Love Sick

I have had a bit of a problem with dogs at my house this week. This is a subject that many pet owners want to avoid talking about, and even thinking about. Apparently my Isabelle has been a hot item on the town this week. About a week ago I noticed a little shaggy dog outside my house. I had never seen it before so I assumed it was a stray. I felt bad for it and took food out for it to eat. I later discovered he was not hungry at all, he was hot on the trail of Isabelle. She is going through her heat cycle and it makes me very uncomfortable. She is a year and a half old and I have not had her spayed yet. Her male suitor has stayed here, night and day, for a week solid. He is quite bigger than her and tries to attack her. I have had to go out with her on a leash or stand with rocks or a stick in hand when I take her out. He barks all night! Thursday night it was quite bad. I had to go outside in the middle of the freezing cold night and throw coke bottles at him to try to scare him away ( I know funny picture)! We have tried everything and he will not leave. I hope this week he will know it has ended and his job here is done!

I know I am going to have to make her an appointment to get spayed, but I have heard some bad side effects, as well as good ones. The pros are the obvious, preventing pregnancy as well as cancers. I have heard that the surgery could change a dogs personality. People have told me that it could make dogs lazy and not as full of life. I have read several articles on the internet and most of them seem to disagree. Some people have said that it could make male dogs have a slight change in personality in some cases but not for females. There is also a threat with the anesthesia on little dogs like mine. I would like to know if any of you have had experiences with the surgery. I do not want to have it done and make her personality change, but I do not want to take the chance on her getting pregnant by a dog like this one who is much larger than her and could really harm her.