Last Updated on December 21, 2025 by Dogs Vets
Neutering is also known as castration in males and spaying in females. It is a surgical procedure that removes a dog’s reproductive organs to prevent breeding and reduce hormone driven behaviors. Such as roaming, aggression, testicular cancer and pyometra in females.
However, when it comes to large breeds like the German Shepherd, timing of neutering is a crucial choice that can affect your dog’s joints, behavior and lifespan.
German Shepherds continue to develop physically and hormonally for 18–24 months. This prolonged growth window means that early neutering may disrupt the natural development of bones, muscles, and joints.
In recent years, multiple veterinary studies from the University of California have raised important concerns. These studies suggest that early neutering in German Shepherds (before 1 year of age) is linked to higher risks of hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears, certain cancers, and behavioral issues.
Hormones like testosterone and estrogen play a key role in regulating skeletal growth and emotional maturity. Removing them too early can lead to long-term physical and psychological imbalances.
If you want a strong, stable and healthy companion for life you should wait better than rushing to neutering a German Shepherd.
Why Do Most Owners Choose to Neuter Their Dogs?
Most owners choose to neuter their dogs by recommendations of veterinarians and breeders for preventing unwanted pregnancies, reducing the risk of certain cancers (we discussed above), behaviours(we discussed above) and decreasing territorial marking (especially in males). As these are real benefits.
Traditional Timing vs New Recommendations
The general advice was to neuter dogs as early as 6 to 9 months of age. Which means before the first heat in females or puberty in males. This practice was especially common in shelters and rescues. So the new recommendation is to delay neutering until 18 to 24 months for both males and females.
Health Risks of Early Neutering in German Shepherds
Some risks we have already discussed above and the remaining we will discuss now:
Cruciate Ligament Tears (CCL Injuries)
Neutering too early can disrupt normal bone and joint development by removing sex hormones responsible for closing growth plates. A major UC Davis study found that early neutered male German Shepherds were three times more likely to suffer from CCL injuries.
Cancer Risks
Studies have found a higher incidence of cancers like hemangiosarcoma (a deadly cancer of the blood vessels), lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in German Shepherds neutered before 12 months of age. This is because hormones like testosterone and estrogen are removed.
German Shepherd Neutering Cost
The price range for neutering a german shepherd is from $50 to $800+. As it depends on whether it is a non profit clinic or private hospital. Spaying (female) is more expensive than neutering (male) because it involves internal abdominal surgery.
