Hello everyone, this is my first post and I'm new here. I been looking at the forum for some time now and I like how everyone is freindly and informative to each other.

So now that I jioned I was wondering if someone could give me some advice. I have a 5 month old GSD female, I'm not for certain when she will start coming into heat but before she was I was wondering if there are ways to control her from coming into heat without spaying her? You see I don't want to spay her because I heard it could affect her stamina for protection training and I want to have her in some agility training also. She is very energetic and spaying her would affect that. Also, since she is AKC registered, I want her to participate in showing, and to compete in agility when she can. I don't think I will breed her because I am not knowledgable enough and I don't think I could handle little pups yet. I love my pup very much so if it is nessasary to spay her then I will but I'm ooking for alternatives.
thank you for any advice.

Daniel, no, unfortunately without resorting to spaying, you have to let nature take it's course.

It's one of the downsides to owning a female, you can't show her in many venues ( AKC obedience, for example ) when she's in season. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Actually, the spaying most likely wouldn't affect her energy level, but it could make a difference in her appearance and muscle mass depending on what age you spayed her.

Good luck!

Also if anybody can give me info on where to find shutzhund training in Northwest Arkansas. That would be great.

Thank you very much Will. So I guess I will spay her. As long as she will still have her cute energy for shutzhund training. Maybe when I am more expereinced with the GSD I will breed because I just a dumb young guy.
Thank you agian

Will,
What age is recommended for spaying a female to keep muscle mass and structure? I would like to keep my female intact for as long as I can to keep optimium condition. I was thinking about having her spayed at two years.
Thanks, Carol <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Will,
What age is recommended for spaying a female to keep muscle mass and structure? I would like to keep my female intact for as long as I can to keep optimium condition. I was thinking about having her spayed at two years.
Thanks, Carol <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good question, interesting too. I'd like to know what the optimum age is as well!

My vet told me to come in at six months? should I wait longer also or should I go ahead and get it done this early?

sorry for butting in on your q but it's been on my mind also

You didn't butt in at all Daniel. I kind of figured that since the thread was about altering dogs it would be the best place to ask instead of starting a whole new thread.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ha, ok. Well I don't know if Will will be looking at this thread again since he already answered my question but I did have the other question so I will make a new thread but not on alteration.

 Quote:

My vet told me to come in at six months? should I wait longer also or should I go ahead and get it done this early?...sorry for butting in on your q but it's been on my mind also

This Lab site (below) has a very detailed discussion of early spaying and its effects on growth plate closure, smooth muscle mass development, UTI tendencies, pyometra, cancers (not just reproductive cancers), and more. Those are just a few of a dozen or more items on both sides of the question of early neutering.

It's a Labrador site, but the discussion is general. It's well-referenced, very detailed, and balanced (IMO), presenting more than one vet researcher's point of view.

http://p075.ezboard.com/fjustlabradors41940frm6.showMessage?topicID=5192.topic

It's the 7th post on the page; scroll to this citation: "From "Gonadectomy in immature dogs Effects on skeletal, physical and behavioral development", JAVMA April 1, 1991, Vol. 198 No 7, Salmeri et al. pp 1193-1203."

The poster references many published papers, and I followed up on three of them just to make sure the poster was quoting accurately and that the sources were indeed authoritative.

Many vet sites (if they discuss the optimal age at all) state that it's a balancing act between the fact that each estrus experienced increases the risk of mammary cancer by significant percentages and the indications that early spaying contributes to UTIs and what is called "spay incontinence" in many breeds. Of course, there are several other factors, too.

My personal viewpoint is affected by work with shelters and seeing what the addition every year of millions (yes, millions) of unwanted dogs to the US dog population does to the chances of unplanned puppies finding homes. (4.5 million dogs and cats are euthanized in U.S. shelters every year.)

So I have read everything I could find about the possible DISadvantages of early spaying in order to balance what would otherwise be (I admit) a knee-jerk reaction to leaving bitches intact. (Obviously, I mean those not part of a serious breeding program.)

Some of what I've read is this: If the owner is 100% able to prevent any possibility of an unplanned pregnancy, then some vets contend that, all things considered and the pros and cons weighed, seven months to one year might be a good age to choose for spaying.

This is a really good subject for a detailed discussion with the vet, I think.

Some discussions:

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:xWfa7meCaXcJ:www.tica.org/pdf/earlyspayneuter1.pdf
(Scroll to Page 2.)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query...p;dopt=Abstract

http://www.dpca-breedered.com/spaying_castration.htm


http://www.labbies.com/neuter.htm

I'm not a health professional. I'm just pointing out some info I've found helpful.