T-Bone's scheduled to get neutered...

Beejou, you'll get almost as many answers to this as you will people answering -- I'm a big believer in early spay neuter for many reasons, but I know many on here (particularly those with purebreds) disagree.  At a year he's pretty well got his full growth -- he just hasn't filled out quite as much as he will but he should be plenty old enough to neuter, especially since he's developing some difficult habits AND since you're beset with a lot of "hot to trot" females (sorry -- that's not at all accurate but if they're loose and intact they're GONNA have puppies -- sheesh), so I'd say you could safely neuter him now and avoid problems. 

  I would wait until he is closer to two. Actually, I'd probably not have him neutered, considering he's your only dog and assuming you are a responsible owner. At the very least, I'd suggest reading this article before making the final decision to have T-Bone neutered: http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/spay_neuter_risks_benefits.aspx

 Personally I think the decision you are making is fine - yes many will tell you to wait or not do it at all and others might say it doesn't matter when you do it.

My friend had her boxer done at a year and he was fine and it did remove some very unpleasant behaviors (major humper and that like disappeared).

Having an intact animal takes, for many of us, super vigilance to guard against accidents.  I, in the situation you described wouldn't keep him intact (mostly due to access to the ladies).  You have no control over them and I have heard from various friends with intact show dogs how insane a male can get - and he is a big male - so very difficult to control.

As for the impact on physical development I have mentioned before that Bugsy who was neutered at 10 weeks or so (shelter dog) had not given up muscle development

want to finish with a strong "I believe you are doing the right thing"

 I generally prefer to see the chest drop, but a year should be fine. I had Bean spayed the week before her first birthday, and I'm happy with that decision.

I had Kord done just after his first birthday, on the recommendation of his breeder. I think he will be just fine!

Thanks for the replies, guys. He just seems to be having LESS fun because he's crazy smelling after things. If a female dog has been through an area, he can't pull his nose away. Fetch used to be best fun ever - now he has to stop, sniff, waft it thru his olfactory cells, which leads to drooling, etc. He SCARED me today when I noticed he was basically foaming at the mouth. Oh my gosh, what is the problem? Overheating? Poison? ..... no, licking other dog's urine I think he'll be a happier guy when hormones aren't driving him up the wall.

I do technically have a spay/neuter contract with his breeder, so I have to do it at *some* point.

I think you're making a fine decision. Casey was done at 10 months, Benny - at 6 years. Both did great. I've seen boatloads of surgeries - the neuter is very simple.

I think it's really an individual decision. As long as you've thought it through which it appears you have, then I don't really feel one way or the other about someone else's decision.

However, what happens if he gets neutered and is still sniffing?  I would also be prepared for that.  The "issue" maybe be more of a training issue than a hormonal problem.  Nikon is not neutered and he LURVES the ladies (or anywhere another intact male has marked) but he is not allowed to constantly sniff and at training I do not even let him pee on the training fields even though all the other dogs do.  If I specifically take him out (or to the potty area) to potty I don't care if that's one long squat or five marks but there is no marking or constant sniffing allowed at any other time.  When the hormones starting kicking in I used it as a new way to proof the training and now it's a non issue.  Today we got together with five dogs, one a young female who is apparently in heat and discharging and Nikon was never sniffing while he was working, never broke his long downs or tried to make a pass in her direction.

Liesje

However, what happens if he gets neutered and is still sniffing?  I would also be prepared for that.  The "issue" maybe be more of a training issue than a hormonal problem.  Nikon is not neutered and he LURVES the ladies (or anywhere another intact male has marked) but he is not allowed to constantly sniff and at training I do not even let him pee on the training fields even though all the other dogs do.  If I specifically take him out (or to the potty area) to potty I don't care if that's one long squat or five marks but there is no marking or constant sniffing allowed at any other time.  When the hormones starting kicking in I used it as a new way to proof the training and now it's a non issue.  Today we got together with five dogs, one a young female who is apparently in heat and discharging and Nikon was never sniffing while he was working, never broke his long downs or tried to make a pass in her direction.

