He is not growing...

[Miss Cat Ears]

...much. When I took Ness for his last set of shots he only weighed 2 pounds exactly. But the good thing is we were worried about luxating patellas and he only has a very very slight one in one of his back legs that we will probably never have to worry about.


But anyway his weight has been...
9 weeks 1.2 pounds
12 weeks 1.8 pounds
15 weeks 2.0 pounds

but the breeder told me his parents were between 5 and 6 pounds! Which is the size I was hoping for. I took a closer look at his AKC registration papers and it says the mom was 3.2 pounds I didn't know parents' weights were on those papers even. Why would the breeder OVER state the mom's weight? I don't want Ness to be ultra fragile his whole life. Should I be worried?

[RowdysMom]

Does he eat well? What type of food does he eat? Do you free feed or feed meals so that you know how much he eats? I think the protein content for puppies is very important in their growth and development. What is the protein content of his food?

Rowdy was/is a very picky eater and he is very slim - just over 4 lbs at 14 months. Rexy, on the other hand, may eat us out of house and home! Rowdy is just not interested in food, whereas Rexy LOVES to eat.

How about your baby? Does he love to eat or is he picky? I think their natural tendencies toward food may contribute to their size.

[Miss Cat Ears]

Well he was not a very good eater when I was feeding him Natural Choice and I free fed him. He also got a lot of treats since I didn't think he was eating as much as he should. But when he was 12 weeks I switched him to Royal Canin and I honestly feel that if I free fed him this then he would never stop eating. So I give him the amount that a dog with adult weight of 6 pounds should have per day. He can't get enough of it and the first time I fed it to him he ate and ate until his stomach was super big. Now he doesn't even like his treats, he just wants to eat food.

[RowdysMom]

It sure sounds like he is a good eater! Just like Rexy! Even though Rexy loves to eat - I do keep dry food out all the time and he doesn't overeat. I feed him and Rowdy a packet of nutro natural choice wet food every morning (I split a packet between them) along with some cottage cheese and then I leave dry food out all the time.

Maybe you could increase the dry food or free feed for a few days to see if he gains some weight! Because he is a puppy, he may be just burning it all up! He may be like some people, he just has a higher metabolism. Maybe you could give him some meat (pure protein) - like boiled chicken or I give Rex and Rowdy the toddler (human) chicken weenies (looks like vienna sausages - it's in the baby food section). They both love them and they are high in protein - which puppies need!

[Miss Cat Ears]

If I start leaving dry food out all the time will he know when to stop eating? Or will it eventually cause him to not get so excited at meal times? The 7-year old, Pivo, gives my parents trouble when it's time to eat, sometimes they even have to call me on the phone and I will tell him "you eat your food RIGHT NOW" over the phone because I am the only one he'll listen to. I don't want to encounter this problem, it is hard when they won't eat and make themselves sick

Well in addition to the food I know my roommates give him chicken, ham, hamburger... whatever they are eating when I am at work. I am torn, I don't want him to grow fat but I do want him to eat everything he wants

For three college guys who call him the "sissiest dog ever" they sure do give him a lot of attention when I am not around! They are good with him, though. Every time they grill they always go, "don't forget the Ness-burger"

[Lacy's Mom]

K.C. was under was just under 1lb8oz. at 12 weeks and he still made it to 3lbs14oz. I guess that's still not very big, but he really doesn't seem fragile to me - maybe because he is so healthy and eats so well.

[RowdysMom]

You are such a good Yorkie mom - I dont' think he will get fat at all. I would feed him more at mealtimes and see what happens. You might put out a double serving and see what he does. All I can say is that Rexy LOVES to eat, but he does stop when he is full. I think Ness will too! But I would try to give him more food and see what happens. He won't get fat - he's gaining weight too slowly to get fat - if he get pudgy in the future, you can always cut him back, but I bet he won't

[Patti]

Cali weighed less at 15 weeks than that ans she now weighs 4lbs 4 ounces. They all have different growth spurts. As long as he is eating I wouldn't worry.

[Tophersmom]

He seems to be on a steady increase, so I wouldn't worry. It's difficult to say how big he will be as he may continue to grow like this for many more months, so you may end up with a 5-6lb dog, yet!

I leave dry food out for Topher all the time and he only eats when he's hungry and has never over eaten.

[DazzlinYT]

Are you referring to on the AKC registration where beside the mom's name it gives a number like this.. (3-02) as her weight? Because that isn't weight, it is her certificate date, when her registration certificate was issued. Weight isn't on registration. You can get a 2 lb dog from 7 lb parents. It is more than what is right before your eye that goes into creating a puppy, breeding is breeding phenotypes, not genotypes, therefore what is behind him in size BEYOND the parents play into the size he is going to be. I have a litter now that is 15 weeks. The largest puppy is 3.4 pounds, based on the ages his parents stopped growing and what is behind him, I estimate he will be around 6.5 lbs. Next largest is 3 lbs even, I estimate she'll be around six lbs. The SMALLEST, and this is my "shining star" I am keeping for show is 2 lbs 6 ounces, he SHOULD reach 4.5 lbs, which is by no means tiny and frail, he also has grown slowly. Your puppy should probably hit around 4 lbs give or take a few ounces, which is a nice sturdy size. IMHO

Originally Posted by Miss Cat Ears

...much. When I took Ness for his last set of shots he only weighed 2 pounds exactly. But the good thing is we were worried about luxating patellas and he only has a very very slight one in one of his back legs that we will probably never have to worry about.


But anyway his weight has been...
9 weeks 1.2 pounds
12 weeks 1.8 pounds
15 weeks 2.0 pounds

but the breeder told me his parents were between 5 and 6 pounds! Which is the size I was hoping for. I took a closer look at his AKC registration papers and it says the mom was 3.2 pounds I didn't know parents' weights were on those papers even. Why would the breeder OVER state the mom's weight? I don't want Ness to be ultra fragile his whole life. Should I be worried?

[Miss Cat Ears]

Originally Posted by DazzlinYT

Are you referring to on the AKC registration where beside the mom's name it gives a number like this.. (3-02) as her weight? Because that isn't weight, it is her certificate date, when her registration certificate was issued. Weight isn't on registration.

Okay, you're right. I'm looking at the registration papers and I see her date on there, but I was mistaken - her weight is listed on the vet papers. He gave me vet records for that litter and it has the mother listed as Mindy - 3.2 pounds, 19m. I keep all the papers together and must have gotten confused, but it's still there.


I do hope he gets about that weight, because any smaller and I would always be worried for him. He's my best buddy, not a designer dog so I will be happy if he is 2 or 20 pounds... I have just never heard of a breeder lying about the parents' weight by making them heavier.