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Usually the only difference between a runt and the other pups in a litter is size. Runts often catch up growth-wise with their littermates. However, there are sometimes inherent health or genetic reasons for the pup's size, and that can mean the pup will be more prone to health problems as it grows. If your pup has been thoroughly checked by a vet and found healthy, and if his sire and dam were of good health and quality then there is no reason to expect your pup will not be as hardy as his littermates will be. The genetic history and soundness of the parents is more indicative of the ultimate health of the pup than anything else.
What you can do to keep him healthy now and in the future: Feed him the highest quality food you can afford, see a vet regularly, ensure he has all of his necessary puppy vaccinations, use flea/tick/heartworm preventives in consultation with your vet, don't overvaccinate, brush his teeth and get regular dental checks (small dogs are prone to serious dental issues) and get him microchipped.
Congratulations and good luck with your new puppy!
Usually the only difference between a runt and the other pups in a litter is size. Runts often catch up growth-wise with their littermates. However, there are sometimes inherent health or genetic reasons for the pup's size, and that can mean the pup will be more prone to health problems as it grows. If your pup has been thoroughly checked by a vet and found healthy, and if his sire and dam were of good health and quality then there is no reason to expect your pup will not be as hardy as his littermates will be. The genetic history and soundness of the parents is more indicative of the ultimate health of the pup than anything else.
What you can do to keep him healthy now and in the future: Feed him the highest quality food you can afford, see a vet regularly, ensure he has all of his necessary puppy vaccinations, use flea/tick/heartworm preventives in consultation with your vet, don't overvaccinate, brush his teeth and get regular dental checks (small dogs are prone to serious dental issues) and get him microchipped.
Congratulations and good luck with your new puppy!
I hate the word "runt" simply because people mis-use or mis-interpet the meaning. Like stated above...it usually means the smallest of the litter. Someone has to be the smallest! ( and largest). They normally grow and catch up to their littermates and have no more or less health problems than the rest of the litter. Good luck with your new furkid!
I have a question relating to this topic. I have always thought of runt being the smallest puppy in the pack.
When we got our dog as a puppy he was the smallest of all his brothers and sisters. However, the owners said that the runt of the littler died after being born. So does that make our dog the new runt, or is the runt the one that died and our puppy just happened to be smaller than the other pups?
Well, we got two labs from the same litter. Bailey, our yellow lab, was the biggest and Jack, our black lab, was the runt. Bailey is 105 lbs, Jack a lean 80lbs. Jack is without question the smarter of the two! He understands a large vocabulary - including directions (left, right, in, back) when fetching tennis balls.
They are 5.5 years old now and we've never had any health issues *knocking on wood*
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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Originally Posted by RedSoxFanGoingWest
Well, we got two labs from the same litter. Bailey, our yellow lab, was the biggest and Jack, our black lab, was the runt. Bailey is 105 lbs, Jack a lean 80lbs. Jack is without question the smarter of the two! He understands a large vocabulary - including directions (left, right, in, back) when fetching tennis balls.
They are 5.5 years old now and we've never had any health issues *knocking on wood*
Good luck with your puppy!!
Jack understands directions???? I can't find my way out of a paper bag, and your dog can find the grocery store? I'm lucky when Artie responds to his name!
My understanding of the runt is that they may have been the least agressive in the pack, whhich meant most of the milk/food is gone by the time they get their chance (after the bigger/stronger pups have had their fill) hence why many die and/or are much smaller than the rest.
However once you get them away from the puppy pack and start working with them independent of the mates, 9 times out of 10 you can still have a winner. I have seen some runts grow to be much bigger, stronger and smarter than the "alpha" pup.
Sometimes the alpha pup is drivey only amongst their mates (big fish in small pond theory), but usually they are not compatible for most (very strong willed and only the experienced and secure pack leaders need apply), so the runt may fit your personality.
I will speak for myself and I think the runt makes the better dog of the liter and so did my grandfather . they have to be the toughest to survive if you think about it so they fight tooth and nail for what they have and they most certainly make the most loyal dog . The runts need a secure pack leader as well . My grandfather taught me alot about dogs and he was raised around dogs . yes I have a runt dog a runt chihuahua if there is such a thing with a toy breed . LOL !!!
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I can't find my way out of a paper bag, and your dog can find the grocery store? I'm lucky when Artie responds to his name!
