Puppy Weight Estimates
Posted in Puppy Care on Sep 19th, 2008
Puppy weight estimates are often sought by new pet owners or those planning to buy or adopt a puppy. How big your puppy will grow relies on different factors such as the exercise it needs, diet, grooming, and of course, breed. Puppies grow relatively fast and before you know it, they are adults already. Smaller puppies have an average weight of one to three pounds while those from the bigger families could weigh between fifteen to twenty pounds.
Puppy weight estimates help you set realistic expectations for the growth of your cuddly friend. Do not be too disappointed if your puppy would not turn out to be as big as you expected. Smaller dogs also present several advantages. For instance, they do not require that much space and do not consume as much food as their bigger counterparts.
Tracking your puppies’ weight using puppy weight estimate charts is also important because it helps you make adjustments with regards to feeding and exercise as needed by your pet. Obesity is not a good thing for our canine friends. Puppy owners should take care not to overfeed their pets. Be responsible for your puppy’s diet, taking into consideration his nutritional requirements.
It would be ideal to assess your puppy’s weight each week so that you could monitor whether or not your puppy is gaining the right amount that she needs for her breed and her size. A six-month old puppy coming from a breed of large dogs is supposed to be weighing at least 50% of his adult weight already.
An essential part of making sure that your puppy grows properly is of course, selecting the best food and developing a nutritious and balanced diet. Growing puppies need calcium, protein, and calories. You would be surprised how fast puppies fed with solid foods a short time before they are taken from their mothers adjust.
The following is a comprehensive and useful puppy weight estimates chart you could consult regularly. To weigh your puppy, you could try carrying your pet and weigh yourselves together. Subtract your own weight from the total figure and what you have is the weight of your puppy.
You could try searching for a puppy weight chart designed specifically for the breed of your dog. Some suggest that weight estimates set before the age of eight weeks might be inaccurate because puppies are usually being weaned or nursing at this age. They are likely to have higher fat intake because of their mothers’ milk.
A weight chart is mostly useful to a pure-breeder, who knows the puppies’ bloodline well. But if you took in the puppy for companionship, friendship, and fun, all you have to do is make sure that your pet gets her needed amount and quality of food, rest, exercise, and of course, affection. Fat dogs do not necessarily mean healthy dogs.
Furthermore, dogs, like humans, also crave for your attention. Keep your pet happy and you might be surprised at how happy they could make you.
