Golden Retriever Dog Forums banner

40 acres, no fencing...should I spay sooner rather than later?

1K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  lgnutah 
#1 ·
This is my very first post on the forum. I've looked over many posts, but each situation is different so I thought I'd seek opinions here.

Our sweet Golden Retriever, Maya, is 8.5 months old and not yet spayed. She's ~50 lbs and about 22.5 inches tall. I was hoping to let her go through her first heat cycle before getting her spayed, and she hasn't yet. We live on 40 acres in the country, with no fencing for her...she loves it here, and she loves to be outside. I'm terrified I'm going to miss her going into heat! I'm prepared to leash her outside the entire time she is in heat while outside, but how aggressive will male dogs be? What if I miss her going into heat? What if she accidentally sneaks out ONCE (I could leash her even inside, or crate her, to prevent it)?! I've researched what to look for and keep checking her, but no signs yet and I realize it could be months yet.

Last month she was in to the vet and diagnosed with puppy strangles (she's just finished weaning off her steroid and recovered beautifully), and while there the vet said she was 'close' to going into heat...whatever that means.

Ideally I'd like to wait until after her first cycle to have her spayed, but I'm worried I may not be able to fully control the situation once she does go into heat. We've also got 4 children at home (ages 12, 10, 8, and almost 6)...and they love to help, but can we really manage when the instinctual drive of a dog in heat takes over?

I haven't been through this before, and am just debating if I should get her spayed NOW, rather than wait, for her own safety (and my sanity!). Help!

Thanks for your input!

Sonia
 
See less See more
#3 ·
It's not as difficult a thing to deal with as some people imagine. The one thing you mention that would concern me the most is the children. You don't want one of them letting her out to run loose while she's in season. It may be a few months before she goes in. Gracie was close to her first birthday and I've heard that some, especially those from field pedigrees may be as old as 18 months at their first heat. Your breeder may be able to provide the best info as to when she should go in season as they often follow a pattern similar to their mother, grandmother etc.

As far as not knowing, you can find some vet's articles online which describe the 3 stages of the heat cycle in some detail. Usually you first notice some signs of bleeding, a few drops of blood on the floor. You should have plenty of notice before the middle of the cycle when your girl is most fertile. This is the point where you have to be most vigilant. Do you use a crate? I would suggest crating your girl when she's in season and you can't personally be with her and then leash walking her when she's outside.
 
#4 ·
First off, there is no excuse not to put up a fenced area around the house for her. I have 12 acres but still have a fenced area up for my boys - keeps them safe and gives me a peace of mind.
Secondly, I don't care how much acreage somebody has - it is still not a good idea to have any dog run loose around the property - if that is what you are doing.

As to going into heat - yes, I agree, controlled leash walks only - carry a big stick. Don't leave her in the yard unsupervised at all. If you don't think you can handle it - have her spayed.
 
#5 ·
First off, there is no excuse not to put up a fenced area around the house for her. I have 12 acres but still have a fenced area up for my boys - keeps them safe and gives me a peace of mind.
Secondly, I don't care how much acreage somebody has - it is still not a good idea to have any dog run loose around the property - if that is what you are doing.
This is so very true. I have two cautionary stories I tell people. The first was a breeder friend of mine, her house sat back over half a mile from the road, in the country on about 20 acres of land. She got into the habit of just letting the house dogs out to potty and then calling them back in awhile later. I told her and told her I didn't think it was safe but she thought she was far enough back from the road she didn't have to worry. One day she let her gorgeous 8 month old boy out and he didn't come back. She found him across that road that was a half mile away. He had been hit by a car and was in the ditch. He died soon after she found him.

The other one is a puppy I sold. These people lived at the end of a dead end road, nearest neighbor was a mile away, and they owned 200 acres. They loved that their boy could run and explore and was "safe." He too didn't come back one day, and they found him dead at the end of their drive way. Apparently the UPS truck didn't see him.

There is no place where it is safe to let your dog just run. If you have to drive to get to your house, then there is a road he or she can get to with vehicles that can be deadly. If you have pasture and woods, there are wolves, coyotes, unfriendly animals and traps to worry about-not to mention falling down a ravine or a gulley.

No we don't need to bubble wrap our dogs but we do need to exercise caution and protect them. My dogs got plenty of running in the fields and the woods, but I was always with them to protect them and try to keep them safe.
 
#6 ·
Thanks to all of your for your thoughts on the subject of getting Maya spayed. TheZ's was particularly helpful in reassuring me I can handle her while in heat, and that it's not likely I'd miss her going into heat. We do have a crate and will plan on using it when I can't have her leashed near me. You're right...I can't trust the kids with going in and out, and all it takes is once for her to sneak out. So I will make sure to keep her by me or in her crate, and certainly on leash (with a big stick!) while outside at all times.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top