I would like some advice on spaying a golden retriever. At 6 months or not at all? I do not wish to show her or breed from her. Someone suggested her coat would be ruined. Others suggested waiting until she is over a year and has had one heat.

It is likely to make her coat more wooley, but not as bad as what it does to some breeds like spaniels.

I have a 10 year old Goldie bitch that I used to take out with mine. she was spayed at 6 months, and never grew up. I no longer take her out as she will not act her age, and damaged her Cruciate a couple of years ago, but cannot resist playing like a mad thing with any young dog she meets!

I(t may be coincidence, but most bitches I know who were spayed before puberty exhibit this immature puppy behaviour. I would wait until she was over a year, so probably after her first season, 3 months befiore th3e next one would be due. If she comes in very young, then wait until after second one. JMHO :D

Agree with you Barbara, in fact with breeds like ours and Labs, who are late to mature, I would say 2 years is soon enough. Supose it depends on whether the owner can cope with the seasons or not and if they are able to contend with a 12 year old puppy :) Jackie H

Hi guest,

I've got two goldie bitches, one was spayed at 6 months and the other is due to be spayed on Wednesday, at the age of nearly 2 years. Ellie, the older one has suffered no side effects other than a thickened and coarsened coat, but I've found that most people consider a thick coat to be 'typical' of the golden retriever. So far, Tess, the younger one who is due to be done on Wednesday, has a fine, silky outer coat and I'm sure this will change.

However, Tess is being spayed due to the many problems we have had due to her season and hormones. Her hormones triggered aggressive and hyperactive behaviour and also caused phantom pregnancies and a possible (we won't know until she's been opened up) cyst in her womb. I don't mean to say that this will happen to you, but it is possible.

There is also the additional hassle of cleaning up whilst she's bleeding, making sure that no dogs get near her (very important!!) and pretty much not letting her out of your sight for 3 or 4 weeks.

Yes, the coat is no longer a 'show' coat, but I think if you're not planning to show or breed your bitch, it is worthwhile getting her spayed as early as your vet recommends.

Just my opinion.

Enjoy your goldie - they're great!!! :D

Paula

P.S Ellie grew up mentally about the age of 2 and a half. She's more grown up than me now :D. Some goldies never grow up though, not necessarily because they're spayed young. Some just seem to go from being puppies to being very 'old'. They're puppyish dogs when the urge takes them (bit like myself:D)

Greetings,
'Spaying your pet before her first heat (that is, before she reaches sexual maturity) greatly reduces her chances of developing breast cancer and completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, which are common occurrences in unspayed females. '
--- This is a quote from the pet benefit league. If you go on google.com & do a search for "benefits of spaying," there are all sorts of statistics to support this statement.

My Yorkie was spayed around 7 years old. She had several litters and eventually developed breast cancer-- all before she came to live with me at 8 yrs old. I had more health problems with her than any other bitch I've ever owned.

Around Feb. of each year, she would have a type of false heat. Tail crooking when males came up to her, be inviting to the "boys" and her personality would change. I never noticed this from any of the other spayed females I've had. But their surgeries were done from 4 months- 1 yr. Not as late as hers. Oh btw, she loathed puppies.

I don't know anything about immature females who should have matured before being spayed. Mine have all grown into adult behavior after their surgeries. But I've never had golden retrievers. Compared to wild dogs & wolves, our dogs are perpetual puppies anyway. It can also be that individual dog that would have ended up the same way regardless of her sexual status. Who knows?

I firmly believe that if you desire only a pet and that you aren't interested in the work that goes into proper breeding & showing, spay or neuter your canine. Health & sanitary reasons make it easier to decide this.
good luck with whatever you decide. Just love & enjoy your dog.
toodles

I totally Agree!!!!!
So many bad things are prevented by spaying/neutering your pet early. I don't believe in the corrolation between spaying and eternal puppyhood. I believe a dog has a certain personality regardless. Just my opinion. Over here labs and goldens are generally known to be very active until about two years---than usually generally calm down. This is regardless of spaying/neutering.