What are your opinions on when to spay a gsp? Mine’s 5 months and the very is really pushing 6 months but I heard that is too young as they are still growing.
There are lots of articles on the pros and cons’ of neutering/spaying do lots of research before reaching a decision. Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs – DogTraining.World
I don't know much about the topic, but in the article that was shared there are more negatives than positives points if you spay or neuter a dog at such a young age.
This post is from two years ago. The OP has already made a decision regarding spaying their dog. As for the article, it is merely a general collection of possibilities. As the article states at the end, the breed, age and gender all change the outcomes. A recent study looked at 35 breeds and found that spaying/neutering between 6-11 months, 12-23 months, over 24 months, or leaving intact affected the different breeds and even gender within that breed regarding cancers and other health issues such as hip displasia. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full
I usually spay between four and six years, but these have been bitches that have been shown and may have a litter. I wouldn't spay a girl until she was fully mature - sex hormones aid the development of healthy joints and the laying down of hard muscle. The one exception was my rescued Tweed Lurcher whose prodigious jump and negligible recall made keeping her contained almost impossible. She was spayed after her second season. This picture was used as a poster in the base at the North West Working Trial Championships with the tagline: Going Walkabout is Easy When You've Done Working Trials. Not true. It should have read When You Go Walkabout, Working Trial Training is Essential!
