I've got a male lab that has had the TPLO surgery on both back legs. I researched it thoroughly and TPLO is the way to go. When a dog tears one ACL the odds are they will end up tearing the other one too. It costs a bunch by my dog is fine and healthy now. Like it was said already, you must keep the dog inactive for a long period of time for the heeling process. I kept mine in a large wire crate. I had my labs surgeries at the MSU vet school. Great folks. They know what they're doing.