To Snip or Not to Snip
EDIT: I'm gonna go ahead and have him done. Thanks for the advice and anecdotes, everybody.
Some months back I became the owner of a lovely German Shepherd, Sam. Sam was originally bred and trained to be a show dog. However, at fourteen months it was obvious that he wasn't and never would be big enough for Irish Kennel Club shows, so his owner decided to put him up for sale and let him be somebody's pet.
When I got him he wasn't neutered. I still haven't neutered him. I know that I should - there are health benefits, I didn't buy him to show him or breed from him, there are enough puppies in the world that nobody wants, and there are enough responsible breeders around to keep the breed going. But I can't shake this irrational notion that if I get him snipped I'll regret it - once it's done, there's no going back. It doesn't help that my parents think I should leave Sam be, especially my father (who is mad about Sam but inclined to be interfering, as many grandparents are ;) ).
I know for a lot of you this is an open and shut decision. But I'd like to hear from anybody who had similar anxieties about getting a pet spayed/neutered. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
Some months back I became the owner of a lovely German Shepherd, Sam. Sam was originally bred and trained to be a show dog. However, at fourteen months it was obvious that he wasn't and never would be big enough for Irish Kennel Club shows, so his owner decided to put him up for sale and let him be somebody's pet.
When I got him he wasn't neutered. I still haven't neutered him. I know that I should - there are health benefits, I didn't buy him to show him or breed from him, there are enough puppies in the world that nobody wants, and there are enough responsible breeders around to keep the breed going. But I can't shake this irrational notion that if I get him snipped I'll regret it - once it's done, there's no going back. It doesn't help that my parents think I should leave Sam be, especially my father (who is mad about Sam but inclined to be interfering, as many grandparents are ;) ).
I know for a lot of you this is an open and shut decision. But I'd like to hear from anybody who had similar anxieties about getting a pet spayed/neutered. What did you do, and how did it turn out?