I need to know if I should spay my dog Abi. She is six months old GSD. Has not started bleeding but I fear that she may one day when I am not home. I want to train her in protection at least. So I need to know if it is in my best interest and hers to spay her because I won't breed her. Should I wait for the first cycle and then do it or what any info will be greatly welcomed! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

If you do a search of this messageboard, you will find that this subject has been addressed previously. It seems to be the general consensus around performance people that your should wait till the dog/bitch is over 14 months of age to spay/neuter them. Here is an article by Chris Zink on the matter:

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

That being said, there are benefits to doing the full ovariohysterectomy before her first heat. Young dogs generally heal much faster than older dogs (a day or two versus a week or more sometimes) and this is especially so in females as it is a more invasive surgery. Also, if you spay before her first heat, it does greatly reduce her chances of the very common mammary tumors that plague adult females. As that article mentions, some vets might be willing to do a tubal ligation or even a hysterectomy but leaving the ovaries intact until removal later. Just as long as the uterus is eventually removed, probably a good thing as pyometria is really really gross and it requires emergency surgery or the dog dies. I've seen it in the intact female mice in my research lab and their uterus, which should be no thicker than about 2-3 mm in diameter, can end up filling up with pus so it's the size of your thumb. Yuck. (Google image search dog pyometria if you are morbidly curious and have a strong stomach) Now behaviorally, my 15 month old Malinois, who was neutered at 4 months, is no taller or "leggier" than any other Malinois I've seen or seen pictures of and though I don't do any protection sports with him, he's got plenty high drive as it is though I could never have anything to compare it to (i.e. intact vs neutered), so I don't know.

Just be very prepared to not let her outside at all (not in the backyard for 2 minutes to pee) unsupervised while she's in heat. Males are very very good at finding females and it is certainly not a good idea for a female under 2 years old to be bred accidently or not. In fact, my very first dog was a Brittany. At about 4 or 5 years old (I think when I was about 9 or 10 years old), he one day bolted between our legs, dashed out the front door, jumped/climbed a 5-6 foot chain link fence and mated a 6 month old chow that was a show prospect. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> My dad was acquainted with the owner and they didn't get on too well after having to send their girl to the vet for an emergency spay. Barney the Brittany got his appointment with the vet for his neuter right after that as well.

Also, I've been meaning to ask you this, when you go off to college, what is going to happen to Abi?

No, wait till the dog is about 18-24 months old.


I personally don't think that you should make your decision based on the limited research out there that shows altering your dog will affect the percentage by a few points of your dog developing some serious health issue.

I think more important is to let nature take it's course, let your animal mature mentally and physically, and then alter them if you do not wish to breed.


To alter a female because you don't want a few blood spots on your floor is a piss poor decision as well.

I honestly think that working dogs who are allowed to reach full maturity will have an edge over working dogs who are not.

My prblem isn't her bleeding, I just want to be able to train her in protection. I don't want her drive affected, but if it is a must I guess I will.

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but if it is a must I guess I will.

huh? i'm confused... Robert was saying its NOT a "must" and he advises AGAINST spaying... unless I'm reading something wrong??

My girl won't be spayed unless there is a medical reason for spaying. My male is intact too and he won't be neutered unless, again, there is a MEDICAL reason for it. I don't believe in spaying/neutering because I'm too stupid to keep the dogs seperated. I believe it DOES affect a dog if you perform un-neccesary surgery on them. I have no studies or proof of that, but I'm entitled to my beliefs :P For a working bitch I would leave her alone, even well beyond 2 years of age... but 2 would be my minimum if I were for some reason so inclined as to spay.

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The University Of Arkansas is very very near here, so I can lvie at home or rent a place near the college so I can still be able to care for her. The U of A is no more that 20 minutes because I live in a metropolis (a whole bunch of times that are close to each other).

This is getting a little OT, but if you're starting your freshman year, most large universities want you in the dorms/res halls your freshman year so you can learn to meet a lot of different new people, get involved, and that sort of thing. The people I met my freshman and sophomore years at Mizzou in the dorms were among the same that I stayed friends with til I graduated pretty much and many are still friends as I'm finishing up grad school. Just for your own personal social life, I'd recommend living in the dorms at least a year before you get a place off campus even if you can get an exemption. I knew a few people that were from Columbia (where Mizzou is at) that lived at home their freshman year and they didn't seem nearly as connected with the rest of us. Obviously, if money is a huge concern in your family, do what you have to do, but yeah. There are some sucky things about living in the dorms, but overall, it's a good intermediate step to getting your own place. Plus if you still live close, you can still visit Abi as much as you like. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I can PM you more if you like, but living on campus is one of the most fun parts of early college.

yeah, I see your point and yes I could still visit Abi.

No, money isn't a concern with my family, it's a concern with me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. My mom said "Your dog Daniel, you wanted it, you pay for it and YOU care for it" and she gave me the whole "almost as if it was my child" talk too.

So you do bring up a good point about living in the dorms. It is not required at the UofA and I don't know if I'm going straight to The U of A, I may start at NWACC (Comm.College) because it offers a lot of art classes and Animal science.

So I may live in a dorm, I may not. I have to think it over.

Also if you could PM me on what kind of classes I should take to learn more on dogs in college, because I may become a dog trainer or animal behaviorlist or vet. those are my three main interest. Or just PM me with more advice <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />