I have a question about the runt of a litter

[BamaFan121s]

I'm a bit confused by your posts. You say in your last post that the breeder gave you this pup at 7 weeks to care for, but in your first post you say you took the pup to the vet when it was 2 weeks old.

I don't care how many 'champion bloodlines' her dogs have or how many 'generations she guarantees.' She sounds like a horrible breeder. With breeding, things can go wrong and vet bills can be costsly. She should step up and take responsibility as the breeder and care for these dogs until they are old enough to be placed in homes--12 weeks! Not just give them away at 7 weeks (or younger) because the vet bills were costly and she got overwhelmed! You say this is her first litter...it should be her last.

[chachi]

I have 8 wk old kittens and My runt did catch up to the rest but shes the same size now. I think hes got some smaller yorkies in his ancestory and hes just going to be small and he may be perfectly healthy but its best to have him tested to make sure. I dont think you had a very good breeder I know it may be hard to hear that but those pups are her responsibility both financially and emotionally. If you got your pup at 12 weeks like you should have he would be bigger and you would not be so worried and more able to care for his needs and just enjoying your new puppy without his weight stress. I have 8 week old kittens and I have just begun finding them homes and I dont think kittens are as delicate as toy breed pups.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by tamwya3

The dam got sick about a week after delivery and the vet said she could not nurse the puppies any more and should be kept away from the puppies. So the three puppies have been bottle fed puppy formula the entire time. The owner wanted me to have him because one went to her son and the other to her niece.... It has been a very costly and tiring time for this lady and since the puppies aren't with the dam she wanted me to start caring for the puppy. The other two puppies are huge compared to this one. This was her first litter of puppies and they were only going to family until the vet bill was huge so she new I would care for him and do what ever I can for him. The lasy who bread him has three yorkies, 2 girls and one boy, one with champion blood lines.

Bless you for taking care of this wee one and contiributing to the survival of the little guy.

I had this same situation happen to me. However, the situation was handled differently. My dam took ill when her pups were a week old. We began hand feeding around the clock. But, in order to get their other needs met, once the dam was stabilized we put her in a an infant onsie. She pottied the pups loved them and slept with them. Was her illness costly, absolutely, every breeder understands the costs that are incurred with each breeding and the possibility of emergencies. that may take place. If a breeder doesn't understand this or prepares for it the breeding shouldn't be undertaken. We also understand that aside from the financial aspect there is a greater responsibility to insure the health and mental well being of raising a healthy, happy litter. So, much more goes into breeding than the whelp. It's not over when the whelp is completed. Hours and hours and months of devotion goes into the process. No sleep, mental exhaustion and then there is the hours of interviewing for the best possible homes.

I feel that your breeder didn't understand the above. Especially not understanding that she brought these pups into the world and her role as a breeder. A reputable breeder would never pass on her duties to someone that did not have the experience of hand raising pup.

But, you are doing a good job, keep up the good work.

Oh by the way Champion Blood lines mean nothing unless the breeder knows how to breed and is continuing the lines in the best possible way.

[tamwya3]

Maybe I have worded things in the wrong way.. This lady was very devoted to getting these puppies well.. She did stay up all night.. She fed them every 2 to 3 hours..She has spent $3,000 in vet bills..She allowed me to come to her house and see or feed the puppies anytime. But when it came down to the option of me taking the puppy now at 7 weeks its how I wanted it.. I know what is going on, and since the other puppies were leaving I decided to take him. I can take him to the vet and have all the testing I want to have, I can decide with the vet when he get his shot..she has 3 yorkies already and I noted the kept jumping the gate and getting around the puppies, no matter how hard she tried to keep them away. This puppy is much smaller than the other and I worried about them catching anything or something happening to him. Maybe I'm wrong for taking him but in my heart I felt like it was the right thing to do since the others were leaving. She only bread her dog once and does not plan on doing it again.
Thanks everyone!

[Rhetts_mama]

I don't have any advice about the size of the pup other than to echo what others have said.

But as far as the breeder goes, in Maryland it's illegal to sell pups before 8 weeks of age. It doesn't matter how much she spent on caring for the pups or their mothers vet care. Nor does it matterhow tired she is from feeding them every couple of hours. It was the risk and responsibility she undertook when she decided to breed. She is in the wrong by letting them go so early

[BamaFan121s]

No, you didn't mistate anything.

The bottom line is still the same. She did not fulfil her responsibilities as a breeder by providing for these dogs. She got overwhelmed by the responsibility and high vet bills...that's just part of breeding, comes with the territory. "Devoted?" For a few weeks and then she dumped them off on someone else. That is not "devotion"...it's being irresponsible.

Don't get me wrong, I am very glad that you are doing everything in your power to help this little guy out and it sounds like maybe they are all better off where they are than with her. And it is good to hear that she is not planning on breeding again.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

What health issues are being guaranteed?

I agree with Bama....have all the necessary tests performed on this wee one. Small he is, but that could mean nothing, he maybe just a slow starter. However, if this pup doesn't make it to a minimum of 3 pounds, keep him or "place" (not sell him) in a qualified home. A home that knows how to handle tinies. If with all the proper tests performed there is a chance there is underlying medical problems and you would never want to sell heartache.

