Rethinking Spay and Neuter: When Is the Right Time for Your Dog?

Written by Von Schaaf Haus Dupree Dobermans & Danes

As responsible breeders, we absolutely support the importance of preventing unplanned litters — but we also believe that how and when dogs are sterilized deserves careful thought. Traditional early spay and neuter practices, once widely accepted, are now being reconsidered as new research reveals the long-term impact of hormone loss on canine health.

At Von Schaaf Haus Dupree, we follow the evidence-based, integrative approach advocated by Dr. Karen Becker, a leading voice in functional veterinary medicine. Her work highlights a crucial truth: reproductive hormones do far more than control fertility — they influence nearly every aspect of a dog’s overall health and vitality.

Why Early Spay and Neuter Can Be Problematic

For decades, the standard veterinary recommendation was to spay or neuter dogs at six months of age. While well-intentioned, this practice often removes the dog’s natural hormone source — estrogen or testosterone — before full physical maturity.

These hormones are essential for -

• Healthy bone growth and joint stability

• Proper muscle development and metabolism

• Cognitive and emotional balance

• Immune and thyroid function

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When the gonads are removed too early, the body experiences hormonal deprivation that can lead to a range of health concerns. Studies have linked early sterilization to orthopedic problems, hypothyroidism, urinary incontinence, certain cancers, immune disorders, and behavioral issues such as anxiety or aggression.

For large and giant breeds like Dobermans and Great Danes, these effects can be especially pronounced. Their growth plates close later than smaller breeds, and losing hormones too early can delay bone development and compromise lifelong soundness.

What New Research Is Teaching Us

Emerging studies are now confirming what many holistic veterinarians have long observed: hormones play a lifelong role in health and well-being.

In one recent study, neutered male dogs received testosterone replacement therapy (HRT) for 90 days. Researchers found that hormone levels normalized without side effects, and the dogs’ overall health and behavior improved.

This research reinforces a growing understanding — that maintaining hormonal balance, even after sterilization, can help prevent disease and improve vitality.

Alternatives to Traditional Spay and Neuter

It’s important to clarify: no one is against sterilization. Responsible breeding and population control are essential. What’s evolving is how we sterilize dogs — and how we can do it without disrupting their endocrine balance.

There are now hormone-sparing sterilization options that prevent reproduction while keeping hormone production intact -

• Vasectomy (for males): This procedure prevents sperm from being released but leaves the testicles — and testosterone production — undisturbed.

  
  

• Ovary-Sparing Spay (OSS) or Hysterectomy (for females): This removes the uterus while leaving the ovaries in place, so the dog can no longer become pregnant but continues to benefit from natural estrogen and progesterone.

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These procedures are safe, effective, and already common in parts of Europe, but they’re not yet standard in most veterinary schools. Fortunately, more integrative veterinarians in the U.S. are beginning to offer them as hormone-sparing alternatives.

When to Spay or Neuter Your Dog

At Von Schaaf Haus Dupree, we recommend waiting until your dog reaches full physical and hormonal maturity before undergoing any sterilization procedure.

• For large and giant breeds, this typically means 18–24 months of age.

• Discuss your individual dog’s needs, health, and lifestyle with a veterinarian familiar with hormone preservation.

• If traditional spay/neuter is chosen, talk to your vet about possible timing adjustments or post-surgical hormone support.

  
  

Each dog is unique — the right decision depends on size, genetics, temperament, and home environment.

Our Breeding Philosophy

At Von Schaaf Haus Dupree Dobermans & Danes, we are deeply committed to producing dogs that thrive both physically and emotionally for a lifetime. Our breeding program emphasizes structure, temperament, and health, supported by early neurological stimulation and comprehensive genetic testing.

We encourage our puppy families to:

• Delay spay or neuter until full maturity

• Consider hormone-sparing alternatives such as the vasectomy or ovary-sparing spay

• Work with veterinarians who understand functional and integrative approaches to canine health

• Support their dogs with optimal nutrition, exercise, and emotional enrichment

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By respecting each dog’s natural development, we can help ensure stronger, healthier companions for generations to come.

The Bottom Line

Spaying and neutering remain vital tools for responsible ownership — but timing and method matter. Preserving hormones through delayed sterilization or procedures like the vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay can support longevity, balance, and overall wellness.

As Dr. Karen Becker reminds us, “When we know better, we do better.”At Von Schaaf Haus Dupree, that wisdom guides every decision we make.

📣 Call to Action

If you believe in expanding pet-sterilization options that protect hormonal health, please take a moment to sign and share the following petition. Together, we can encourage veterinary schools to teach hormone-sparing sterilization procedures — giving future veterinarians the tools to protect pets’ health through modern, evidence-based techniques.

Petition: “Equipping Future Veterinarians with Updated and Diversified Sterilization Techniques”

We call upon all accredited veterinary schools worldwide to revise their curriculum and include hormone-sparing sterilization techniques as part of their standard training. Veterinarians are sworn to prevent suffering, a commitment that should extend to the surgical sterilization techniques taught in veterinary schools. Currently, most veterinary schools do not include hormone-sparing sterilization techniques such as vasectomies and ovary-sparing spays (hysterectomies) in their curriculum. These methods render dogs unable to reproduce without compromising healthy hormone production, thus reducing potential health risks associated with traditional neutering and spaying procedures. According to a study published by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA), traditional neutering can increase the risk of certain health issues like obesity and orthopedic disorders. By incorporating these less hormonally impactful surgical techniques into veterinary education, we can better equip future veterinarians with skills that promote animal welfare while adhering to their oath of preventing suffering. “Gonadectomized (spayed/neutered) dogs have been reported to have a higher incidence of obesity, urinary incontinence, urinary calculi (bladder stones), atopic dermatitis (itchy skin), autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease), diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, inflammatory bowel disease, hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament rupture, aggressive and fearful behavior, cognitive dysfunction syndrome, prostate adenocarcinoma and transitional cell adenocarcinoma (bladder cancer). Musculoskeletal issues may be especially significant for large breed dogs gonadectomized before they have finished growing, as bone physeal closure is delayed.” — Dr. Michelle Anne Kutzler, MBA, DVM, PhD, DACT, Professor of Theriogenology, Oregon State University Please sign this petition if you believe in improving our pets’ quality of life through responsible veterinary education.

👉 Sign here: “Equipping Future Veterinarians with Updated and Diversified Sterilization Techniques” on Change.org