[gemy]

According to Dr Christine Zink, small toy breed dogs growth plates close anywhere from 12-14 months. Larger dogs may take longer. How-ever one doesn't need to guess, a simple lateral Xray view of the Tibia (which is a leg bone), it is easy to tell if this growth plate, which is the last to close, has Closed.

I won't neuter a dog or spay a female until growth plate closure; and yes many studies show that the sex hormones play a great part in building bone density, and forming correct joint articulations; and that is only just one of the functions of the sex hormones.

Now physical maturity is often different to mental/emotional maturity. Razzle probably put on about a 1/2 pound of muscle mass between 2 and 3 yrs old. He now looks like a mature adult, which he is. Mentally he is still a bit of a pup and was especially a pup at 2 yrs old. He finished his boney growth at I would guesstimate 18 months old, but still looked leggy and skinny. His leg muscles really developed that second summer of swimming. His back muscles haunch, and shoulder muscles rounded out nicely at about 2.5 yrs old.