Weight and Size

[grizzlecoon]

I am an new owner of Pyr. I have had my pup for about 12 weeks. I am worried that he isn't growing like he is suppose to.

He is exactly 4 months 1 week and 4 days old and weights only 36lbs. There is another Pyr pup at my vet that is only 5 days older and is extremely bigger in overall size and weight.

Can any experienced Pyr owners tell me if there is something wrong or if he is just a runt. Some of the vet techs said he just hasn't hit his growth spurt yet.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[risestar]

He sounds a fair bit undersize, what are you feeding him? It should be a high protein large breed puppy feed for best results.

An average pup at 3 months will be about as big as a lab or golden retriever and about 45-50 lbs. It could be he is a late bloomer. Occassionally, you find one that has a dwarfism condition, but this is apparent in the parents as well so it is fairly rare.

If its a female, she will be smaller than a male, but still should be around 45 lbs by this point. Try switching the feed to a high quality one like Iams or Eucanuba large breed puppy formula until 12 months

[norton4325]

I have a 16 week old puppy that weighs 35 pounds. He only weighed 18 pounds when we got him at 10 weeks. After worming him twice, he seems to be gaining weight each week to his current status. We are feeding him Purina One Large Breed Puppy food. Do you think he will catch up to weigh what he is supposed to weigh? His parents seemed to be healthy, very large adults ( the dad was 130 pounds).

[risestar]

yes, you have plenty of time, worms can have a big effect on a puppy, make sure you follow up with another worming in another month.

Put him on a high protein large breed puppu food and you will be fine.

[Christine]

:) Regarding the underweight puppies - does everyone know that your puppies should be getting about 7-8 cups of food per day - I didn't, but learned it while Pyr surfing - and yes, givem the good stuff ie. IAMS

[Christine]

Regarding the underweight puppies - does everyone know that your puppies should be getting about 7-8 cups of food per day - I didn't, but learned it while Pyr surfing - and yes, givem the good stuff ie. IAMS

[ashley.taylorbailey]

hey everyone. i was just wondering if there was anything like a "growth chart" for the great pyr pups. i know they can range a great deal in weight from one pup to the next but i just wanted to get an idea of my 6 month old females "ideal weight." she is currently weighing in at 75 lbs. her mother was around 100-115 and her father was HUGE weighing about 150 - 160 lbs. does anyone know what i might expect her to reach being that female are generally smaller than males? my husband is absolutely convinced she'll be as big as her daddy (i think he's dreaming)

[risestar]

75lbs for a female 6 months is a good weight. You generally don't want them to get too large as the lifespan is shorter and also there are more health problems for the really large pyrs.

[ashley.taylorbailey]

Thanks, the vet said she's not overweight, just big. (like I didn't already know). I was just curious from a breeders standpoint what to expect once she's full grown considering the size of her parents. Most people I talk to with fully grown female pyr's say they are right around 100 pounds, but my vet says she'll probably get around 150. However, he also said he hasn't cared for too many pyr's?!?!

[sainsworth]

I have a large female that weighs in at 130, yet at times I think she maybe a tad underweight. We feed her a high protein, including brown rice, chicken livers and mixed veggies. In full fur she looks monstrous, but while grooming I get nervous when I see/feel ribs. She was a rescue so I know nothing about her parents. She has great musculature and is an active utility dog, working hard as an LGD (with dairy/meat goats) as well as a loving member of our family.
I have seen Pyrs up to 180 pounds (not overweight either) and as small as 100 pounds or less. Some of the largest Pyrs I have seen are also some of the most athletic. Point is, let your eyes and gut instinct be the judge, Great Pyrs seem to fit no particular mold. If there are no underlying health issues, don't worry about it.

[Christine]

Hi everyone,

just reading all the weight posts, and getting nervous; I have a 6 month old (this week) female - she's 60 pounds - how does that sound to you all - from what I'm reading she seems way too small?? :confused:

[Christine]

Hi,

it's Christine again, Rainy, is my 6 month old female (dob 1/16/06) - 60 pounds

how many cups of food per day is normal - I'm currently giving her 7 cups a day of Iams large breed puppy - is that enough? :confused:

[ashley.taylorbailey]

Hey everyone,
I have scheduled to have my 6 month old "kitty" spayed next month. she's 75 lbs right now and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. i do have some concerns though, i was recently told that having her fixed so soon will possibly stunt her growth. If so, i would raher wait it out and deal with the "side affect's". I don't want to do anything to affect her growth. do any of you know if this may be true?

[Christine]

Hey

6 months old is normal time to spay - 2 months old is considered an "early" spay - and besides your "Kitty" is already huge - and spaying will not effect her growth rate at this point, and will very possibly save her from cancer.

