Runt of the litter

Keef · Post by **Keef** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:33 pm

We just had a litter of brittanys. A trainer I know says the runt is often the best dog in intelligence and work ethic. Just curious what you guys think.

I just found this website and I'm glad, it looks like I'll be able to learn a lot here.

Thanks for your opinion.

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:46 pm

Welcome aboard. It may be sometimes the best one. Other times it won't be. Sometimes it may be the worst! Puppy's are a crap shoot.

Gundogs/Nebraska · Post by **Gundogs/Nebraska** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:53 am

Runt's are most generally the smallest in the beginning, but generally grow to the same size as there litter mates and/or even grow to a bigger size then most of the litter mates.

If you were to go off a percentage of runts in all litters. I would say that the runt is more intelligent and more agile then other litter mates. But with that said, you could have a runt that just doesn't have it.

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:07 am

I do not think the size physically has anything to do with mental capabilities. Learning to cope with larger littermates may make some pups seem more developed early but I really doubt that there is any difference over the average of the litter at maturity.

Ezzy

Gundogs/Nebraska · Post by **Gundogs/Nebraska** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:30 am

I agree that the size doesn't have anything to do with mental capabilities. but when it comes down to the runt trying to eat, he or she gets pushed out quite often. So he or she is fighting for a nipple quite often.

I personally think that the runt matures faster then other litter mates because of the rough time he or she has with it's litter mates.. But with all that said, the runt could possibly have health issues aswell. He or she might not have fully developed internally.

Anyhow, best of luck with your litter..

markj · Post by **markj** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:17 am

Charlotts web.

Pig was a runt, they was going to kill it off. was common old days, now folks are too whatever

Gundogs/Nebraska · Post by **Gundogs/Nebraska** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:45 am

markj wrote:Charlotts web.

Pig was a runt, they was going to kill it off. was common old days, now folks are too whatever

I agree Mark.

On another note, Mark I found some birds. Thanks for your efforts..

markj · Post by **markj** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:51 am

kewl, cb guy has non but is soon to hatch. He has pheas, qauil and chuckar.

Brittguy · Post by **Brittguy** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:59 am

Agree with Ezzy,and when they mature there may be a little difference in size but not as much as when a puppy

Dirtysteve · Post by **Dirtysteve** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:16 pm

I picked the runt out of a litter. She is 8 months old now and is very small. My friend got her littermate/sister and there is at least 15 pounds difference and his is alot taller. But mine sure can run! She is extremely fast and is independent as can be. Just what I wanted.
She doesn't have as much style as her sister but both are very intelligent.

markj · Post by **markj** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:27 pm

My Grandpa said runts can be from far breeding, like couple one week then 2 weeks later atthe end of her heat cycle. Makes a smaller pup cause he isnt as old so to speak. He said to make sure the cover happens at least twice in one week.

Not sure if this is correct but he sure knew his dogs.

Gundogs/Nebraska · Post by **Gundogs/Nebraska** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:31 pm

Dirtysteve wrote:I picked the runt out of a litter. She is 8 months old now and is very small. My friend got her littermate/sister and there is at least 15 pounds difference and his is alot taller. But mine sure can run! She is extremely fast and is independent as can be. Just what I wanted.
She doesn't have as much style as her sister but both are very intelligent.

You never know with any dog. Be it the runt or another litter mate. There will NEVER be the exact same dog. Their might be some similarities, but one never alike, unless you get into cloning.

Just love your dog and the attributes that she brings to the table and/or the field. I would take a RUNT any day, as long as they are healthy..

Gundogs/Nebraska · Post by **Gundogs/Nebraska** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:55 pm

markj wrote:My Grandpa said runts can be from far breeding, like couple one week then 2 weeks later atthe end of her heat cycle. Makes a smaller pup cause he isnt as old so to speak. He said to make sure the cover happens at least twice in one week.

Not sure if this is correct but he sure knew his dogs.

I have heard that as well.

I personally have only raised a dozen or so litters in my life time, but I do have to say. 2 litters were surgically implants. The rest were all natural breeding's. And the very last litter that we had, was a natural breeding and we had a great tie the first go round and my female would NOT let him take her 2 days later, but did the 3rd day and it was a decent tie, but not as long as the first tie.. For whatever reason, we had a pup that was very noticeable as the RUNT (his rib cage was not developed, had a heart problem)

None of the other litters did we have a pup that was very much different in size and development..

I often wondered if it was because of the late tie and/or not long enough tie. Anyhow, none the less. They were all great pups and are all succeeding in HT/FT and Shoot to Retrieve competition.

3Britts · Post by **3Britts** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:19 pm

I agree with everyone. Until you get the dog into the field, you just never really know what you have.
That said, The best hunting dog I ever had was the runt of his litter. In the litters that I have breed, I have seen the runt out think the bigger litter mates. I think it has something to do with finding ways to survive the mauling of the larger pups. Breeding will give the pup its hunting instincts and surviving will give the pup its ability to think. Good breeding and a mind that works through the problem. Thats a hunting dog.

markj · Post by **markj** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:24 pm

Good point 3britts. Never know what you got till you take it to the field.

Delmar said to take the last pup

Gundogs/Nebraska · Post by **Gundogs/Nebraska** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:33 pm

3Britts wrote:I agree with everyone. Until you get the dog into the field, you just never really know what you have.
That said, The best hunting dog I ever had was the runt of his litter. In the litters that I have breed, I have seen the runt out think the bigger litter mates. I think it has something to do with finding ways to survive the mauling of the larger pups. Breeding will give the pup its hunting instincts and surviving will give the pup its ability to think. Good breeding and a mind that works through the problem. Thats a hunting dog.

I AGREE!!!!!

highcotton · Post by **highcotton** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:20 pm

Look at the parents and if it's a breeding you like, pick a pup that suits your sex and color preferences. To quote Don "good breeding trumps picking a puppy every time".

BTW the best young dog I have now was the runt of a litter of 11 pups. She is still small, weighing in at about 30 lbs, but she is a little bird finding rocket and looks like a million running and on point. I wish I had a kennel full of runts like her.

Charles

Tejas · Post by **Tejas** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:49 pm

I have only bred two litters of GSPs and they were about seven years apart and out of entirely different breeding. In both cases the runt was not only the most intelligent, but the most bold and independent.

I'm sure it is merely circumstantial, but......

Windyhills · Post by **Windyhills** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:37 pm

If I didn't like small dogs, I'd avoid the runt. If I didn't like big dogs for the breed, I'd avoid the bigger pups. Other than that, I don't think I'd use size to determine which one to take.

Female pup on the left was the runt, male pup on the right was the biggest in the litter. Started that way and have stayed that way. She's around 40 pounds last I heard, he's gonna be 70 if not bigger--both in lean condition. Dam and stud were on the smaller side of the standard. There was one huge pup in the dam's litter, otherwise I hadn't heard of any big dogs going back several generations.

She was tough, speedy, and smart. Favorite of all the kids here while we had her. She would always win the tug of wars like the one in the picture.

She developed very early--pretty steady on birds and had dozens of wild ones from four species shot over her from 6 - 9 months of age. He has a great nose and finds birds better than his mother at times already, but has not been as steady...so far. Doing everything else well and I believe he'll finish into a great dog before long.

ccavacini · Post by **ccavacini** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:57 am

My second Brittany was the runt of the litter...10 dogs, 7 females, 3 males.

Her momma wasn't too big..probably around 30lbs. She's almost 2 and weighs 23 lbs.

She's like a fart in a hot skillet and will turn out to be a fine bird dog.

The breeder I got her from in Iowa names his dogs before they go out...she was "Squirt." Now she's Kate.