I couldn't be anymore cruel!

Oh the irony! I don't have first-hand experience, as our male came fixed, and our other dog is a girl, but I have heard that males have it much easier (natch!). I've seen a dog at the shelter who was literally leaping 3 feet off the ground in his kennel the day after his neuter!

I don't know what breed you've got, but Gaia (my female) was ready to run a marathon 3 days after her spay...and her spay was a toughie-she is almost 4 yrs old and was in heat and probably pregnant.  Within a week she was doing everything the vet said for me to prevent her from doing.

I think with your boy it should be fine, 1 or 2 days and he won't even realize that anything's missing.[]

be prepared for swelling that may look as if nothing was removed.  we actually did ice packs for a few mintues about three times a day.  I would not take off the day it occurred, just pick him up after work. But I would take off two days after.  The main issue is the stitches....some dogs like to remove them personally.  That can be problematic if it happens early post op.

He will probably still be groggy the first day you bring him home and just want to sleep or cuddle. 
 
After that, my boy was just fine.  The biggest challenge was keeping him from running and jumping, as the vet said he was supposed to not be very active for a week or so to let it heal.  But the dog didn't see the need for that!  I crated him during the day while I was working, to keep him more sedentary. 
 
Also you'll need to keep an eye out and make sure he doesn't chew at the stitches.  If he does you might need a cone to keep him from doing it.  My dog didn't have a problem with that. 

I just had my guy neutered at 2.5(ish?) years old. The surgery was 2 days days ago, and he is not a happy camper. I can't tell if the surgery hurt so much that he's still unhappy, or if the silly lampshade he has to wear around his head is making him miserable. I have pain meds to give him once a day and antibiotics to give him twice a day (he also had his teeth cleaned, and had some nasty periodontal disease). My little guy is grumpy, uncomfortable, easily frightened (he keeps scaring himself by bumping into things with his plastic cone), and lethargic, but honestly... he acts just like I do when I have a bad cold. The world sucks, I hate everything, but I'll be fine in a couple of days.

My vet wanted to keep him overnight (in part because his blood tests were just a little bit weird). I'd recommend taking the day after off, preparing a comfy blanket and some movies, and spending some snuggle time together. And tell him not to lick himself so he doesn't have to wear the stupid cone!

Well I've done the gelding thing before with horses, (mind you they don't stitch unless they have to) So I know to expect swelling that way []
Do you think they'll give me a cone or will I have to buy one? He is a licker [>:]

Do you think they'll give me a cone or will I have to buy one? He is a licker

 
I think they will give you a cone, but you may want to invest in a Bite Not Collar. My dogs certainly find it less offensive.
 
[linkhttp://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=220104%2B003&QTY=1&More+Info.x=49&More+Info.y=9]http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=220104%2B003&QTY=1&More+Info.x=49&More+Info.y=9[/link]
 
 

I do NOT bring home pain meds for a spuetered critter.  I would rather they feel some discomfort and as a result be a bit easier on their bodies.  If there is PAIN, something isn't right and they need to be vetted.  But a bit of discomfort makes MY life easier.
 
The first 2-3 days my guys spend mostly in their crates with potty breaks on lead.  I bring them out when the others are not around for some loving, but they need to understand that this is quiet time and quiet time is needed.  And, yeah, I continue to keep them quiet for the full week to ensure that they heal properly.  We do lots of walks so they can get some gentle exercise but none of the free running, jumping and playing with the others in the yard.

My vet did the stitches "inside" and used glue on the outside, so my dog couldn't get at the stitches.  He was pretty much fully active the next day with no noticable discomfort and just a little swelling.  I never gave him the Rimadyl (NSAID).  Just anti-biotics.  He's a puppy though, and I think they might bounce back better.  A good substitute for the cone is a thick towel loosely secured around the neck.