Naturally, German shepherds are active dogs as they were first bred as working dogs. At the age of six months which is the puberty stage for GSDs, they become hyperactive and this continues to adolescence.
Neutering or castration for males can help to calm your dog but only if at the right time i.e. before puberty. If done after this age, your dog will have started behaviors like mounting on objects which he will still enjoy after neutering.
Read on to know the advantages and disadvantages associated with neutering your GSD and the possible causes of a hyperactive dog.
Contents
Why your GSD is a hyper?
Immaturity
Physically, GSDs mature fast but it takes a little bit longer. Your dog might not have the ability to self-regulate his energy levels making him super active and uncontrollable.
Inadequate physical and mental exercise
German shepherds require a lot of exercises, mental and physical. If not properly exercised, your GSD will take his energy elsewhere. He can become restless, aggressive, and destructive. Exercise your dog for 1 hour per day and buy him lots of play toys. Engage him in mental exercise every now and then.
Seeking attention
German shepherds like attention a lot. Give him attention by playing games together, cuddling, and treats once per day. If he feels attention deprived, he will develop behavioral issues, and the next time you give him attention, he will be overexcited and overreact.
Advantages of Neutering Your GSD
Behavior issue
If you neuter your dog at an early age, he likely not be aggressive as he gets older. Mounting on objects and other pets in your house will be stamped out.
Genetic disease
If your GSD has health issues, he will not spread the genes to the next generation. These health issues are like hip and elbow dysplasia and degenerative mythology.
Testicular cancer
This disease only affects the testicles, since neutering removes them, your dog will be on the safer side.
Perennial hernias
Dogs that are intact are at a higher risk of getting perennial hernias. This disease is treatable through surgery, but it is better if prevented through neutering.
Prevent injuries and accidents
An intact GSD can whiff a female dog on heat many kilometers away. He can get into a serious fight with other dogs over the female leading to serious injuries.
In search of the female on heat, your dog can get involved in an accident while crossing the road because, oftentimes, they are just concentrated on following the scent and not his surroundings.
Wandering off and getting lost
Though in rare cases, intact dogs can go for miles following the ‘scent’. This can make your dog lose the direction back home and get lost.
If not he is not microchipped, you will have a hard time finding him.
Decrease overpopulation
By neutering your dog, you will be helping lower their high population. Many shelters overflow with homeless and lost dogs. Sadly, some shelters are forced to euthanize some dogs because of a shortage of space.
Reduce territorial marking
A dog marking smell is a stench and no one wants to smell it twice. If you neuter your GSD at an early age, you will spare yourself the stench smell.
Prostate disease
Prostate disease affects intact dogs. Neutering him prevent and spare him the pain and to you a medical bill.
Lifestyle
This is a factor that needs to be highly considered. If you will need services from boarding facilities and daycares, your dog will not be accepted if intact. If your dog is neutered, he will be easily accepted.
Disadvantages of Neutering Your GSD
Reproduction
Neutering is irreversible- your dog will never produce his own offspring. It might be tempting to breed your dog if he has desirable characteristics, but it is best if you left professional breeders to do their work.
Prone to dementia
This disease mostly affects old dogs. It makes them forget everything that they have ever known like training and his home. Neutered dogs are more prone to the disease compared to intact ones.
Likely to have urinary incontinence
Though the chances are low, urinary incontinence can occur when your dog is going through the neutering process. If neutered at a very early age, the bladder might not grow properly making it weak.
No guaranteed behavior change
Neutering your dog is not an assurance that he will be calm, especially if you neuter him at puberty stage when he has already learned some behaviors like territory marking, it’s hard for him to stop after neutering.
Final thoughts
There has been a lot of discussions and research on the right age to neuter dogs. Some researchers argue that neutering dogs at an early age can make them feel insecure or make them more aggressive.
Neutering your dog must not calm him down. Hence, it is advisable to talk to your vet who fully understands your dog to advise you on whether or not to neuter your dog. You might find that training is all that is needed but not neutering.
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