Question about spaying and CKC Obedience

Kay · 09-15-2010, 05:03 PM

I'm thinking about getting into obedience with my GSD (she's 6 mths now). When I first got her I didn't really consider competitive obedience, but after going to puppy class and working with her, I have noticed that she loves to work and is very eager to please (especially if food is involved). I too enjoy working with her. Her wait and recall are excellent, and her stay is pretty good too.

I've never done competitive obedience before, but the lady who teaches my puppy class and my breeder both compete so they'll hopefully show me the ropes.

One question I had was regarding spaying and competing. My pooch was sold on a non-breeding contract, and I never want to breed her anyway, so instead of dealing with heat cycles I want to get her spayed. Can she be fixed and still compete? Also, what age should she be spayed at? I've heard conflicting things; some say as soon as she's 6 mths, others say after she's 2 yrs because the hormones control her growth...ect.

Any comments or suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks!

liv · 09-15-2010, 05:14 PM

My breeder recommended waiting as long as possible, but that we risked going through a cycle. We wanted to get it done before her first heat, so we pushed it to 10 months. She has still grown a lot since the spay - she's now almost 27" at 17 months but grew nice and slowly. I don't compete at present, but I can't imagine why you wouldn't be able to - someone correct me if I'm wrong.

**JKlatsky** · 09-15-2010, 05:41 PM

She can be fixed and still compete in the performance venues in AKC. Just not the conformation ring.

I would prefer to wait and spay after at least 2 heat cycles. I prefer for my dogs to have all their hormones while they are growing.

Kay · 09-15-2010, 05:59 PM

I don't want to interfere with her growth; I want her to get as large as she possibly can. I love the way large German Shepherds look (I know she isn't a male...but still). Her head kind of looks ...small right now, but I'm sure that will change. Her parents were both nice sized dogs.

I have no plans with the conformation ring, as long as I can compete for things like CD & CDX to start, that'll do.

BUBBAGSD · 09-15-2010, 07:56 PM

The same is true with the canadian kennel club , you can trial in the performance events (obed, rally etc) but not conformation

angelas · 09-16-2010, 01:58 PM

You can compete in CKC obedience, rally-o, agility, tracking, draft, etc with a spayed dog. You cannot compete in conformation with one.

However, you can NOT compete in obedience, rally-o, agility, etc with a bitch in season. So that might be a reason TO spay in your case. They you don't have to worry about her going into heat the night before a trial.

Kay · 09-17-2010, 01:07 AM

Thanks for the info!

09-15-2010, 05:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kay Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 126	Question about spaying and CKC Obedience I'm thinking about getting into obedience with my GSD (she's 6 mths now). When I first got her I didn't really consider competitive obedience, but after going to puppy class and working with her, I have noticed that she loves to work and is very eager to please (especially if food is involved). I too enjoy working with her. Her wait and recall are excellent, and her stay is pretty good too. I've never done competitive obedience before, but the lady who teaches my puppy class and my breeder both compete so they'll hopefully show me the ropes. One question I had was regarding spaying and competing. My pooch was sold on a non-breeding contract, and I never want to breed her anyway, so instead of dealing with heat cycles I want to get her spayed. Can she be fixed and still compete? Also, what age should she be spayed at? I've heard conflicting things; some say as soon as she's 6 mths, others say after she's 2 yrs because the hormones control her growth...ect. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

09-15-2010, 05:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
liv Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 486	My breeder recommended waiting as long as possible, but that we risked going through a cycle. We wanted to get it done before her first heat, so we pushed it to 10 months. She has still grown a lot since the spay - she's now almost 27" at 17 months but grew nice and slowly. I don't compete at present, but I can't imagine why you wouldn't be able to - someone correct me if I'm wrong. __________________ Liv Kokoda - GSD - 31.03.09 Onyx - GSD - 05.09.09 The man on top of the mountain didn't fall there --Anonymous

09-15-2010, 05:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
JKlatsky Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,985	She can be fixed and still compete in the performance venues in AKC. Just not the conformation ring. I would prefer to wait and spay after at least 2 heat cycles. I prefer for my dogs to have all their hormones while they are growing. __________________ Argos vom Eisernen Loewen VPG1, CGC, TC 3-3-07 Bianka vom Eisernen Loewen BH, CGC, TC 1-3-08 Cade vom Eisernen Loewen CGC 3-25-09 D'Artagnan (Tag) vom Eisernen Loewen 2-2-10 G Aiko von Burkndeiros SchH 3, IPO3, FH, TC, KKL2 9-17-02

09-15-2010, 05:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kay Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 126	I don't want to interfere with her growth; I want her to get as large as she possibly can. I love the way large German Shepherds look (I know she isn't a male...but still). Her head kind of looks ...small right now, but I'm sure that will change. Her parents were both nice sized dogs. I have no plans with the conformation ring, as long as I can compete for things like CD & CDX to start, that'll do.

09-15-2010, 07:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
BUBBAGSD Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: STRATHROY Posts: 163	The same is true with the canadian kennel club , you can trial in the performance events (obed, rally etc) but not conformation

09-16-2010, 01:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
angelas Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: East Central SK Posts: 1,459	You can compete in CKC obedience, rally-o, agility, tracking, draft, etc with a spayed dog. You cannot compete in conformation with one. However, you can NOT compete in obedience, rally-o, agility, etc with a bitch in season. So that might be a reason TO spay in your case. They you don't have to worry about her going into heat the night before a trial.

09-17-2010, 01:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kay Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 126	Thanks for the info!

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