Definition of a Runt? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

BamaFan121s · 01-16-2006, 02:31 PM

No, not the definition out of the dictionary. I am just curious, how do you other breeders know when to look at a litter and proclaim one of the pups to be the 'runt.' Also, do you consider there to be a runt in every litter? Obviously, not all pups are going to wind up weighing exactly the same. Do you automatically say that the smallest is the runt? Even if there are NO health concerns whatsoever? Do you only claim there to be a runt if there is a smaller one that just isn't quite keeping up with the rest? What if there is a larger pup, but there are maybe some health concerns or slower development? I just want imput from all the other breeder.

luvdorkyyorkies · 01-16-2006, 02:59 PM

Heavens No!.....Not in Yorkie litters anyway. In The past I outcross breed so the puppy sizes vary greatly.
Runts to me are failure to thrive puppies. They do okay or NOT the first few days maybe, then they do not gain weight. They may lay on their side quite a bit or they cry alot. They are not content.
Runts are unhealthy to me. I no longer help them live. My experience is they have serious problems and I do try to save them anymore.
I give them minimal help. If they are strong they live, if they are weak they die.
Sounds horrible I know. But This is my practice.

troubletb · 01-16-2006, 03:25 PM

To me and this is just my opinion. A runt is the smallest by far. Not every litter has one. But they are most likely than not the one that was conceived last. Usually smaller and sometimes not always in health problems. If you have a litter of puppies that are (for example) 6 weeks old all weigh in around 1.5lbs and then there is one that weighs 12 oz, I would call that the runt.
Like I said this is just my OPINION!!

feminvstr · 01-16-2006, 03:53 PM

a runt means the smallest in the litter...health has nothing to do with it (most of the time) IMHO. Every one of my litters has a smallest and a largest. The only health issue Ive had (knock on wood or my head) with a runt is the ONE AND ONLY hypoglocemia attack with "Baby"

If a tiny comes out of a standard size breeding IMHO (or at least in my experience) means one of two things she/he was the last conceived or they ran out of room inside of mom and need to catch up, the runts always get the teats first to help them along.

YorkieShadow · 01-16-2006, 03:57 PM

To me a runt is the smallest pup in the litter. Healthy or unhealthy. It does not matter it is just the smallest. most litters have one , But not all. and I think all puppies are worth helping to give a chance to live. My Minnie was the runt of the litter being to me the smallest in that litter.

I have heard a lot of breeders saying that there are two kinds of runts. One being just the smallest pup of the litter and the other being a small sickly dog.

chattiesmom · 01-16-2006, 06:23 PM

I agree, the runt is the little dude.

sylvan · 01-16-2006, 06:49 PM

we don't use the 'r' word in front of the puppies...lol

I always consider the smallest in a litter the runt, but many times they seem to develop a personality double their size...Napoleon complex, maybe?

BamaFan121s · 01-16-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylvan

we don't use the 'r' word in front of the puppies...lol

Ha! Yeah, wouldn't want them to get their little feelings hurt.

sylvan · 01-16-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Ha! Yeah, wouldn't want them to get their little feelings hurt.

zackly

YorkieRose · 01-16-2006, 07:26 PM

I never use the word RUNT..don't like it, reminds me of a litter of pigs. I say.."wee baby"..LOL..

yorkiemom1970 · 01-16-2006, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I never use the word RUNT..don't like it, reminds me of a litter of pigs. I say.."wee baby"..LOL..

me either. i don't use the word "runt" . as kim said above, sometimes the last breeding has a bearing on the size of certain pups. they could be a few days apart in development. i've witnessed this a few times. i have a friend who is a breeder who will say "oh look, so and so throws tiny pups and bigger pups" ummm...ok? that's about all i can say being that i know better. you can have smaller pups (structure wise) along with bigger bone stucture pups. but that is because of the genetics of the parents, their parents and so on. "runts" can be a fluke or they can be from a last conception date. I don't put alot of bearing any more on size in my litters from birth to 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, (sometimes a bit sooner) I can pretty much tell you if a paticular puppy is a genetically "larger" puppy or is a "wee one...hee hee, aka "runt"!!

Yorkieville200 · 01-17-2006, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylvan

we don't use the 'r' word in front of the puppies...lol

I always consider the smallest in a litter the runt, but many times they seem to develop a personality double their size...Napoleon complex, maybe?

Stacy,

That is SO true! My Kia was the tiny one in the litter, and she is the bossiest little 4#s of Yorkie I've ever met!

(Need I say, I adore her?!

