Getting the smaller pups in the litter. Will they catch up?

PugandTwoFrenchies · Feb 19, 2015

Hello all,

I've never had experience with getting the smaller pups in a litter, so I just wanted to hear from those who have been in (or seen) a similar situation.

We're adopting 2 siblings (male/female) who are the smaller pups of the litter, and I'm just wondering how their growth will be affected.

Will they eventually catch up and be of normal size, or will they always be on the smaller side?

Our other dogs have been of normal size for pups, so this is a first for me.

Thanks all!
At 7 1/2 weeks they are just 3 lbs. They have fat little bellies, though!

Jakeyjake · Feb 19, 2015

I can only tell you our experience with our two. Jake was of an average size in his litter and when we brought him home at 10 weeks, I think he was close to 8 lbs. We brought Stella home at 8 weeks and she was 4 pounds and much smaller. Jake is currently 2 yrs old and weighs 29 lbs. Stella is 15 mos. and weighs 20 lbs.The vet says she is underweight by a few pounds. Not sure if this really helps you, but I'm sure some others will chime in with some good info.

anns4boys · Feb 19, 2015

There are others in this forum who have gotten the smaller pup in a litter and when I took home my puppy in June - the runt of the litter who was only 3 pounds at 12 weeks old, I had the same question as you. I read through several threads and heard from lots of people. It seems the simple answer is .... it depends on the dog. Each one is different. Some of the runts have caught up to be normal size or even bigger, and others have stayed on the small size. My puppy is now 10 1/2 months old and is still undersized for a frenchie - haven't weighed her lately but I'm guessing she is no more than 17 pounds. But as I said, others on here have puppies who have caught up. I never cared how big she was, just that she was healthy, and that she is. Good luck with your puppies, and make sure you post lots and lots of pictures!

eeturk · Feb 19, 2015

Hudson was barely 3 pounds when we brought him home at 12 weeks. At 6 months he was 11 pounds, and the vet projected he would be around 20 pounds. He's a year now and weighs 29 pounds and is all muscle and very slim. They all grow and mature at different rates, and there's really no concrete way of knowing how big they'll turn out.

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PugandTwoFrenchies · Feb 19, 2015

Thanks so much, all! This is great to know. Only time will tell, I guess!

davidh · Feb 19, 2015

As others have said it is hard to tell, but usually they will be a little smaller than the rest, but not always. I would say they will be around 20 to 24 pounds but I could be wrong. In fact one of largest Great Danes in the world was the runt and he grew larger than any of his siblings, so you just never know.

shortstuff · Feb 20, 2015

We didn't get to meet Bisou when she was a little baby, but saw photos where she was the same size or slightly larger than her litter mates. When we brought her home at 16 weeks old, she was 12 lbs. I used all these calculators and formulas to estimate how big she'd get, and every one of them said 26-29 lbs. For 6-8 weeks after she came home she grew a pound per week and then just stopped. She's just shy of a year old now and has been 20-21 lbs for the past two months, maybe more. I'm sure she'll fill out a little more over the next year, as Frenchies are prone to do, but I think she may be just about done growing. Chances are, your puppies will end up in the middle of the spectrum and won't be tiny or massive... but who knows!

Alice Kable · Feb 20, 2015

Sounds like you got the message--it is an individual thing! I can't wait to see pictures of your babies! :heart:

winginit66 · Feb 20, 2015

Yep, You really can't predict. Wilson, who was the runt of his litter (with 2 really plump sisters, Olivia being one of them!) is now 27 lbs or more. Due to passive regurgitation issues after we brought him home, he lost weight, had to be on 3 meds and I weighed him on counter top scales daily. However, he recovered fully. I truly believe everything was just not developed enough as the vets could find no congenital defects contributing to the issues. Gidget stays right at 23 lbs (the solid cream one) and I haven't had Olivia weighed recently.

