When I owed a Great Dane, who was intact, I used to get confronted all the time when I lived in Austin, TX. People there are very dog interested and want to tell you what you should do with your dogs. My Dane was never neutered, never bred, and never had any growth related issues. I did run across the occasional nutso that asked me if they could stud to him, but I explained why he was never going to be bred (Merle, conformation issues). I never had anyone push it to the point of pissing me off. Heree in Mass. everyone seems to mind their own business. My vet did not even ask me if I was planning to neuter or not to and certainly did not push it.
I do agree with Catia on the "general public" issue. I do not believe most dog owners are capable or prepared to handle an intact male or female dog. I strangly have no issue with lying to the public either. The amount of educated and responsible dog owners is a small percentage of the population, but the greater majority are people who either cannot understand scientific research or have no desire to understand it. They want a fast, simple reason that they can embrace and make sense of. The spay and neuter campaigns have provided that. If someone is going to make the choice not to spay or neuter, it should be an educated decision and one they researched well before deciding. If they cannot be bothered to understand why they should not spay or neuter at 6mos, then they probably are not prepared to handle a hormonal dog (at least a large or giant breed).
On the Great Dane forum I am a part of, they(reputable breeders) often recommend spaying/neutering around 8-10mo to avoid the behavioral issues with hormonal maturation. Is that the best thing for growth, certainly not, but will it save some dogs from being rehomed due to undesirable behavior that owners are too lazy or stupid to train out, yes. I can see the good intentions in the Spay/Neuter campaign. Trying to stop accidental or stupidly planned litters, trying to avoid hormone driven behavior in poorly trained dogs that cause them to end up in shelters or rescues, and to increase the chance of positive dog on dog interactions by removing hormones. I see the good there, and for a lot of people it heavily out weighs the bad.
For me? I do not believe in altering my dogs until they are 2-3years old. It is a decision I am prepared and happy to defend, and I have no issue telling someone that we will "agree to disagree".
