The intact male dogs thread got me thinking. I have been reading a lot about the effects of early s/n and would like to wait until future puppy is mature to alter. If I get a male I'd probably leave him intact indefinitely, but I'm really thinking a female is going to be better with my boys. I've never had a female, period, much less an unaltered female. How do they differ from spayed females? I've been around a lot of spayed girls and zero intact bitches so I'm curious. I think I would still probably spay once she's done growing because the thought of pyometra scares the crap out if me, but I'm still researching it (along with alternative options like the procedure that Blossom had done - I'm on pain killers and the name is escaping me!)