I have a 6 month old working cocker spaniel bitch who I got from a friend who wasn't coping with her. She is perfect in every way - confident, happy and brilliant with all dogs and people.
I have to take her to work with me where there is other dogs and also at home I don't have an enclosed garden.
I had intended letting her have 1 season then having her spayed although it would be very difficult/ near impossible keeping her totally separate from other dogs during this time.
My vet is happy to spay her now which seems like a good option. There is plenty of information on the pros and cons health wise of early spaying but not so much on the behavioural effects. Do you think it would spoil her fantastic temperament?

Difficult to say , certainly more is written about the effect of early spaying and behaviour on male dogs but would guess its not too different for females. The biggest problem is that they can become nervous aggressive without the hormones for normal development. It sort of keeps them as puppy like , great for us  maybe but not so great for them  as they don't grow mentally  and mature as well as they could . Adult dogs can be confused by the behaviours on meeting them and trouble can start.
My first worry even greater than temperament changes  would be the joint and ligament problems especially cruciate  and the high risk of cancers in spayed bitches. I know vets will tell you  that's the rates of some cancers drop which is true  but what is often  not told is that the rates of other cancers increases enormously and they are often the more difficult ones to treat. Hormones are needed for so much more than reproduction and unfortunately vets tend to assume a dog isnt going to be controlled enough during season. That is also often their experience
iWould it be possible for someone else to have her during seasons ? or even part kenneling during the day and then on lead and being vigilante when in your garden ? Another thought is could someone come in and see her for that few weeks rather than take her to work , and perhaps fence part of the outside area so she can run safely ?
I cant picture a none enclosed garden and a dog even out of season, it sounds like a nightmare , perhaps I have misunderstood. If you really cant find a solution then maybe early spay will have to the option rather than a accidental litter

Please do not spay until at least a year old. Your girl will need her hormones to mature properly. It may also affect her growth platelets which could stay open and her growth rate will be affected. I am a groomer and groom several dogs that have been spayed too early. One in particular (springer spaniel), beautiful boy, but at the age of 6 years is still very puppy minded and difficult to control. I know that this may be the owners fault but he is very oversized and to be honest, totally bonkers. Not an expert on springers and know they can have a high work drive, but like I said he is totally bonkers and such hard work. His "partner in crime" a 3 year old bitch, has only recently been spayed and she is the sweetest girl, normal size and very well behaved.

I have read that bitches spayed too early especially before first season can become spay incontinant. Dont know the details as only ever had dog but may be worth googling to find out more.

I have no first-hand experience with early spaying other than with my Whippet.   My then vet wanted me to let her have a season first, citing bone development problems (growth plate closure) and the potential for spay incontinence.   As I had an elderly and ill entire Basset at home (who wouldn't have been up to the job but didn't need to have a bitch in season anywhere around) I made arrangements with a local kennel to board her when she did come in.    As it happened by the time she was 11 months there was no sign of any season starting, so I took her back and asked him to go ahead.   Of course I don't know how she'd have been had she had one season but she's now 7.5 years and absolutely fine.   I do believe the later a bitch is spayed (the more seasons they are allowed to have) the more is the risk of mammary, uterine or ovarian cancer.   Although all our Basset girls were spayed once retired.   We only had one with mammary cancer in her 13th year.

I think it's more likely to see a behavioural change in a castrated male but again each dog is an individual.

I'd never castrate a male of under a year but I might/have spay by around 8 months.   I do not believe in spaying a young puppy as some Shelters will do although I understand why they do.

If there is any chance of her getting caught, especially when still a puppy, and your vet is happy to spay, I'd get it done.

My last four dogs have all been bitches and have had them spayed both before and after their first season. The two spayed early did have a tendency to be more puppyish and one suffered crusciate damage at 8 years. Given the breed, golden retriever, I now appreciate that it is better to spay them later to allow the bones to finish growing and for the correct hind leg angulation to be achieved. Looking back at old pictures of the two spayed early I can see how straight their hind legs were compared to my current dog who has far better angulation. Didnt have any signs of spay incontinence from the early or later spayed girls.
I was only going on vet advice when it came to spaying with the first three and with the one I have now I made the decision on timing from what I have since read and breeders advice. The vet would have spayed her early if I wanted.

Please read this report by Laura J. Sanborn, M.S.

On the negative side, spaying female dogs
• if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a
common cancer in larger breeds with a poor prognosis
• increases the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 2.2 and cardiac hemangiosarcoma by
a factor of >5; this is a common cancer and major cause of death in some breeds
• triples the risk of hypothyroidism
• increases the risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6-2, a common health problem in dogs with many
associated health problems
• causes urinary “spay incontinence” in 4-20% of female dogs
• increases the risk of persistent or recurring urinary tract infections by a factor of 3-4
• increases the risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis, especially for female dogs
spayed before puberty
• doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract tumors
• increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
• increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations
One thing

All things considered I woudl always wait amd fond a safe way round the 4 weeks ( I am cautious ) twice a year for the good of the dogs

> Looking back at old pictures of the two spayed early I can see how straight their hind legs were compared to my current dog who has far better angulation

Isn't this down to genetics?

It could be but it has also been found that spaying can affect the closure of growth plates and early spayed dogs can grow to have longer/straighter legs than none spayed dogs. Not ideal in some breeds and  risk of attending joint problems

Mamabas
I've been told by GR breeders that the growth plates in the hind legs are the last ones to 'set', I suppose it is the same for other breeds too, but don't know. Great store is given to good angulation apparently.
I can only speak from my experience, but the two that were speyed later had better angulation then the two that were speyed early. None of the dogs were directly related to each other.

Does anyone know whether the Guide Dog organisation has any statistics on this as all their bitches are spayed very early as far as I am aware, they see an awful lot of dogs so would be well placed to have information on this. I understand that American shelters spay dependant on weight which seems very arbitrary, don't know what they do with very small breeds though

The "This Morning" guide dog had its first season a few weeks ago and is being spayed in a few months if I recall correctly.

edit
When are guide dogs neutered?

With the exception of breeding dogs, all guide dogs are neutered. Male puppies are castrated during the puppy-walking period at approximately 8 months of age. Bitches are spayed after their first season, which is usually after returning to one of our centres for training. Neutering of guide dogs is carried out by Guide Dog approved veterinary practices.

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/services/guide-dog-services/guide-dog-owners-resources/guide-dog-health-care/routine-dog-health-checks/neutering/#.VyjaEIfmpOQ

Lynneb
Please do not spay until at least a year old. Your girl will need her hormones to mature properly.

I agree with Lynneb & any others which are similar in meaning.
.

Yes re growth plate closure (potential for premature closure) and yes to maybe taller with spaying before the first season.   However, I still maintain you breed for good angulation so can't see how early spaying can affect the actual angulation.   Sorry.

Champdogs Blog: The Pros and Cons of Neutering

Because removing the hormones early delays the closure of the growth plates in the long bones, so they get a little longer.