the runt of the litter

[Budliest]

Hello.

Is it true that if a puppy is the runt, he/she will not be as big as the others when he/she is older?

Just curious...

Susan

 

[dan h]

Max was the runt of the litter and now at 9 months, he is 67 lbs. I don't know how big his littermates are, but he is bigger than most other boxers of his age.

 

[Barron's mom]

Barron's breeder told me that Barron was the second to the last born to his parents, whom I did not see. I saw Barron and his brother, who was significantly bigger than Barron. It was a difficult decision choosing between the two, yet Barron picked us! He amused us with his sweet and playful disposition and continues to display that wonderful personality to this day!lovicon
He currently weighs 60 lbs at 4 years old. Small boxer, big personality! :D

 

[boxers4life]

Runts

I just wanted to add something about Runts... I bought a runt and I want to tell you he is 4 months old and weights 33 pounds. He is really tall. I think he is alot bigger than my 2 year old was at that age and my 2 year old was the first boy born. So I think that it might be just a tale.
Thanks,
Karen with
Sampson - 2 year old, fawn, cropped and docked
Zeus - 4 month old, Brindle, cropped and docked

 

[Alisha Mobley]

No, puppies vary in size while growing...just like children. A runt may grow up to be the largest or may stay the smallest.

I was talking to a guy at the vets one day who had a large 80lb 11 month old Boxer. He said this boy was the runt of the litter and had to be hand fed...You would never have guessed it.

It doesn't matter what order the pups are born in. The runt is simply a pup that is much smaller than the rest of the litter. All litters do not contain a runt. Pru's litter of 9 contained a runt...she was 7th born. Some believe there are no runts ever...just a pup that is smaller than the rest.

 

[cfhtlhii]

Princess was "the smallest of the litter":D . Even her mother turned her back on her:(! At her vet appt. this a.m. she weighed in at 19lbs), at four months(was 3lbs at 6wks). She didn't really start gaining/growing till after she was over 2 months. So sounds like it does vary from dog to dog.

Connie

 

[Boxer_21]

My cat Buddah, was the bigget born of the litter of 4. As the kittens grew, she became the smallest. Now as an adult cat of about 6 years, she's the biggest again. I know a cat is obviously different from a dog, but it does show that they can be the smallest and end up being the largest once they're full grown.

 

[lilgirl's mom]

My puppy was also the "runt" of the litter. Just a couple of weeks ago we took her to the vet and she weighed 50.5 lbs. So I don't think that being the "runt" of the litter means that they will remain small. I think it varies also.

 

[ilovenira]

My daughter (dog) was the same size as 7 of her litter mates. (I saw pictures of the litter as they grew). When i went to pick out a puppy there were just 2 pups left. Our little girl and one tiny little boy. Because i wanted a female she knew to choose me! She was a rotund little puppy. Finicky eater tho. And very very active! Her parents were big. Her mom was a shorter legged boxer but real thick. I saw pictures of her dad and he too was the same way. Squatty looking dog. Personally i like the longer leaner boxers and thats what she turned out to be. She is real lean. I worried that she was too skinny. But the dr. says she is perfectly fine. She is 2years old and is on a good day 48lbs. I get comments quite often about her being a "small boxer" "is she a purebreed" or how about this one... "is that a miniature boxer?". That was a bit insulting! :eek: I think the uncropped ears throw many people off! Anyhow, she was a normal sized puppy who grew up only a little bit! So now to shut people up i just say she was the runt! :p

 

[JJPUP]

When I saw my boxer it was love at first sight. He was also the runt of the litter. He was only 2lbs. at 6 months. The people that I got him from were going to put him to sleep because they thought that nobody was going to buy him. Now he is 28lbs and 5 months old. I was also wondering, the breeder gave me papers on him but I moved about one week after I got him and I lost the papers to send in. What can I do to get some more papers on him to send in? I was also wondering if I am going to have problems breeding him? I was wanting a brindle boxer, so do I need to breed him with a brindle female? Well, good luck and I think he will be fine.


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