I'm not questioning this to start a controversy but rather a friendly dialog.... what real health benefits at this point in the dogs life will it make? The only thing I can think of is eliminating the possiblilty of testicular or prostate cancer. At this stage of his life, it will do nothing for his reproductive drive or the elimination of some male to male aggressiveness (if he has any). Castration in dogs does help in those areas but we are talking about a 8 year old male and those tendancies (again if he has any) will not be alter by castrating him now. And the actual statistics on testicular or prostate cancer are very slim and his chances of getting this disease are very rare.

Please understand, I am in favor of neutering a dog when they are younger... mostly for the benefits of no reproductive drive (or ability), aggressiveness or marking tendancies, but at 8 I really don't see the health benefit. So I guess I question why now?