A little over a year ago, I had a beautiful family.   Then, I lost three pomeranians and my best friend Casper, a collie.   My wolfhound, Aura Lea, saved my heart from crumbling, though she was just a baby herself.  Now Aura Lea is one and half years old and the question of spaying comes up again and again.   The days of spaying at six months are now argued....there seems to be two fences.   Those on one fence say spay, it protects from cancer and infection and of course, pregnancy.   Those on the other think that canine bodies, just like human bodies, produce what is necessary to mature and grow; removing that production results in health issues down the road.

Me, I belong to the fence that says wait, especially in large breed dogs.   But now that fence has developed some bumps that I have to carefully navigate.   You see, we brought home a little collie puppy.   My heart missed Casper too much, I could not heal without another little baby to help me.  

And here lies the problem.   Collie people say don't neuter until 2, 3, 4, and sometimes 6 years of age.   How is it possible to have dogs of different gender in the house without spaying or neutering one of them.   And which do you choose.   How do you pick which pet, it is like choosing one of your children over the other.    Now, some say keep them separated during the heat cycle.   If I lived in Windsor Castle and had "wings," that would be possible.   How do you have eyes in front, in back, and on the side of your head at every moment.....

Much as the thought of wolfhound collie puppies sounds lovely, I don't wish to navigate that fence.   A responsible owner sees to it that there are no accidents; but in this time of varying opinions in veterinary medicine, achieving this is not so easy.   Each vet I talk to has his own opinion, each wolfhound group and collie group have their own opinions and I have spent a restless night deciding which fence post stands on the most solid ground.

Landon, my baby collie is three months old.   Aura Lea is approaching cycle number two any day now.   Right now, thoughts of play and food dominate my boy's mind, but in a few months.......instincts will take over.   I hope by then, I have this sorted out.

I know I will not be alone in this dilemma.   I suppose more families will be going the one gender route along that fence.   I like the personalities of girls and the personalities of boys, each brings his and her uniqueness to the family unit.  But unless this dilemma is sorted out, I fear there will be more puppies being born in responsible homes or those taking the easy way out and just spaying and neutering too soon to make life "easier." "Close-up"

Blessings,

Shirl