Anonymously,
While that may be so for smaller dogs, with large and giant breeds it is now recommended to wait until at least 18 months-2 years of age to ensure the growth plates have fully fused. If you looked at the research, all dogs neutered prior to a year old had significant increases in hip and elbow dysplasia, and it was still increased although to a lesser extent, in dogs neutered below 2 years of age. I might have done it at 18 months for Galen, but since he’s small for a Shiloh Shepherd and still is showing some signs of gaining in height, I’ve chosen to wait an extra 6 months until after he’s 2. At the same time, I’ll be getting him preventative gastropexy to prevent GDV (Gastric Dilation volvulus, a condition commonly known as bloat and quite deadly), to ensure his risk is significantly lowered for that. Fortunately his VPI/Nationwide insurance now has a plan that covers preventative gastropexy, the only plan I know of that actually does cover it! The biggest key, though, is closure of the epiphyseal plates (growth plates).
