Would appreciate any thoughts on this. I am aware of the basic pros and cons of spaying and understand that it will affect the coat etc. Poppy is 10 months old and is booked in for being spayed in a couple of weeks - three months after the start of her first season.

What I'm less sure of is the impact it's likely to have on her character - your views would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Karen.

We had libby spayed about the same time (3 months after her first season) and all, well most of her hair fell out
The vet did various tests, and concluded it was shock/reaction to being spayed :( Her coat has grown back, and I can't notice any difference in her character; but I guess all dogs are different, and some will react differently.

I'm sure others will be along shortly with their experiences :)

liberty

hi there i had my girl spayed and she has the horriblest coat now plus she wees everywhere been to the vetsand he just said sometimes it makes there bladder a little weaker thank god shes only small.

Spaying has no effect on guarding, working ability or other characteristics etc etc in my personal experience of both my own dogs and many others.

Hi,
The bitches that I've had spayed haven't changed their characters at all.
:)

Not in my experience, it can certainly change coats but that's all I have noticed.
I had a bitch who was a nightmare when she was coming into season - not PMT exactly but became extremely disobedient - running off and refusing to come etc.. generally she as good as gold so it was apparently season-related, she was a 6 month girl and after she was spayed she carried on this behaviour for several years every 6 months at the time she would have come into season - although it eventually wore off in middle age

SB.

Hi Karen
I had my dobe bitch spayed due to her having phantom pregnancies, her character didn't change at all, the only thing that altered was the weakness in her bladder, but if you are waying up all the pros and cons this for me and for her was a decision I did not regret.

Good Luck :)

Karen,

I do not know what breed Poppy is, however, spaying does not always change coat. In some breeds, it even improves coats in bitches.

I have never had a spayed bitch that became incontinent because of spaying, touch wood. It is relatively uncommon, even though it seems to be fairly common on this Board. I understand that if such a problem does develop it can be controlled with medication. Unless of course it is the surgical intervention itself, rather than stopping hormone production, that creates the problem.

The character or personality of my bitches did not change at all after spaying. The only change in behaviour I have ever noticed with spayed bitches has been with my Cairn that was spayed last month. She has stopped humping the loose sofa pillows. :-) I had a bitch that was spayed before her first season and she would occassionally attempt to hump the back of my leg as I walked - so I am not sure it is directly related to hormone production.

Stacey

Dear All

Many thanks for your replies - it seems that character change isnt a real issue so that to some extent puts my mind at rest. Again, it looks like we're back to the adv. and disadv. of spaying. Poppy is a mini schnauzer and I have read that spaying will affect her coat - this isnt a great problem as she is clipped every 8 weeks or so and is a pet, not a show dog. She is 10 months old and we have booked her in for spaying on 3rd Nov. (3 months after start of 1st season). I feel a little worried regarding what I understand to be a v. slight risk of incontinence, but feel that i have to weigh this up against not being able to take her out for many weeks of the year and that we have several intact male dogs in our neighboroughood.

Many thanks to you all - I think I'm going to be really worried on the day! But, at least it sounds as though the Poppy we know will be just the same!

Karen.