I have a large 6 month Rottie x GSD.  I was going to let her have a season then have her spayed 3 months later.
But I live on a housing estate and the part I live suffers terrible problems with anti social dog owners who allow thier dogs to roam and if they do go out with them they NEVER put them on a lead.  Many dogs are attacked by other dogs round here.  One person had the guts to report a dog after thiers was severely attacked for the 3rd time but thier family lived in fear and thier house was set fire too 3 times, the woman got shot at and so was thier house windows in the rooms they were sitting in. Her dog was also poisoned.
I live alone (I'm widowed) so don't want this hassle, so have decided it may just be safer to get my girl spayed now and she is booked in to be done Friday.  I also don't want unwanted puppies or my girl getting in whelp at such ayoung age.
Trouble is I keep reading about permanent incontinence afterwards which is worrying me sick especially as she has a docked tail. 
I have had bitches spayed in the past at 6 months but these were full tailed small breeds and never had any problems.
Please help me here, I can't keep my girl in for the duration of her season as she is very energetic and would get her self in a right hyped up state.  The garden is not enough for her.  She only gets walked 5 mins in the morning and 30 mins at lunch time but it just keeps her from bursting completely.
I can't see i have much option is she really going to high risk though if speyed, I'm going out of my mind here worrying and feeling in a no win situation.

Bev

Hi Bev,
I've had quite a few bitches spayed in the past (all large breeds) and have never had problems with incontinence.  I know it does happen, but have never had it happen to me.

Good luck,
Sarah.

Thanks Sarah, was yours done young at 6 months like mine will be and were any of them docked breeds as I keep hearing docked breeds are more at risk.

Hi Bev,
No, mine were done later.  They were between 1 and 3 years.  None of them were docked breeds, though I've not heard of docked breeds being more at risk and don't see why it should make much difference!

Sarah.

Some of the breeds who seem to ahve a higher incidence of incontinence after spaying ahppen to be docked, but theya re all large3 breeds, so I think it is the size, and therefore the longer maturing time needed that is the issue.

I assume Bev like me that you don't drive?  I would cointact the Dog wrden and see what they are going to do about the loose dogs.

I would still wait until after her first season to ahve ehr spayed.

Perhaps take her out very late or more likely early to avoid the loose dogs or just live with sahving her in for three weeks.

If she were in kennels she woudl only have limited space, so playing fetch int eh garden or games of hunt the toy/food woudl keep her mind occupied, espedcialy as is often the case she goes all mopey and takes to her bed during her season.  My bitches have never wanted to be very energetic during seasons :D

i would wait until she has had a season,& till she is over a year in age (at least).

try to be as careful as you can when shes in, keep her in when shes at the most "dangerous" time & keep her on a lead if you do take her out.

IF something did manage to "catch" her ,you could always ask the vet for the morning after pill!

i really do feel for you & your situation,good luck