Cancer risks for females increase with every heat cyle anywhere from 10 to 25% - save your baby now :)

[ashley.taylorbailey]

Thank-you so much, I nearly cancelled!!!

[Molly9697]

My husband and I are recent owners of Molly, a five month old (on October 1). I am just curious if she is on track with other females her age. At 4 1/2 months she weighed 55.8 pounds. Even though she was a rescue puppy I was able to contact the original breeders and was told that her mother was about 95 pounds and her father was 150 pounds. Thanks for your help!! :)

[Charmin]

I now have 2 females from the same litter born on 4-10-06 and Charmin the 1st one I got is only 54 pounds and the new one (no name yet) is only 56 pounds. They will soon be 6 months old and much smaller than most on here. I feed them Purina Hi-Pro. I give them as much as they need right now. They did have worms and I am getting rid of them now. The mother is about 95 and the father is 140. Mine are still a little small.

[Christine]

Worms are bad news for weight challenged pups, when the worms are completely gone the dogs will gain weight more readily.

Having said that your pups probably will weigh 60 lbs by the time they reach six months which is fine. Big and heavy young dogs have a tremendous strain on their skeletal system / bone and muscle strucure. Let them take their time ;)

[Charmin]

Thats good, I don't mean I am in a hurry for them to get big. I just want to make sure that they are healthy and as big as they should be. That is it. I don't want to females that weigh 150 lbs. I just want them where they should be. Thanks

[SeanJada]

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[Christine]

seems that the website's been taken over by cheap advertising

[risestar]

They are a constant pest but get cleaned out once we see them

[Christine]

thank you :)

[Charmin]

they now weigh 60 and 65 pounds. They just started to eat a little more now that it is a little cooler I guess.

[Charmin]

hello all, I just weighed them again today and they are 85 and 90 lbs. They are 9.5 months old. I guess they are on track. I live on a farm and can only have them out when I am out there with them, so they spend some of there day in a 10X10 kennel. This spring I am hoping to fence in a bigger area for them so they can get more exercise. I do walk them alot and play alot with them everyday.

[Christine]

Sounds good Charmin, glad things are moving along nicely for you:)

[fluffylove]

Hey

6 months old is normal time to spay - 2 months old is considered an "early" spay - and besides your "Kitty" is already huge - and spaying will not effect her growth rate at this point, and will very possibly save her from cancer.

Cancer risks for females increase with every heat cyle anywhere from 10 to 25% - save your baby now :)

Spaying messes up the growth plates in the legs, alters head growth and has the pyr grow taller still. SPaying is not good for pyrs until they are older. I have NEVER seen a male or female pyr that has been altered that looks like a pyr. It changes them. A study wasd done on rotties and they had a 4x chance of getting bone cancer if the were altered early in life. There are a lot of myths about altering. I have seen what it does to pyrs and would definetly recommend waiting until they are fuly grown unless there are other factors at play. On the other hand dogs like aus sheps apparently have to altered. So many myths and so little facts.

[HeathersPyrs]

Spaying messes up the growth plates in the legs, alters head growth and has the pyr grow taller still. SPaying is not good for pyrs until they are older. I have NEVER seen a male or female pyr that has been altered that looks like a pyr. It changes them. A study wasd done on rotties and they had a 4x chance of getting bone cancer if the were altered early in life. There are a lot of myths about altering. I have seen what it does to pyrs and would definetly recommend waiting until they are fuly grown unless there are other factors at play. On the other hand dogs like aus sheps apparently have to altered. So many myths and so little facts.

I have yet to see what you are describing.
I have been in Pyr rescue for 3+ yrs. All of my personal Pyrs have been spayed before 4 months of age and they LOOK like Pyrs.
http://usera.imagecave.com/MrsYzmoto/NightNight.jpg
Pyrs & Rotties are 2 VERY different breeds.

[fluffylove]

I know it's a sensitive subject, but I have seen what it does over at my end and it DOES mess up the growth plates in PYRS and they do NOT develop the head they are supposed to, even our vet/rescue person knows this. I thought it was all nonsense too until I saw it for myself. Pyrs that are taller than they should be, thinner bone structure and more aggression issues than my dominant intact male. I can only speak from my own experience which to this date points this way, plus my breeder has been in it since the 60's and has seen it. She got her dogs from top American breeders in it's day, Quibbletown and Villevieux. I do not object to fixing dogs because there are so many irresponsible owners out there but I do suggest people keep an open mind, that's all. There are many many misconceptions to fixing dogs but there are hardly any studies out there to support either one. Vets make money on it just like vaccines.

