He shouldn't do, how old is he? I have kept GSD's for 35 years and always let them mature or at least get to a year old before castrating or in the case of a bitch I let them have 1 season before spaying, I know a lot of people won't agree with me but it is what I prefer to do.

[Kleiber]

I agree with you, Illyria. LEZ, if your dog is a year old or so, he shouldn't lose his guarding instinct - in fact any dog (or bitch), whether "done" or not, will always have the instinct to protect its home & owner. My GSD bitch was spayed after her first season and is still as feisty as ever - she's a big softie really, but pretends to be ferocious (barks a lot if a stranger comes to the door) - it's enough to put anyone with not-so-good intentions off! I also have a Border Collie who has been castrated and he still guards the house as well. Get it done - your dog won't be any the worse for it. The only change is that he might not want to fight other dogs (which is a blessing, isn't it?) K

[gallapunk]

GSDs mature at three years of age. Did the vet recommend castration because of guarding instincts or because of over-possessiveness? There's a difference. All GSDs guard their family (herd) with their life. Also, you don't have to make him have the operation yet, without doing a test first to see if it will work. If the guarding/over-possesiveness is inbuilt, the vet can give them a 'dummy' injection first. If it works, then it's worth having the operation (because it is usually to combat over-possessiveness). If it doesn't work, then the proper operation won't work either and it means you will need professional help (with his head) from a behaviourist. The outcome of that isn't always guaranteed though; some are so screwed up, unforatunately, that they just can't handle life and all the responsibilities they (believe) they have to shoulder.

If you've never been loved by a GSD, you just ain't been loved; if you have, you know what love from a dog is (don't be naughty).. Trouble is, if you've been loved by a GSD who thinks it's his mission to guard and protect you because you aren't capable of protecting him, you are on a very, very sad, long road to nowhere if you can't sort it out. Please stand up for your dog and let him see that you can look after him; not the other way around.

[Illyria54]

I had this injection done on one of my GSD's for aggression issues towards other dogs it didn't work but I still went ahead and had him castrated, (sorted the issues with training) A male dog will sniff out a bitch in season from a long distance and they can scale a 6 foot fence without a run up to it, yes a GSD is slow to mature but not 3 years they usually mature by the age of 18 months-2 years, a year old is long enough for a Dog to have gained enough guarding characteristics, I have 3 at the moment 1 dog and 2 bitches the youngest bitch is 20 months and was spayed last year, she is a very good guard she started guarding well when she was just 9 months old, yes you could say that she copies the others, but I have had the same guarding instincts from all my Shepherds, never lost after castrating or spaying, unless a dog is to be used for breeding then I firmly believe that they should all be spayed/neutered.