[Harley_chik]

This is just me, but w/ a standard I would wait longer. There have been studies (I'm sure you can find them w/ google) linking early spay/neuter w/ HD. You should look them up and decide if they are relevant to your situation. IMO, there are good reasons to wait and good reasons to go ahead at 6 months or before the first heat.

 

[Harley_chik]

HD is not always hereditary and can be caused by strenuous activity at a young age or injury. It makes sense to me that if early spay/neuter can affect the way a dog structurally matures, it could be linked to(I never said cause) HD. I'm not saying any study is gospel, only that they're worth looking at IMO.


http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf
http://www.acc-d.org/2006%20Symposium%20Docs/Session%20I.pdf