 ITA. Jagger is a very manly dog but he still loves to play with me, loves to play fetch/tug and is very focused while working. The weekend he finished his CD he earned a 191 1/2 and a 195+ with bitches in season at home.He doesn't mark in the house or mount people or destroy crates/walls/doors/fences trying to get to girls or have aggression issues. I have lived with intact male dogs since I was toddler and none of them ever had problems with marking in the house or mounting people or destroying walls/doors/fences trying to get to girls or aggression. My parents were not "dog people" and didn't do much in the way of training, although I did a lot of training with the two boys we had in my *** and teen years. I was 11 when I started training my first dog and that dog was an 85lb intact male Dobe mix. He did pee on the Christmas tree once but that's an honest mistake ;)

  While boys do often have a couple rough months of adolescence where they become more easily distracted and display more male-type behaviors, it isn't any different from any other training issue that you have to work through. IMO intact male dogs are often the very best workers and I think they are often better for going through their "teenage" phase with their hormones.

 FWIW Neutering doesn't take away male dog's desire to breed, unless it is done really early (and sometimes not even then). Trust me when I say - if a neutered male is around a bitch in season they will flirt and try to breed them. We have to keep the neutered corgi away from the girls when they are in season and he is just as out of sorts when they are in standing heat as the intact male who's been bred. The best course of action for preventing unwanted litters is to not let your dog roam and not leave him outside while no one is around. That also prevents dogs from being hit by cars, stolen or getting lost.

 As for the dog park, mature GSDs are not generally dog park-type dogs, intact or not. You shouldn't expect neutering to turn your GSD into a Golden :)

AgileGSD

 FWIW Neutering doesn't take away male dog's desire to breed, unless it is done really early (and sometimes not even then). Trust me when I say - if a neutered male is around a bitch in season they will flirt and try to breed them. We have to keep the neutered corgi away from the girls when they are in season and he is just as out of sorts when they are in standing heat as the intact male who's been bred. The best course of action for preventing unwanted litters is to not let your dog roam and not leave him outside while no one is around. That also prevents dogs from being hit by cars, stolen or getting lost.

I deffinitely agree with this ^

Bailey was neutered at aprox 3 years old (he was intact when I got him, and by contract with the shelter he was suposed to be neutered within 2 months but we had to wait almost a year because he needed HW treatment) Even though he was neutered years ago, he will still get very excited and try to flirt with the girls. He has met a bitch in heat before, and he went crazy trying to get to her. It took quite a while to get his attention again. Even though he is neutered he was still attracted to the bitch in season, and it wasnt just cause he wanted to "say Hi". I think it has a lot to do with socialization and training, not just whether the dog is neutered or not.

T-Bone never roams and I don't allow him to, but I can't say for sure he's never ever going to get out. That's just not a realistic statement, though we definitely do our best and he's trained not to rush doors. I'm aware this might not stop marking, chasing ladies, etc. but there's a good chance it might, right? Regardlees I think Mr. T-Bone is at that age where we need to reaffirm our rules and boundaries as he's becoming an adult dog now.; I totally agree with you guys!

Agile, the link you sent me makes me sort of think the health benefits to neuter are blown out of proportion if that is indeed correct. I don't want this thread to turn into an argument about who is pushing what agenda, but thankls for the link. I find it very interesting

I am considering calling my breeder and asking her, but she suggested a year-18 months as he isnt a show prospect or anything. so i don't think she'd think it's too early. Why is the decision so tricky? I am all worried and concerned and T-Bone doesn't have a clue of course :)

 It's always a little tricky, LOL. I definitely think you've done a good thing by waiting until he's a bit older, especially since he's a GSD. I think the boys are less tricky than the girls, because you don't have to worry about heat cycles and increased blood.

Beejou

T-Bone never roams and I don't allow him to, but I can't say for sure he's never ever going to get out. That's just not a realistic statement, though we definitely do our best and he's trained not to rush doors. I'm aware this might not stop marking, chasing ladies, etc. but there's a good chance it might, right? Regardlees I think Mr. T-Bone is at that age where we need to reaffirm our rules and boundaries as he's becoming an adult dog now.; I totally agree with you guys!

I think it's true for everyone, even those who DO breed.  No one can say anything with 100% certainty.  But I'm not sure that neutering would really decrease the desire to roam when bitches are in season, it just makes the dog sterile.  I've heard stories of neutered GSD mounting and tying, even one neutered GSD who basically "broke" his penis.  I don't think it's a reason NOT to neuter, but I wouldn't bank on it really making that much difference.  It will for sure prevent oops litters but not for sure have any effect on behavior.