Originally Posted by
Annette47
It doesn’t stunt it, but it can affect it because the hormones determine when the growth plates on the long bones close, so dogs that have been neutered before puberty often end up taller and leggier than those that are left intact until they fully mature. Also it’s been found that there is an increase in knee injuries in these dogs - because the angle of the bones have changed. Males neutered early also don’t always get that nice big broad Labrador head. Of course, it depends on the breeding as well, but studies have been done on the effects of early neutering. Personally, unless I had a compelling reason to, I would let my dog fully mature before contemplating neutering ... but doing so also requires being vigilant that he can’t roam the neighborhood impregnating other dogs.