Anne, Gidget, Olivia & Wilson

CristianL · Feb 21, 2015

Our little miss wasn't the smallest in the bunch...they were all about the same size(their mother had 4 puppies) except one who was a little bigger but no earth-moon difference (in the picture she is the black one and the bigger guy is the one with his back turned to the camera).
At 8 weeks when we got her she weighed 5 pounds and she was a little tub of joy and sassiness (she would always growl and bark at us when something wasn't going her way). She is now 6 1/2 month old, at 22 pounds, she is turning to be quite a lady. She started filling in after turning into a little giraffe between 3 and 5 month, with long legs, neck and body.
Her sister (the white one next to her) is about the same weight so I guess being the same when little turned into being the same when growing.
The big guy (the one with his back turned) we don't keep tabs on but I guess he will be bigger when an adult(being a male), although for now, girls growing faster up to about a year or so, he could be about the same weight.

PugandTwoFrenchies · Feb 22, 2015

Here they are! We've had them for a total of 24 hrs so far and I'm pooped! They're sleeping now, thankfully. But when they wake up, oi... I'm having to paper train them at this time, as it's just too cold here in Calgary for them to go outside and do their business. (I tried, and they just shook like leaves) So I said, "Forget it...pee pads it is!"

They are just adorable. So sweet, and so smart! They're already recognizing their names and coming when called.

Jakeyjake · Feb 22, 2015

OMG I'm jealous. They are so cute! Have fun!

Tgirl · Feb 22, 2015

2 Frenchies!! The only thing cuter than a Frenchie, is TWO Frenchies! I bet they are a handful. Congratulations on the little sweeties.

FrancesTheFrenchie · Feb 22, 2015

This is just the question I was going to ask! They are just gorgeous=) My little Frances Bean is 2.5 pounds and is 12 weeks old. She was definitely the smallest of the little which I loved. She came right up to me so I knew she was the one! All of the puppy weight calculators chart her as weighing 10lbs as an adult, but I don't think that sounds very accurate. Anyone have any opinions

?

eeturk · Feb 22, 2015

Oh pugandtwofrenchies, you are giving me puppy fever!! They are so cute!

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eeturk · Feb 22, 2015

FrancesTheFrenchie said:
This is just the question I was going to ask! They are just gorgeous=) My little Frances Bean is 2.5 pounds and is 12 weeks old. She was definitely the smallest of the little which I loved. She came right up to me so I knew she was the one! All of the puppy weight calculators chart her as weighing 10lbs as an adult, but I don't think that sounds very accurate. Anyone have any opinionsView attachment 5490 View attachment 5491?

She looks a lot like my guy did in that first photo. He was about her size at that age, and stayed pretty small until 6 months (when he was 10.5 lbs). Now he's almost a year and a half and he's 29 pounds. You just never know! We thought he'd be under 20.
Then:

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424659807.681026.jpg

Now:

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424659987.628703.jpg

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PugandTwoFrenchies · Feb 23, 2015

Oh my goodness, eeturk, he's just gorgeous!!! Yeah, you never know.

We've had them for 2 days now, and the thing I've noticed is that they like to share a food bowl rather than eat out of their own dishes. As we were driving them home, I had texted the breeder asking how much she fed them, and she said, "I didn't really measure, but go by what the bag says." Now I'm putting 2 and 2 together and realizing that she probably fed all of the pups from one bowl. However, I don't like that, and want them to each eat out of their own. That way I know how much food they're getting.

Still, because they're on Iams (I'm currently transitioning them to Fromms. The breeder was from a small town, so no fancy dog food options where they live), the Iams feeding guide is a LOT, and the pups just can't finish all of the food that I give out. I wonder if they're just too small to eat that much? Haha It wouldn't surprise me, as they are smaller, and guidelines are just that; guidelines. You have to adjust accordingly.

They're snoozing now, which is why I have a moment of peace and quiet to post this!

Happy Monday, all!

Squishy Walnuts · Feb 23, 2015

Puppies!!! They are sooo cute!! Enjoy!

Mavis · Feb 23, 2015

OMG, those two puppies are adorable!!! Love their coloration. They will be an endless source of entertainment for you.

mhuinker · Feb 25, 2015

PugandTwoFrenchies said:
View attachment 5483 View attachment 5484 View attachment 5485

Here they are! We've had them for a total of 24 hrs so far and I'm pooped! They're sleeping now, thankfully. But when they wake up, oi... I'm having to paper train them at this time, as it's just too cold here in Calgary for them to go outside and do their business. (I tried, and they just shook like leaves) So I said, "Forget it...pee pads it is!"

They are just adorable. So sweet, and so smart! They're already recognizing their names and coming when called.

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!!!!