)

Sheila

chachi · 01-17-2006, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkieville200

Stacy,

That is SO true! My Kia was the tiny one in the litter, and she is the bossiest little 4#s of Yorkie I've ever met!

(Need I say, I adore her?!

)

Sheila

That is cute! My Jewels was also the smallest and is the bossy one of my two.

luvdorkyyorkies · 01-17-2006, 04:54 AM

Yes you all are right, I guess I just dont like the runt word and I use it for the occasion small puppy who I can never save.
The smallest puppy is not always sick, many times they arent, sometimes once they get going they are the onriest puppy in the litter!!!!

Yorkieville200 · 01-17-2006, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chachi

That is cute! My Jewels was also the smallest and is the bossy one of my two.

You ought to see Kia in the morning when I am warming their breakfast, she stands there, bossing me, telling me to "Hurry up, I'm starving!"

Or when I've been gone, just a little longer than she thinks is necessary, she stands a few feet away from me, and literally screams at me!

Sheila

01-16-2006, 02:31 PM	#1
BamaFan121s Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,432	Definition of a Runt? No, not the definition out of the dictionary. I am just curious, how do you other breeders know when to look at a litter and proclaim one of the pups to be the 'runt.' Also, do you consider there to be a runt in every litter? Obviously, not all pups are going to wind up weighing exactly the same. Do you automatically say that the smallest is the runt? Even if there are NO health concerns whatsoever? Do you only claim there to be a runt if there is a smaller one that just isn't quite keeping up with the rest? What if there is a larger pup, but there are maybe some health concerns or slower development? I just want imput from all the other breeder.

01-16-2006, 03:25 PM	#3
troubletb Love my Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Port Richey, Florida Posts: 2,339	To me and this is just my opinion. A runt is the smallest by far. Not every litter has one. But they are most likely than not the one that was conceived last. Usually smaller and sometimes not always in health problems. If you have a litter of puppies that are (for example) 6 weeks old all weigh in around 1.5lbs and then there is one that weighs 12 oz, I would call that the runt. Like I said this is just my OPINION!! __________________ Karen~ Bell, Lilly and Peter's Mom Rest in Peace <3

01-16-2006, 03:53 PM	#4
feminvstr Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 4,405	a runt means the smallest in the litter...health has nothing to do with it (most of the time) IMHO. Every one of my litters has a smallest and a largest. The only health issue Ive had (knock on wood or my head) with a runt is the ONE AND ONLY hypoglocemia attack with "Baby" If a tiny comes out of a standard size breeding IMHO (or at least in my experience) means one of two things she/he was the last conceived or they ran out of room inside of mom and need to catch up, the runts always get the teats first to help them along. __________________ Kimberly

01-16-2006, 06:23 PM	#6
chattiesmom Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 17,674	I agree, the runt is the little dude. __________________ Silk Step-In Harnesses www.foxypups.etsy.com

01-16-2006, 06:49 PM	#7
sylvan YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 2,484	we don't use the 'r' word in front of the puppies...lol I always consider the smallest in a litter the runt, but many times they seem to develop a personality double their size...Napoleon complex, maybe? __________________ Stacy and the crew

01-16-2006, 02:59 PM	#2
luvdorkyyorkies BANNED! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,681	Heavens No!.....Not in Yorkie litters anyway. In The past I outcross breed so the puppy sizes vary greatly. Runts to me are failure to thrive puppies. They do okay or NOT the first few days maybe, then they do not gain weight. They may lay on their side quite a bit or they cry alot. They are not content. Runts are unhealthy to me. I no longer help them live. My experience is they have serious problems and I do try to save them anymore. I give them minimal help. If they are strong they live, if they are weak they die. Sounds horrible I know. But This is my practice.

01-16-2006, 03:57 PM	#5
YorkieShadow BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA Posts: 9,999	To me a runt is the smallest pup in the litter. Healthy or unhealthy. It does not matter it is just the smallest. most litters have one , But not all. and I think all puppies are worth helping to give a chance to live. My Minnie was the runt of the litter being to me the smallest in that litter. I have heard a lot of breeders saying that there are two kinds of runts. One being just the smallest pup of the litter and the other being a small sickly dog.

01-16-2006, 07:26 PM	#10
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	I never use the word RUNT..don't like it, reminds me of a litter of pigs. I say.."wee baby"..LOL..

01-17-2006, 04:54 AM	#14
luvdorkyyorkies BANNED! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,681	Yes you all are right, I guess I just dont like the runt word and I use it for the occasion small puppy who I can never save. The smallest puppy is not always sick, many times they arent, sometimes once they get going they are the onriest puppy in the litter!!!!