Quote Originally Posted by tz1
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. I have no pictures that are on my computer, except one, when he was around 6 weeks old.

I have a couple concerns about getting Zero neutered. Hope this doesn't sound too silly... Will his energy levels decrease? Will he get fat? Will he be timid and afraid of strangers instead of the confident, attentive, and protective? Will it really decrease the chance of testicular cancer? (I heard from a dog trainer that this was not true)

Basically, I'm afraid that he won't be the same dog after the surgery.
One of my close friends has an 11 year old akita mix, this dog has all the personality of an akita.. Akitas are super stubborn puppies/and dogs.. get him neutered asap, and I will guarantee that some of his behaviour problems will go away. As for the biting, when he bites you stand up, walk away, and ignore him.. teach him that he doesn't get to play with you if he bites.. when you are playing, and he doesnt bite you, reward like crazy.
as for the prong collar issue, I have used them for years and if used correctly (just like choke chains) they can be a wonderous tool for training puppies/dogs to heal.