Mary, now you know that I am not the smartest person, for sure, but what special needs are required for a 3 pounder as compared to a 4-7 pounder as far as housing and care? I have seen juust a few 3 pounders and my personal opinion is that I prefer them larger, 6-7 pounds.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

Mary, now you know that I am not the smartest person, for sure, but what special needs are required for a 3 pounder as compared to a 4-7 pounder as far as housing and care? I have seen juust a few 3 pounders and my personal opinion is that I prefer them larger, 6-7 pounds.

Mmmm not a question that can be answered with one sentance. These wee ones have the mentality that they are big dogs. It's the Nepolean complex. Being that they are tinier there is the possibility they can cause injury to themselves more readily. And of course the owners have to be more vigilant with them. In addition, these qualified puppy owners know that there maybe underlying medical issues that may rear their ugly head, therefore they understand they may incur vet bills. Case in point my breeder years ago started out in poodles "toy". Budroux, a gorgeous dog, tiny , fiesty, happy and healthy. When he was three years of age he just kealed over and died. Now, understanding that canine medicine has evolved since then, his blood tests showed nothing. Budroux died of kidney failure, his necropsy revealed he was born with 1 kidney and his good kidney had failed him.

I prefer my females between 6 and 7 pounds. I can accept a smaller male, but not anything below 5 pounds.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

No, you didn't mistate anything.

The bottom line is still the same. She did not fulfil her responsibilities as a breeder by providing for these dogs. She got overwhelmed by the responsibility and high vet bills...that's just part of breeding, comes with the territory. "Devoted?" For a few weeks and then she dumped them off on someone else. That is not "devotion"...it's being irresponsible.

Don't get me wrong, I am very glad that you are doing everything in your power to help this little guy out and it sounds like maybe they are all better off where they are than with her. And it is good to hear that she is not planning on breeding again.

Whole heartedly agree with you. A good breeder always wants a pup to transition to it's new home as smoothly as can be. Minimal stress on the pup and new owners. The breeder does everything to make this possible. She has her dog's best interest at heart. Breeds with improving the breed and with the pride she is producing and providing happy, healthy, well structured dogs, with wonderful temperaments. This is an impossibility if the breeder hands off her duties to someone else (the new owners).

Jumping the gate where the new pups are, put the pups in a puppy pen, off the grown. Put two gates up; one on top of the other......in other words a breeder anticipates everything.

[peachesmom1sc]

my first litter about 14 years ago i had a lil one also she was the runt she was always heathy she never got to 2 pounds she come close but never hit the 2 pound mark she was only about 6 inches long she passed 2 years ago at age 11 1/2 she was never sick just lil but she was my life because you have to take special care of them and the first 6 months of her life she went every where i did in my purse she even went to my dr appointments and no one even knew she was in there boy do i miss that lil one so much

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by peachesmom1sc

my first litter about 14 years ago i had a lil one also she was the runt she was always heathy she never got to 2 pounds she come close but never hit the 2 pound mark she was only about 6 inches long she passed 2 years ago at age 11 1/2 she was never sick just lil but she was my life because you have to take special care of them and the first 6 months of her life she went every where i did in my purse she even went to my dr appointments and no one even knew she was in there boy do i miss that lil one so much

Not all wee ones have medical issues and are unhealthy. But, new owners should always be aware that it is a possibility as the percentages are greater than not. They should never be sold, but placed in knowledgable homes.

[tamwya3]

I took the puppy to the vet at two weeks because I was worried about how much he was eating.. She wanted to wait a few more days to see how it went and I didn't.. So I asked her if I could take him and she allowed me to. I live a block away from this lady so she has allowed me to watch them grow since birth. I didn't care about the money and felt I had to take him and not wait.

[tamwya3]

For those of you who offered me advice about my puppy thanks you. I will be removing my post now because I was here for advice of suggestions for anyone who has been thru something similar to my situation with size. I am getting too many comments about the breeder which at this point is beside the point. I love this puppy and will do anything for him. He is my responsibility now and I can't do anything about what has been done wrong in the past. If I were adopting a child it wouldn't matter how screwed up the parents were, it would be my job to care for that child the best way I know how, the same would apply in a puppy. Please understand why I came here. Thanks all that had good advice.

[Dianab28]

My little Maddie was so small at 12 weeks that I could hold her with one hand, now she's a very healthy 6 lbs.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by tamwya3

For those of you who offered me advice about my puppy thanks you. I will be removing my post now because I was here for advice of suggestions for anyone who has been thru something similar to my situation with size. I am getting too many comments about the breeder which at this point is beside the point. I love this puppy and will do anything for him. He is my responsibility now and I can't do anything about what has been done wrong in the past. If I were adopting a child it wouldn't matter how screwed up the parents were, it would be my job to care for that child the best way I know how, the same would apply in a puppy. Please understand why I came here. Thanks all that had good advice.

We are all aware of why you came here--looking for advice and information on how to best care for you little one. And you have been given loads of advice from experienced breeders and owners and will likely continue to get advice and support. NO ONE here has criticized YOU for your actions....just the opposite, actually. People have commended you for your efforts.

It's the breeder that everyone is upset with. You described someone who has acted very irresponsibly as a breeder which just happens to be something most here feel very passionate about. So yeah, it kind of ticks people off to read about that kind of thing. And at the same time, it serves as a very good example as far as educating others on what to avoid in regards to breeders. Nothing more.