Sexually intact females often engage in behaviors that dog owners find unpleasant or inconvenient. For example, at various stages through a dog’s estrous cycle, she can exhibit anxious, moody, or nesting behaviors. Some people also find it a nuisance to deal with the bloody vaginal discharge that accompanies a dog’s estrous cycle. In addition, a dog in heat will attract unneutered male dogs to your property that may in turn engage in marking behaviors, barking, and possibly fighting. A spayed female will no longer go through estrous cycles, which eliminates this unwanted attraction. Incidentally, there are no documented behavioral advantages to allowing a female to go through a heat cycle or have a litter of puppies before being spayed.
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What are the behavioral benefits of spaying my dog?
Last Updated: September 09, 2010
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