I know this subject has been widely discussed here but I would like MORE opinions on this delicate matter.
My Golden Retriever bitch is going to be 1 year old next week. She is half way through her first season. I know I don't want to breed from her, not only are the cicumstances not right but I don't think she is a nice enough specimen either (sorry baby!). I have an old entire male and I know deep down in my heart that I prefer boys and their more flashing good looks and that my next dogs will be males. SO, I'm thinking of having my girl spayed.
Now, when is best? She is a slow maturer and still looks a bit lanky and puppy-ish and I don't want to stunt her growth or anything. Her coat is still very short too, I'm worried that the hormonal change might affect her development, as I'm still hoping she can "improve" her looks. How about mentally? Would it make a difference? She is so immature all over!
Also, I do not want to run the risk of incontinence, so is it better to wait longer?

I could wait another season or two if I have to. This one is not pleasant at all as the timing was wrong and my plan to have my boy sent away to my brother's fell through. So I have two very unhappy dogs pining for each other behind closed doors. The next ones should be smoother with Sam away from temptation!

Thank you for your thoughts and experience

Think you could open up a can of worms on this one. everyone has their own opinion on when or whether to have a bitch spayed.
i've had both my bitches done before their first season and have seen no change in them at all, so i'm happy with the choice i've made but alot of vets suggest you wait till after the first season so the bitch is matured.
I think your get so many different views from people on this one but your right to get it done if you don't want the problems of keep dogs apart, worrying about taking her for walks and not wanting to breed from her etc.
I'm sure alot of people will say the bitches coat changed, their body shape etc and many other things but maybe i've been lucky as my girls have turned out ok.   

I am considering having my 7 year old speyed.   Will be interested in others replies as well.
One vet does it via keyhole surgery and says that timing around seasons or in season doesn't make any difference.
My own vet does the ususal zip in the belly and would rather wait till she is two month past her season.

Now like you I will consider my options and make what I hope is the right decision.

I would do it midway between this season and next. 
For quite a few years now I have had my bitches spayed before thier first season which includes my Rottie x GSD that is now almost 4 years old now and not one of them has had a problem or grown any different to any other dogs of the same or similar breed.

Hi, my girl had a litter in January and i had her booked in for a spay recently. Unfortunately the vet decided that she was too close to being in season again so want to wait until after the next season (messy old business!)
She is 2 and a half. I must admit from my dog grooming days it does cause a negative effect on the coat if done before the bitch is fully in adult coat. I do also believe that it stunts the dog into hormonal limbo between adult and pup so best done when the girl is clearly fully grown, developed and adult. I won't be having my boy castrated unless i have to and then only when he is 18 months plus for this reason also.

That is just my opinion........

Hi Gaelle,

I'd recommend that for larger breeds such as your own that you wait if possible until at least 2 years of age.  Hormones play a major role in physical and *mental* maturity, just as they do in humans, and IME early neutering of either s@x potentially causes more problems than it allegedly prevents.

Bone substance, coat development and mental maturity can all be adversely affected by neutering too early and each, never mind all, of these carries negative consequences.

I appreciate that resident entire males can be problematic to deal with during seasons (been there, done that, still doing it :-D ) but the benefits IMO outweigh the negatives *if* complete separation or partial separation plus constant observation can be strictly adhered to by all household members.

regards, Teri

Thanks very much for your advice. It really makes it clearer for me. I think I will wait at least 1 or 2 more seasons, play it by ear and see when SHE looks like she's reach her full maturity. Like I say, the situation I'm in now is unpleasant, but it's hopefully not going to be the case next time she's in season as my boy should then be able to go away to my brother's. I am disappointed in her looks, I wanted a stunning show dog and she's turned out lanky and thin-boned, almost like a setter. So I do want to give her a chance to mature and improve.

I know coats are affected by neutering, but anybody got any more precision about this? What's your experience, what is a spayed Golden Retriever's coat like?

> I know coats are affected by neutering, but anybody got any more precision about this? What's your experience, what is a spayed Golden Retriever's coat like?

Hi again Gaelle,

doubtless someone with GRs will be around to help out but thought I'd add that coats are not always ruined by neutering, although IME of my breed (long, double coat) they are more often than not inclined to become softer, wooly, easily matted and furnishings on bitches excessive.  This is also common among friends' RCs, BCs and also Shelties.  What IME all neutered dogs and bitches seem to have in common - even in short/smooth coated breeds - is that they shed coat all year round rather than approx once for males and twice or so for bitches

regards, Teri :)

Cheers, brilliant information again!
I love when a forum works nicely like this....

Hi Gaelle,

Just a thought some lines of different breeds mature very differently, you may still have that stunning show dog but she may need a lot more time, she is only 1 and being in that she is still growing and maturing.
Not sure the average finishing time on a GR bitch is, but with the males in our breed it can be anything up to 3-4yrs before they are finished. Some are a lot earlier.
So before you rush into anything i would consider what Teri and others have said and also look into the lines of your bitch, saying that my lines seem to mature very quickly, but my boy is the odd one out.. He is coming on and the results in the ring are proving this..

You're right. She is from a slow-growing line. Nevertheless, she's got thin bones, thin legs and that's not going to change anymore. Her topline is disappointing too and that's not going to change anymore... I will give her another year anyway and see then.
Can't you show a spayed girl at all?

I thought that the closing of the plates are from 18months to 2yrs for a large breed dog, she still has time.. Don't write her off yet, i did with my boy verbally and he is coming on nicely now. He just went through that lanky awful stage and even though i love him i wasn't impressed, i changed his diet and it all went from there tbh.

>Can't you show a spayed girl at all?

Yes you can. All you have to do is inform the KC and they'll give you permission to show.

stupid question : how would they ever find out anyway?

Hi
just about to put it into words myself, then read this from Teri  and it sums it up IMO.

thanks

I had a collie x lab bitch who was no different coat wise after speying .
She bounced back from the op very quickly - in fact when i went to pick her up she was following the receptionist around behind the desk in reception  !

I am afraid that a GR's coat goes very woolly. As said previously they shed huge amounts of coat all year around. To show you will have to have permission from the KC. The other thing is that you constantly have to watch their diet and reduce food as they tend to go overweight very easily.

I can vouch for changes in coat after a spay, I was looking at photos of my GR's 'pre-spay coat' yesterday and it nearly reduced me to tears! Her coat is pretty much like cotton wool now and goes off in all directions, not only is it a bit unattractive it is also very difficult to manage. Her coat before her spay was soft, flowing and beautiful! Of course it isn't a deciding factor when thinking about spaying but it is something to consider.

I have a 3yr old spayed golden retriever,that now looks like a woolly bear,and is on a diet,given the choice again having known how she has gone, i would not of had her spayed.
My other GR is 2yrs and 5mths not spayed and has a beautiful coat and is only just maturing now,from being a lanky skinny thing to a lovely looking girl.
So dont be to dissapointed gaelle i think you may be surprized in a years time what your goldie will look like.