Need some input on 10 month old developement... - Page 1

Ok, I got a female today 10 months old, she is very small to me, I got photos of her when I inquired about her, she looked in the photos to be of a good size pup, not over sized but decent bone and weight.  I sent a deposit on her a few weeks ago, so I drive 5 hours one way to pick her up and she does not look like the same dog.  I know, you've heard this a 1000 times, but she is so tiny to me, well of course I can't get my deposit back, so I bring her home, and don't get me wrong I really like her, but I am a bit disappointed in her size.  I just got home a while ago and haven't weighed her yet but I'm thinking she is probably about 40- 45 lbs.  I plan on wieghing her and measuring her as soon as I get settled in but isn't that too small for a female, she is 3/4 showline and 1/4 WGR/DDR lines.  I think she is underweight (one problem), which I can work with that and get her in shape, but I just can't get over her size, she is a month older than my male and he is twice her size, and he is a little oversized I know but to me she looks like a 4-5 month old pup!  So my question is, if a pup is not getting proper nutrition how much will it effect their growth and if I start feeding her properly now will it help her grow at all???  From the looks of things I don't feel she was getting the proper nutrition a pup needs, should I put her back on puppy food any suggestions on what to feed her?  Thanks for the info, I am at a loss for words on this...     I currently feed Canidae all life stages to my dogs, would that be enough for her?

Do not put her back on puppy food.  The Canidae you are feeding is what I have fed my girl since she was about 6mo old.  She does sound small.  Poor nutrition can stunt a pup but it sounds to me more like her breeding.  A lot of working lines are smaller than the showlines at least in those that I have observed.  Don't compare her to a male.  Compare her to the standard.  I doubt she will get much bigger.  Get her weighed and measured and let us know what you come up with.  As far as her being underweight, can you feel her ribs?  You should easily feel them but they should not be noticable.  She should look athletic but not emaciated.  Is her coat in good shape?  Has she been wormed?  Lots of unanswered questions.  Since you decided to bring her home, get her healthy and just enjoy her.  She will be worth it.
Deb