Chihuahua: Avg litter size: 2-5, Avg Birth Weight: 3-5oz, pups as small as 2 oz survive. Standard Deviations: open fontanels common & ok by the standard. malocclusions, retained baby teeth.
Reported disorders: 20
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Yorkshire Terrier: Avg litter size: 1-4, Avg Birth Weight: 4-6oz, Standard Deviations: no fading-failure of black hair to turn steel-gray by 1yr. Malocclusions, retained baby teeth.
Reported disorders: 20 (share about 1/3 with chi)
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That's from Successful Dog Breeding by Chris Walkowicz & Bonnie Wilcox DVM
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So, if those are the averages, where you might start to have real concern is with any pups born substantially below average. Most of the puppies that we have had were close to 5oz. We had one 6oz (Now 5lbs) & one 8oz (now 12lbs). |