Since the original question has already been answered, I thought I'd comment on the 'before/after is better' thing. I personally don't believe it's better either way, I prefer to do it after their first heat and at around 18 months of age....that's me. Others prefer to do it before, and since watching a dog like a hawk can be a difficult task for some owners when their dog is in heat then it is usually recommended that a dog be spayed before. That, and every heat they have, the risk for certain cancers rise, but that doesn't concern me as I personally don't feel the risk increase is that big.