We have heard lots of mixed messages about whether or not to have our Cocker bitch spayed or not. She will be one in January and we would like your advice as to whether or not we go ahead with the operation.
Chris Winton.

Hi it really is up to you, can you cope with having a bitch in season every six months and not being able to take her out for those three weeks because of male dogs after her and not leaving her in the garden on her own just in case a dog jumps in and then in later life   there is the chance that she might get an infection of the womb and to survive  she would have to be spayed, that is the case for spaying the against well if she was a very good cocker an you were winning in the show ring and wanted to breed from her? it's up to you lots of luck

Corso Girl
Why do you say not taking a bitch out for three weeks when in season.My bitch goes out.
I think most responsible dog owners make it so no other dogs can get in their gardens.
There are a lot of very nice dog who arn't shown.
In my opinion lots of times in the show ring judges judge faces and not the dogs.
Chow

It is entirely your decision whether you have your bitch spayed or not - nobody can tell you what to do, you must weigh up the pros & cons & make your own mind up. If you do decide to have your Cocker spayed, you will have to be prepared for her coat to become thicker & woollier & need much more frequent grooming & trimming. If you neglect this, the coat will become matted & be very uncomfortable for your dog. You will also have to pay close attention to diet & exercise - many (not all) neutered Cockers have a tendency to put on excess weight after spaying/castration, but this can be controlled if you are observant & monitor carefully the amount of food needed to keep your dog healthy & trim.

Ask yourself why you are doing it, is it because you can't face dealing with her seasons. If so do not believe the scare stories, unless you live in a very unfortunate area or next door to someone with a male who they will not look after, then you will not have a horde of randy dogs at your door step. You can take her out, if you can use the car so you do not leave a trail between the front door and the park. Take her in the car to a quite place and keep her on the lead, you will find you can cope without too much trouble. Is it because you are worried about pyometra, it is a serious disease but if you ask your vet what to watch for, you would be unfortunate not to find it in good time to have it treated. There is also a reduced risk of mammary tumour, ask the vet how to check for that and don't panic most will not be cancer.

Down side, well, I have spend years looking into the effect on dogs of castration but do not know what the full effect is on bitches, except for the coat and skin problem and sometimes as they get older the tendency to drip urine, but you can't remove what amounts to somewhere over a ¼ of a organisms hormonal system without some side effect.

So it is up to you to decide, if you can cope with the bitch as she is, keeping her safe from becoming pregnant, and willing, should she be got at by accident to take her to the vet to make sure she does not take and you are prepared to check her when you groom her, then you will have no trouble, if not then you had better get her spayed.

Males are what I like and have had most of but I have owned 5 bitches and none have ever been miss-mated and none spayed until well over 7 years and then only 3 of them. They have all been exercised whilst in season. None have escaped from the garden. Never had a stray male visit. None have developed mammary tumours.  Have had one bitch who was spayed because of advanced pyometra/ womb infection allowed to get to the latter stages because we all thought she was in whelp.