[Rotty4Me]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Maureen,
Many knowlegeable people prefer that any desexing take place after physical maturity. This makes a considerable difference regarding spay incontinence and is also discovered to be a possible influence on osteo and other skeletal provisions. The fact that this particular girl ended up in this unfortunate situation does not change the fact that later desexing has many advantages. She is simply being spayed sooner than planned.

I understand this, but do not agree with a pet dog being allowed to come into heat before neutering. Aside from the fact that the surgery itself is much more intense once a bitch has cycled, I would not want to take the gamble as a breeder placing a puppy in a pet home, that an accident might not occur. Accidents happen to even the most experienced & careful. Does the average pet owner know exactly what precautions should take place to ensure the bitch is not accidentally bred? I would never chance it. But if ever I breed, it will only be a litter or two & with the intention that only a select puppy or two from those breedings ever reproduce themselves. I believe that earlier spaying (8-12m) has helped prevent many an unwanted litter from occuring. I do not believe in neutering any younger than 6 months as I feel this may cause developmental problems. I'm sorry, I just find it too risky to allow a pet puppy to remain intact in a pet home. (and I am not blaming the pet owner in this particular case, but the breeder for allowing her to remain intact for so long. Luckily the owner, or caretaker of the bitch was made known an accident had occured. If it hadn't been made known, the bitch may have carried a litter to term of unwanted puppies, along with putting herself through an unnecessary ordeal).

Maureen