To spay or not to spay that is the question

At 21 months old The Huntaway is going under the knife.  We've decided to get her spayed, but it is not a decision we have taken lightly.

We are not going to breed from her, thats for certain.  We've discussed it sure.  But at the end of the day, there are enough puppies in the world.  The Huntaway does not need to be adding to that population.

There is the argument that when a bitch goes through her first heat there are hormones released that help support the rest of her growth, so we decided to let her have  at least one heat before we spayed her.

I have to say I hate putting her through an operation she doesn't "really"need. But at the end of the day I guess The Huntaway called it.  Its not that her heats bothered us, they bothered her.
When she goes through a heat she becomes a miserable, stressed out, unhappy dog and if we aren't going to breed from her then why put her through it?

So next Wednesday is the big day, and I am trying to stay calm for her sake, but boy oh boy I can't wait till this is all over and she is home safe and sound