I think all charts are just a general guideline, look at the children's growth charts you get when you have a baby. I'm truly hoping no one here is actually attacking/criticizing you.

I, for one, didn't know this was a chart you personally created. I know we all feel bad when something we've worked hard on is criticized. It's only human nature. It's seems close to identical to one that I got that was published in a book by Hilary Harmar a british lady.

Please don't be too offended by peoples saying the charts aren't accurate for them, everyone is different!!

The chart was very accurate for Shelby but I agree that weight doesn't mean that much. It's kind of strange that people think if they fatten up a tiny yorkie it is "healthier" or if they starve it, they can keep it tiny?

I had fun checking the chart as she was growing up.

That chart gave me some reassurance that my furbaby is going to be close to the breed standard when he grows up (give or take a pound or so). According to the chart, he'll be 4.5 lbs. Based on his parents' sizes, I expect him to be closer to 6 lbs. Even if he's over the breed standard, I'll still love him, but as a new owner, every little bit of extra information makes me feel better. Since I'm buying pet quality, I'm really glad to have rough guidelines to go by and I'm really glad this chart is available.

I agree. I think the chart works well according to the estimates I've been given and I'll definitely keep referring back to it. I appreciate having access to it :) .The more I learn about Yorkies, the more I realise each one is so individual that you just can't tell anything - especially when it comes to size. One of the breeders I spoke to said one way she knew she'd get a 'smaller' boy or girl was if the nose and paws were relatively small at 8 weeks. I think determining size for any dog is a real variable (diet, bone structure, musculature etc.) but according to the calculations I've already been given by a number of UK breeders, the chart is completely accurate at the 8 and 12 week mark and my husband, who is a statistical mathematician, says that the chart's extrapolation scale makes complete sense from a mathematical point of view (but that doesn't always work I guess in practice; which is why I was never interested in maths at school! Hahaha! Stupidest school subject ever!)

I took this chart from a toy breed book and since I keep weights daily on my litters I revised it to fit for my breeding...still doesnt work all the time but it works as a reference...

Like I said it alll has to do with genetics and repeat breedings!

I'm sorry if you think anyone is blaming you for inaccuracy nor should you feel the need to defend it. It is an excellent guide and may work well for you, but for some of us, it doesn't for the most part. Regardless, I appreciate the guideline and use it as such and use it to compare to my records too see how close mine are to your guide. "if the chart doesn't work for you merely use 3x @8 weeks............ This doesn't always work either! But is still a good guideline. You are so right that the breeder is the best consultant when gauging the weight because they know their bloodline. I can't speak for others but it is still a guess on my part how big they will be as adults.

As a breeder, you know there are many factors to be considered besides their weight at any given time, but many prospective pet owners don't understand what all's involved with trying to guesstimate the adult size.

Our Gizmo is 4.9 pounds but is small and very compact, nice solid body. His body size is smaller than our 4 pounders but weighs more. The same holds true with our tubby Tucker. He is much smaller in body size than our 8 pound female, but he is as solid as a rock, nice short legs, short body, and weighs 11 pounds. Neither fit into any weight charts.

Please don't think anyone is suggesting that your guideline is inaccurate because our experiences don't fit into your guide. I would have to go back and read all the posts, but I think the original question was how accurate do "we" think it is. You have nothing to defend. You developed it from your experiences, for your line and it works well for you. I'm glad to have found it as it serves as a good reference point for me but my experiences are different, that doesn't make yours wrong.

I did say in my original post:

I don't think anyone on this thread has acted upset that the chart wasn't 100% correct for their dog. We all know that rules of thumb aren't scientifically accurate, and that there are numerous variables.

Still, this thread has noted a trend that I personally am able to find helpful, so I'm thankful to EVERYONE for their input. Since obviously the guesstimates are meant to apply to YOUR individual breeding program, it was helpful for me to know that, in general, people are finding the numbers a little low when it comes to THEIR dogs. That in itself is a helpful rule of thumb.

Thanks to all!

I have a litter of 3 puppys that are a few days off 5 weeks, and are already 25, 28, and 30oz, they dont ever appear on the chart, hehehe. It does only go up to 5.5lb tho!

well, I thought I was the most worried one here about my puppies weight. But I never pay any attention to what others say about how their puppies weight changed. I go by what the breeder said (which so far is wrong) but mostly by my vet and actually my puppy. She didnt think Kizzy would be over 4 lbs. Buuuuuttttttt, !!! Kizzy is 15 weeks old, she was at the vet today, she weighed 5 lbs. She weighed 4 oz at birth. 1lb @ 6weeks, 2lbs @8 wks and 3 lbs @ 11 weeks and now she is 5 lbs. But the vet still says he dont believe she will weigh over 6 maybe 7 lbs. which he told me from the start, maybe 5 to 7 lbs. well the 7 is suppose to be tops I thought for a toy. Anyway, I did call the breeder and talk to her about how kizzys parents grew off. she said the mother stayed very small for a good while then just kinda took a spurt of growing then just tapered off fast. she was 5 lbs. the dad was a little under 4. But she said her sister breeds yorkies also and has 2 girls that she knows is gonna be too small to breed and if I wanted I could swap Kizzy for one of her sisters puppy because her sister would love to have kizzy for breeding. But I told her, no way. I've taught her lots of things already, she is happy and we are happy and love her very much. I wasnt calling her to ask for another dog but just to see if kizzys parents grew off fast or what. So If she gets over 7 lbs i'll still love her just as much. when I told hubby what she said, before I could tell him my answer, he said, she must be crazy. You're not trading Kizzy for anything. lol. see and he didnt even want me to get one in the first place.
People can be small and have large kids and vice versa but ya not gonna return the kid I hope. lol . genes from generations back just keep on flowing. Good luck to all to get just what ya wanted but if you love it, it might be just what ya needed. I've always found out if I want something I didnt get, later down the line when I look back, I'm so glad I didnt get it. So if I were feminvstr I wouldnt worry about it. And by the way, if i mulitply Kizzys weight at 8 weeks old x3 it works out to 6 lbs. she was 2 lbs at 8 weeks. So I'll just have to wait and see. Sorry for the long post. :thumbs up