[selzer]

Nope, getting the bitch spayed early only helps reduce the risk of breast cancer and getting a dog neutered early helps reduce the risk of testicular cancer (less than 1/2 of 1% of dogs will get this and it is relatively easy to cure -- good prognosis). However, what they fail to meantion is that spay and neuter early in bitches and dogs increases significantly the incidences of osteosarcoma, bone cancer, which has a terrible prognosis and is an awful way to die.

Neutering a dog before he stops growing, before the growth plates close can cause the long bones to continue to grow and can produce a leggy dog. Further there is a correlation between hip dysplasia and early spay/neuter.

I have eight dogs, none of them are spayed or neutered, though I expect to spay my older girl soon, as it does reduce the risk of pyrometra (spelling?). I would probably wait for both males and females until they were a minimum of 24 months before spay/neuter. Before I knew better, I neutered the pup I gave to my parents. I am hoping that he does not suffer any of the possible consequences. He is significantly taller than the rest of the pups in my litter, so that may have played a part.

 

[selzer]

Spaying should not change the behavior of a bitch, at least, it should not make them less likely to perform well in schutzhund.

But there is plenty of evidence that early spay/neuter does correlate with cancer. So it is not for me.

Keeping your bitch intact does not mean that you have to have puppies.

Keeping your dog intact does not mean that you have to have puppies.

You may have to be a little more vigilent.