Dogs can recover from an ACL tear without surgery within 6 to 12 months. However, several factors have an impact on a dog's recovery time, including whether they attend rehab or not, and their size and weight. A small dog is more likely to recover faster - one study reports that 85% of dogs weighing less than 30 pounds recovered by six months, whereas those weighing more than 30 pounds did not. Both groups needed at least 6 months to show improvement in their symptoms. This is important to note because dogs weighing under 30 kg and those with minor ACL tears are not always good candidates for ACL surgery. Instead, dogs who cannot undergo surgery should be kept well-rested, given pain relief, and rehabilitation therapy as directed by a vet.