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06-08-2011, 04:09 PM | #1 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago
Posts: 944
| Purchasing the Runt of the Liter. Ive been in contact with a breeder who has a 5 week old pup available. Right now the puppy weights 6.4oz. Not sure if thats an exact weight or an estimate. She said she was the smallest of the liter. Her parents are listed at 5lbs and 5.5lbs. According the growth chart, this dog might weigh 3lbs at the most. I'm worried about it having health problems. The parents seem to be normal size dogs and they are healthy. What are your views on purchasing a puppy this small? Shes just so cute. Idk if I can say no. |
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06-08-2011, 04:55 PM | #2 |
Gidget & Sidney's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA
Posts: 3,462
| I think you should wait until the pup is at least 12 wks old, especially being this small. Does the breeder have any conditions in her line that she has disclosed? I hope you did not mean the breeder is ready to give you the pup now at 5 wks. I would be really skeptical of a breeder that would place a pup that young, let alone that small.
__________________ Mommy to Gidget, Sidney & Cricket(RIP) |
06-08-2011, 04:58 PM | #3 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago
Posts: 944
| I have to wait til shes 12 weeks old or maybe a week or two longer than that. When you say conditions, what do you mean by that? This is the breeder. http://www.owensk9.net/ Last edited by spruitt7; 06-08-2011 at 05:00 PM. |
06-08-2011, 05:01 PM | #4 |
Gidget & Sidney's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA
Posts: 3,462
| Good to hear (about the 12 wks). Liver shunt, luxating patellas, collapsed trachea are three I can think of off the top of my head to ask about in her line. Do you know the breeder or have you worked w her before?
__________________ Mommy to Gidget, Sidney & Cricket(RIP) |
06-08-2011, 05:04 PM | #5 | |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago
Posts: 944
| Quote:
There arent many reviews on here about her either. She is a member, but isnt active. Her pups do come with a 1 year guarantee. | |
06-08-2011, 05:05 PM | #6 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | The size at birth and at a few weeks old is no indication of overall adult size. Larger litters tend to have smaller babies and singletons may be rather large, but this doesn't indicate adult weight. As a guesstimate, you can take the 8 week weight and triple it, or the 12 week weight and double it, but this is just an estimate, give or take a pound or two. Do NOT take home a puppy under two pounds it should remain with it's mother. Also, do not take home a puppy under 12 weeks of age, it learns important socialization skills from it's mother and littermates. Many breeders know that people want tiny tiny yorkies, so they say that their breeding pair is very small or indicate their puppies are ultra-small. Size is just one factor in the Yorkie standard, and yorkies under 4 pounds have more health problems and need more time. Any breeder who would sell a 5 week old yorkie knows absolutely nothing about the breed, and will not be there to support you in the future. Yorkies may live for 15 or so years, so find a breeder that breeds for health and does health testing, it will pay off in the long run. With the economy, many breeders have dropped their prices, and the is no reason to support bad breeders in this economy. Yorkie prices are lower, but vet prices aren't.
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals |
06-08-2011, 05:08 PM | #7 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals | |
06-08-2011, 05:10 PM | #8 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago
Posts: 944
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06-08-2011, 05:31 PM | #9 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals | |
06-08-2011, 05:41 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Cali was the runt of a litter of 3. When I went to see her at 6 weeks she was half the size of her sisters. When I picked her up at 9 weeks (before YT) and she was the same size as her litter mates. She was 1 lb and I bought from a bad breeder and had many health problems and no health guarantee. I don't know anything about the breeder but wanted to tell you my experience with the runt.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
06-08-2011, 06:41 PM | #11 |
My Tiny Treasures Donating Member | Being the smallest of the litter (there really isn't a "runt") doesn't mean she will be the smallest in 3 weeks. I've seen my smallest become my biggest and my biggest become my smallest. Alot of time at birth it just depends the position in the uterus. Then the more aggressive eaters may gain more...etc... 5 weeks is really too young to get an accurate adult weight. I'd ask questions about the parents past litters, the grandparents....sizes, lines... Oh and remember...regardless of what you read (LOL and there is alot of not true stuff out there) just because a puppy is small...doesn't mean it is automatically unhealthy. It does however mean you need to be more careful with them and make sure they eat well and other precautions. I hate reading people think just because a baby is small its sick...LOL. good luck in your search. I think you are asking all the right questions and doing everything correct |
06-09-2011, 12:08 PM | #12 | |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Quote:
Another concern I have she does not post her health guarantee on the website. What exactly does it say? If you must return a pup that is sick and must accept another pup in exchange, that guarantee is basically worthless in my eyes. Who will return a pup after loving it for a few months or almost a year? You got it mainly no one. She also doesn't mention the health testing she has done on her breeding dam/sire; I don't like not to see this mentioned.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 | |
06-09-2011, 12:34 PM | #13 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago
Posts: 944
| Ok. I emailed her more questions about testing and I asked for a copy of the health guarantee. Thanks for the help! |
06-09-2011, 01:39 PM | #14 |
My Four Sweet Babies Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Jersey near Philadelphia
Posts: 5,452
| How many were in the litter? I really do think 6.4 at 5 weeks is really small. I have one in a litter of five that is 12 oz at 3 1/2 weeks and he seems pretty small to me and he is an aggressive nurser and energetic.
__________________ I LOVE MY BABIES |
06-09-2011, 01:44 PM | #15 | |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago
Posts: 944
| Quote:
The breeder said shes been raising dogs for 27 years. She did tell me she would keep me updated and if anything changes with the puppy, she'd let me know. Then I can decide if I wanna go through with the purchase. | |
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