A personal story about an ovary-sparing spay, four years of heat cycles, and what the newest UC Davis research says about timing — broken down by breed.

I'm sure most of you have heard the cautionary tales around spaying too early. There are studies on this, and it really depends on what type of dog we're talking about — and whether that dog is female or male. This post focuses specifically on dogs.

I want to share this from a personal perspective, but I'll also give you a link and a table from the most recent study by UC Davis, so you have real data to weigh alongside my experience.

Our Story With Gracie

As many of you know, rescue pups must be neutered as part of the adoption agreement. We got our Pitbull, Gracie, at 10 weeks old, and she had not yet been neutered. We negotiated with the rescue to put it off, but they would only agree to around 7 months of age.

So what did we do? We decided on what's called an Ovary-Sparing Spay. This is where the uterus is removed but the ovaries are left intact, which allows the hormonal cycle to continue as she matures.

What I'd Do Differently Now

If I could go back in time, I would most likely push back on the rescue's timeline entirely — while assuring them I'd prevent any pregnancy — and wait to neuter until after a few heat cycles, probably around 2 years of age.

Why the change of heart? Watching Gracie go through heat cycle after heat cycle, including some pretty intense false pregnancies, has been really difficult for both of us.

At this point, it's too late to remove the ovaries. Finding them now would be like finding a needle in a haystack — a serious surgery to locate and remove them cleanly. So Gracie is stuck with heat cycles at least a couple of times a year. I'm writing this now because she's just starting one.

I'm sharing this because sometimes what we think is the best option at the time doesn't look that way four years down the road.

Intact Males Come With Their Own Considerations

It's not just females. Intact male dogs can bring on their own set of behavioral challenges, largely driven by testosterone. These can include territorial marking, roaming (especially when a female in heat is nearby), and increased assertiveness or aggression around other male dogs. Some research also points to a stronger drive toward dominance displays, like mounting. That said, not every intact male shows these behaviors — genetics, socialization, and environment all play a role, and some studies suggest neutered dogs can show higher rates of certain anxiety-related behaviors by comparison. It's a trade-off worth understanding either way.

This Isn't a Judgment — Just Information

I also want to be clear: this is not a judgment on anyone else's situation. Not everyone is in a position to keep a dog intact for life, or even through one heat cycle. Intact females require careful management to prevent unwanted pregnancy, heat cycles come with real mess and behavioral changes, and not every household, living situation, or budget can accommodate that.

Rescues also have legitimate reasons for requiring neutering as a condition of adoption — it's about preventing more unwanted litters. So take this post as information to weigh against your own circumstances, not a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

What the Research Says

The risk of various diseases and injuries related to early neutering really depends on the size and breed of the dog. Below is the updated UC Davis chart — an update to the study originally released in 2020 — showing suggested neutering age guidelines across 40 breeds, split out by sex.

Reference UC Davis long term study: https://www.ucdavis.edu/.../when-should-you-neuter-or...