German line growth rate - Page 1

Can any of you confirm that the growth rate of German line puppies are comparatively slower than the American line puppies?

Is an 8 week old German line puppy suppose to weigh only 5-6 lbs?

Please help me out here.

Thanks!

That is small 10 -12 would be closer i know some one with 18 - 24 lb same age

That sounds very small, has he gone to see the vet yet?
My pups weigh about 5 pounds at about 2 to 3 weeks old, and by the time 8 weeks comes along, they range anywhere from 
12 pounds to 16, as I can recall.......

Not to say this could be a problem at all to you, but I checked out this link awhile back, it's interesting.

www.geocities.com/heartland/meadows/6074/

Apparently, the breeder said they have brought the litter to the vet.

Thanks for the link, arthury, that was very interesting!

I have always gone by a real generic measurement system. 

1 mo.  = 10 lbs

2 mo= 20 lbs

3= 30 

ect....   

between 4-5 months, this system doesn't hold completely true any more, because their growth rate does slow down a bit.     That is why a lot of people tend to switch the puppies food around 4-5 months.

this is at least a quick easy way to see if the puppy is close to where they should be.   Now ,  if they are a little lighter or a little heavier than that then ok.   If way off , then I would be conserned,   too big or too small. 

good luck

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/reprint/134/8/2027S

This is an academic study that shows growth functions, but you need some math to sort it out.

An 8 week old puppy should weigh 12.5 -16.5 pounds if s/he is to grow up "in size."

Of course, some big, fat puppies weigh a bit more.  Pups who are 10-12.5 at that age may just be on the small side.

If your pup really weighs less than 10 pounds, I'd say it's not about genetic size, but about illness and poor care.  Some breeders are, sad to say, horribly ignornant of what is needed for dam and pups.  At 5-6 pounds, something horrible has happened, unless the pup is a genetic dwarf.

Sorry :-(

The NWK growth chart suggests that a 4 month male pup (that's about 17.5 weeks) is 55% of final weight.

A scientific study (quoted below) suggests that at about 18.5 weeks, a dog of a shepherd's stature is only 50%, so at 17.5 weeks, he's 3 lbs lighter, and only about 40-45%.  So the NWK chart is actually showing faster growth than has been shown in a more precise study.

Arthury: I realize that it is more likely that your pup is not a purebred shepherd than that it is sick.  Were it sick, you'd probably know, right?  You couldn't have a starving pup, failing to thrive and not notice, I hope? She's been to the vet?  My real guess is that she is only half shepherd.