Question for breeders about size of puppies
I was wondering if there's any correlation between size of the puppy at birth and size as an adult. Do the smaller puppies tend to be smaller as adults (or more standard size, I guess)? If a puppy is premature and is born very small, does it tend to remain small as an adult? Thanks so much in advance for any experience you've had in this area. Sheryl |
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| In my experience size at birth or even at 8 weeks has no bearing on the size they will be as adults. I have had the smallest puppy at 8 weeks turn into the largest of the bunch as an adult. A good guideline would be to look at the size of the parents. This should give you a rough idea as to what your puppies size will be. |
| Wow! That is so interesting! I was expecting puppy size to be indicative of adult size, but I was wrong. Thanks so much! |
| The average weight for OES pups at birth is usually between 12-16 oz no matter the size of the parents but it can vary a LOT. Most of my pups have been 18-22 oz at birth but I did have one litter with some very small babies, they ranged from 7-9 oz and were not premature. I kept a boy from that litter, he was 8 oz at birth and now weighs about 95 lbs at 16 months old, he's huge LOL Really the best way is to base it on the size of the parents, and even then it can vary some. One of my biggest pups at birth (23 oz) grew to be just an average sized girl at about 70 lbs. |
| Thanks! How about a preemie who was 4 oz. at birth and is now 8 oz. at 10 days old? Does anyone have any experience with preemies? Do they generally catch up and grow up healthy like normal weight babies? |
rosesofpink wrote: Thanks! How about a preemie who was 4 oz. at birth and is now 8 oz. at 10 days old? Does anyone have any experience with preemies? Do they generally catch up and grow up healthy like normal weight babies? Many times they do. A friend's bitch had a litter with an obvious runt. That was the pup she kept. She (Mojo) developed normally (lots of work was given to make this puppy thrive!) and is a beautiful 2 yr old now who is bigger than her mom. I have a show picture somewhere, but not uploaded! Here she is at about 8 months old, at a playday at a dog park. Chewie is on the left, Mojo in the middle, mom Bebe on the right. Chewie and Mojo are cousins - Bebe and Chewie's mom Mad Dog are littermates.  This is also true in other breeds, not just OES. I grew up with Brittanys (we raised, showed , field trialed and hunted) and I remember one runt that turned out oversized (per breed standard). It was amazing when the new family brought her back to visit and learn some hunting training. |
That's amazing! What a beautiful dog! (All of them are in your picture!)  I LOVE Sheepdogs so much! I have never owned one, but will be a Sheepdog mommy at the end of July or beginning of August, depending on which puppy the breeder thinks would be a good fit for my family. I can't wait!I'm so glad to read what you wrote because the little girl I'm talking about is soooooo cute and I kind of hope to get her. I won't know for another 5 or 6 weeks which one I'm getting (there are 3 others from another litter), but she was a lone survivor out of 6 puppies who died due to the mom going into labor approx. 7-10 days too soon. I just love the way she is doing her best to survive, though! Of course the breeder is doing HER very best to keep her thriving and she should get the full credit, but that little peanut is working hard too! She is so inspiring!  |
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