What was the diagnosis? Hard to comment without knowing what type of surgery was recommended.

So are we talking surgery for luxating patella here? Because, if so, I would do it as soon as your vet thinks it's a good idea. Time without that surgery causes arthritis later in life. The longer you wait, the more arthritis you see. In the meantime, try and keep her from taking too many sharp turns, etc, as that can aggravate it.

If your vet is already recommending surgery and she's still a puppy, then there's no way the knee cap will fix itself. True luxating patella (where the knee cap actually slips out, not where it's "loose" and wobbles in the socket a bit while they're still a puppy) never fixes itself.

Here are some other threads on luxating patella and the surgery:
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/3096
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/3401
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/5798
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/6999
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/7161
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/7185

If it's luxating patella (check the links above) you're going to have to do the surgery sooner or later or you'll have worse problems--a torn anterior cruciate ligament or a torn medial cruciate ligament caused by the stress on the ligament from the knee slipping back and forth. Then you simply have a more expensive surgery with an even longer recovery time.

Been there, done that. I'm NOT doing the surgery on one of my Shibas (mill dog) because we already did it on one leg, and because she has too many other serious health issues to justify yet another several thousand dollar surgery. I am quite aware, though, that this means she will likely be euthanized early that normal because of the leg. (Her medial cruciate has already gone out). We're only not doing it because I don't expect that she will live a normal life span anyway given her other issues (epilepsy, kidney and liver problems, etc).

But otherwise? I'd do it. (you can get away with not doing the surgery for a cruciate tear sometimes, but not if it is is coupled with lp).

Get another vet opinion.

When it comes to surgeries, young pups have a way better recover rate than older dogs. Often, pups will recover fully and not show any lasting side effects of the surgery. the older the dog. the greater the chances that there would be surgical side effects such as loss of mobility and still a potential for arthritis. Getting a second opinion could resolve any fears you may have, but if surgery winds up being a must, better to get it done sooner than later.