Spaying/Neutering Your German Shepherd
We are not veterinarians, nor do we claim to be.  This is just our experience and what works for us.

As dog lovers and dog owners we strongly advise NOT spaying or neutering your German Shepherd until they are a minimum 18 months of age.

Dogs neutered before puberty tend to have longer legs, flatter chests, and narrower skulls than intact dogs of their breeds because the hormones that regulate sexual activity also interact with hormones that guide growth of muscles, bones, and tendons. These physical differences can place more stress on joints and can cause problems for active dogs.  Additional drawbacks specific to spay surgery include increased incidence of bladder incontinence, triple the frequency of thyroid disease, and higher risk of some cancers, joint problems, and obesity and adverse reactions to vaccinations.

Please read the following articles and make an educated decision for yourself:

Link 1:  Long Term Health Effects of Spay / Neuter in Dogs
http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/ddtc/sfiles/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf%20

Link 2:  Early Spay / Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete
http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

Link 3:  Article on MSNBC.com: 

Pet sterilization laws raise health concerns -

Spayed or neutered dogs more at risk for cancers, other ills, research shows

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24597888/

(not to be republished without prior written consent)