speying

[ips]

Rascal that is exactly what I needed, anecdotal evidence. When I mentioned incontinence to my vet she gave me a smile and a look as if to say you know what your talking about (which of course I don't) and said yes that can be an issue but there is medication which can help.
Well unless anyone else can come up with anything to the contrary to your experience then I am not going to spey her.
Most helpfull and reinforced exactly my thoughts.

[westcountry]

I repeat DONT unless absolutely necessary on health grounds. My old girl had a bad time whelping her first litter,needed ceasarian and vet performed that and she came back speyed as well,vet said it was necessary as she was not good inside after whelping. He was probably right but the old girls coat has gone haywire,she gets fat just looking at food and piddles a lot more.
I would spey a bitch if it was needed but never by choice. In your case ips,with a young healthy bitch I wouldnt even contemplate the idea.

[Naj]

My experience has been similar to Rascal's. If a bitch gets to 10 or 12 years plus, then, unfortunately, they have to die of something & if it's not pyometra then it will be something else. My last GSP reached 13 years & had a gut blockage/torsion so that was her gone, but she was ready to go because I thought her quality of life was already declining. I've perhaps been lucky but never had one die of mammary cancer & only one has had open pyometra (at 12 years), which is more treatable than the closed type.

Naj

[Cass]

Spaying her will not decrease humping. Training is the only thing that fixes that. When I was a kid we had a jack russell bitch that was spayed at 6 months old, way before sexual maturity. She humped everything in sight - its not so much about hormones as it is about poor manners.

[ips]

Thank you all definitely now confirmed I was right in not wanting too. Confident now to leave her. Au naturale.
Cass
She only does it occasionally but more so when in season and only started during first season. We push her away and if she continues its in her cage for a chill. I have not been able to work out the reason and research suggests a few things such as dominance but I am sure it is not that, any ideas as to why and how is it best dealt with ??

[Judy]

Frustration?

[Naj]

Unfortunately your research suggesting dominance is dated. Just deal with it the same as you do with all unwanted behaviors, redirect the dog onto something else or a short time out.

[ips]

So pretty much what were doing then.

[Bruneval3]

Just my "two penneth" fwiw, Unless needed don't Spey.

[Cass]

I think you need to be a bit more stern than just pushing her away. She needs to know it is unacceptable.