How much should puppies weigh - does this rule have truth?

[mtoy]

I heard once that corgi puppies should weigh 1 pound for each week (13 week old pup should be about 13 lbs) - is there any truth to this? If there is, until how old, is it just for young pups? Just wondering... some people say Link looks thin but he feels good to me (rib test) and I can see a waist. I cannot see individual ribs. I think some people see the brindle stripes and think they are seeing ribs, plus many people are just used to seeing overweight dogs.

[corgimom]

I heard once that corgi puppies should weigh 1 pound for each week (13 week old pup should be about 13 lbs) - is there any truth to this? If there is, until how old, is it just for young pups? Just wondering... some people say Link looks thin but he feels good to me (rib test) and I can see a waist. I cannot see individual ribs. I think some people see the brindle stripes and think they are seeing ribs, plus many people are just used to seeing overweight dogs.


mtoy, I remember Taflar and Glencorgi talking about this awhile back and saying basically the same thing. When I got Cody at 11 weeks he was 11.3 pounds; at 16 weeks, he was just about 16 pounds and then at 6 months old, he weighed in at 23 pounds. He was gaining about a pound a week. Once he reached the 6 month mark when he was neutered, his growth rate slowed way down and he was no longer adding on a pound a week. Now at 18 months, he is 28 pounds. I would imagine though that there are different rates of growth for Corgis.

[MVons]

Somehow if I end up with the big boy puppy he might be one extra pound above the one for each week. Heh, heh.

Merrie

[bunnybutts]

I remember hearing the same 1 pound per week ratio.

Merrie,
Big Boy could end up being another Rupert! yeah :LAUGH:

[mtoy]

Ok, maybe I should give him more chow, because he was always over the 1 LB per week thing, and now he's slightly below all of a sudden. Probably because we've started doing some major walkies. Maybe then he'll stop grazing the yard for earthworms? Maybe not..."NO:":

[glencorgi]

Yes the "rule of thumb" is true as a guideline. How old is Link? IF he is around 13 weeks, he should be around 13 pounds give or take a bit. Don't use the "rib test" on young puppies - you'll usually have them too thin. In the 2 litters combined into one litter I just had (and Mac is on his way to meet Heather - left last night. :BIGGRIN" ) the big boys were usually a 1/2 to 3/4 lbs over the pound per week. They have a lot of bone and a larger overall size and proportion. Mac, Vera, and CeeGee, were all right on the mark. Cabby (cute as two buttons) was just the opposite of Bruin and BJ and ran 1/2 to 3/4 under the pound for week guideline. The boys would almost have two pounds on her in weight, but she can give them the what for. <LOL> Again, she is very petite in overall size, balance and proportion and finer boned. They are all good eaters - ate till they got their fill and then stopped.

As they get older, then the number of meals they need decreases, but the amount of food they need might increase per meal.

Debbie

[Fluffypants]

Yes the "rule of thumb" is true as a guideline. How old is Link? IF he is around 13 weeks, he should be around 13 pounds give or take a bit. Don't use the "rib test" on young puppies - you'll usually have them too thin. In the 2 litters combined into one litter I just had (and Mac is on his way to meet Heather - left last night. :BIGGRIN" ) the big boys were usually a 1/2 to 3/4 lbs over the pound per week. They have a lot of bone and a larger overall size and proportion. Mac, Vera, and CeeGee, were all right on the mark. Cabby (cute as two buttons) was just the opposite of Bruin and BJ and ran 1/2 to 3/4 under the pound for week guideline. The boys would almost have two pounds on her in weight, but she can give them the what for. <LOL> Again, she is very petite in overall size, balance and proportion and finer boned. They are all good eaters - ate till they got their fill and then stopped.

As they get older, then the number of meals they need decreases, but the amount of food they need might increase per meal.

Debbie

hmmmm . . . I don't know Debbie . . . I think we might need to see pictures to illustrate your point . . . . :LAUGH:

[zephyr9779]

Haha...I think the rule of thumb thing probably works in general. But as are all things in life, there are exceptions to the rule.

Benny was a small puppy (maybe the runt of the litter?) and he's still mr slim jim although he's already over a year old.

I think as long as the puppies and dogs aren't emancipated or obese, and they are happy and healthy, its all good.

:)

[mtoy]

Thanks Debbie, that really helps. He's 16 weeks, and 15.5 lbs. Before this he was usually about a pound heavier than weeks old. He has really stepped up the begging, and keeps getting up earlier and earlier looking hungry, so I weighed him. He's had a couple episodes of diarrhea, eating grass and too many treats at school so that may have thrown him off a bit too. I'll build him up, should be an easy thing to do!

At what point should I stop the lunch meal? Lately it's mostly been fed in a Kong in his crate, so it's not a large meal.