berkshire

It sounds like you're looking for a specific answer. I think the question has been discussed relatively well - the pros and cons of neutering early seem to have been covered. At this point, you really have the information you need to make a decision. If it were cut and dry, it would be simple. But there is no scientific evidence that castration is necessary.

Let me just tell you that having an intact dog can become difficult socially, though. I can't take Tucker to doggy daycare because he's over 6 months old and intact. I get flak at the dog park occasionally. And boy oh boy, being a vet student with an intact dog has been interesting.

If you wait until later in life to neuter a dog, you put him at significantly increased risk with anesthesia. And it is almost certain that you will have to neuter him at some point due to prostate hyperplasia or infection. It will mean increased expense and increased risk to the dog. And what have you gained? Years of having an intact dog, yes...but there is no benefit to the dog for being neutered if he is not being used for breeding. There is some evidence that early castration can have a negative impact (i.e. increased risk for arthritis and CCL ruptures), but if you have a dog neutered following sexual maturity (~1 year), you reduce that risk without increasing anesthetic risk by neutering at 7 or 8 years of age.

IMO, if you don't plan on breeding a dog, there's (almost) NO good reason (can't think of one, but sure someone has one) for leaving him intact past 2 years of age. You seem to want people to tell you that you don't have to neuter. No one can make that decision for you - you have to weigh your personal feelings on the matter (which seem to be general reluctance) versus the benefits to the dog down the road by avoiding anesthesia as a geriatric patient.

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~Candice