Puppy Weight @ Birth? - Page 1

I think there was a thread on this awhile back.

The norm is 1% of the dam's pre-pregnancy weight in a normal litter but smaller in a litter over 8 pups.

As I recall, some folks mentioned newborns of only six ounces surviving.

And pups of one full pound not becoming swimmers.

My experience only here - A normal puppy weight would be sixteen (16) ounces plus or minus as much as two (2) ounces. And of course that that size an ounce or two is a tremendous difference.

The smallest puppy ever born to one of my bitches weighed just thirteen (13) ounces but grew to become a bitch of normal size and good health. Please note that this was from a litter of eleven (11) puppies where the average weight was about fifteen (15) ounces.

Smaller litters tend to produce larger puppies. I have heard of puppies who were (supposedly) two-pounders, but do not see how that is possible due to the size of a GSD dam's birth canal and vulva. Of course such a puppy could be delivered by Caeserian section.

Best Regards,
Bob-O

My bitch just gave birth on April 28th. She had 8 pups. 6 Males and 2 females. The smallest pup a female was 17 oz. The largest pup was 22oz a male. My bitch weighed around 95+/ pounds and the sire is 128 pounds. The pups now 2 weeks old and a day were weighed yesterday. The smallest again a female was 3 lb 8 oz. The largest a male was just topping 4 pounds. They are all vibrant, lively, vocal, eyes wide open and are excited by all the attention. We will probably start at 3.5 to 4 weeks old them on gruel. This seems to us the norm as well like and breed the larger European working dog-black lines. The litter weight seems to be consistent for the multiple of litters we have had going back years.
Check out there progress at www.blackdogmontana.com
Good Luck

R. Paris

This is tiny "Solo"...born to my eldest bitch and weighed only 4 ounces at birth ..picture taken at 5 days of age.  She easily was dwarfed in the palm of my hand at birth.

The bitch developed gestational diabetes and was give extremely high doses of insulin during pregnancy in hopes she would survive the pregnancy.

She gave birth to 4 tiny pups, 3 stillborn and one that survived...aptly named Solo.  Solo developed quickly and was able to nurse by me propping her up to a nipple as she was so tiny she could not reach it...other that that no other help given. 

She thrived and became one of the smartest pups we have ever had and at over 2 years of age is completely normal and healthy with her adoring family.

My female just had her littler last week and the birth ranged between 12oz-18oz.  Now she weighed about 65lbs before pregancy and gained alot durning.  She had 12 pups but two were still born.  The other 10 are doing great.  They all weigh over a pound now. 

I also weigh my pups by grams so I can see the differance easier and know if there is something wrong.

K9Sar, here's a growth and weight chart that might prove useful!

http://www.mygermanshepherdpuppy.com/index.htm

How are the puppies doing, BTW?

my bitch went into labor at 1 pm today.

first pup, 14 oz.

let you know more as they show up

john

Who is having the babies John?

okie, sent you a pm
john