Have you every seen a proper pyr and what they should look like according to the standard? I have been to many shows, read almost all books out there, (except for the $500 one by Mrs M. Crane.) seen what breeders around here have bred. I suggest looking, and keeping an open mind. I have one more question, if neutering is SOOOO good for dogs, why is it that police dogs are NOT neutered, protection or narcotics????? Explain why in studies, there is more human aggression with neutered dogs than with intact ones? I can forward you the study I found and it focusses on other breeds as well.

I do not mean any disrespect, you are speaking from your knowledge and experience, but so am I, on top of which vets awknowledge they do not develop the way they should.

Please read over the following website :
http://saveourdogs.net/health.html It will give you an idea of what some of the falsehoods of altering dogs are!!!!

On the positive side, neutering male dogs
eliminates the small risk (probably <1%) of dying from testicular cancer
reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders
reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
may possibly reduce the risk of diabetes (data inconclusive)
On the negative side, neutering male dogs
if done before maturity, increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer) by a factor of 3.8; this is a common cancer in medium/large and larger breeds with a poor prognosis
increases the risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 1.6; this is a common cancer and major cause of death in some breeds
triples the risk of hypothyroidism
increases the risk of geriatric cognitive impairment
triples the risk of obesity, and with it many of the associated health problems
quadruples the small risk (<0.6%) of prostate cancer
doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract cancers
increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations

On the positive side, spaying female dogs
if done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common tumors in female dogs
nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would infect about 23% of intact female dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs
reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
removes the very small risk (<0.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors
On the negative side, spaying female dogs
if done before maturity, increases the risk of osteosarcoma by a factor of 3.1; this is a common cancer in larger breeds with a poor prognosis
increases the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 2.2 and cardiac hemangiosarcoma by a factor of more than 5; this is a common cancer and major cause of death in some breeds
triples the risk of hypothyroidism
increases the risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6 - 2, and with it the many associated health problems
causes urinary spay incontinence in 4-20% of female dogs
increases the risk of persistent or recurring urinary tract infections by a factor of 3-4
increases the risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis, especially for female dogs spayed before puberty
doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract tumors
increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations

[HeathersPyrs]

IMHO your vet is telling you this to make more money off of you for spay/neuters.

[fluffylove]

I had a look at your rescue site. I am always happy to hear people doing rescue, as well as that little about RallyO, it's perfect for people with pyrs.

I just want people to know that there is an option out there and that this whole thing about altering dogs is a much bigger story than people are told.

I am so confused, why did you write that? It's only verifying what I had stated? Atleast look through and the information there. My vet has yet to see a dog with bone cancer that is intact, and she promotes altering like everyone else.

I have also seen a match of altered dogs in the ring, it was horrifying to look at these dogs, I'm sure if was a combo of bad breeding and altering. No doubt in my mind.

[nancybitch1]

They seem to eat what they need. Mine is now 2 and female also - weighs about 85 lbs. In summer - even winter, if she isnt hungry - she wont eat! They are smarter than us! lol!

[emcleve]

As our pyr puppy nears the 5 month mark we were contempting having him altered. I can't find any literature indicating that we should not do that - only that pyrs are quite sensitive to anethstetic (sp) and that we should make sure our vet is familiar with the special needs of this breed in dosing.

I've been doing rescue for years (not pyr specific) and have never heard anything to counter indicate spay neuter. However, I'm really fairly new to Pyrs.

Has anyone else come across any information on this? Or does anyone have sources that perhaps I could share with my vet? I checked out the website that was cited.

Our little guy is not going to be reproducing - it just isn't something that we have choosen to dedicate ourselves to (which I truly feel is a necessity if one is going to be breeding), nor will we be showing him. However, we certainly don't want to endanger his physical or mental health.

Thoughts

[BruceandAmy]

Ours is 6 months old and he was just neutered a week ago. He is doing great. We also had his dew claws removed and a microchip inserted at the same time. He was down for about 2 days and threw up a little bit but it was because of the meds. Once we stopped those, he has been pretty much back to normal. We are having trouble keeping him down. Our vet told us that it was better to fix now than later and that it would dramatically reduce his chances of reproduction cancers down the road. Hope that helps!!

[nick's spirit]

Welcome Bruce& Amy& Samson!!
Samson looks like he was a cutie & mischevious as a pup!!! Love his smile.
There are different thoughts on when to neuter, but it is a personal choice as to how you feel about it.
I am curious tho....was it recommended that you remove his dew claws?? And were they his rear ones? Mircochipping is a good idea, as the breed is also known as a dis-a-Pyr!!
Look forward to hearing more about you & Samson & your lives together

Nancy & Holly

[Dee Dee Ro]

I got a big lesson in the dis-a-pyr last week, She was gone overnight and into the next afternoon. I was frantic, organizing friends into search grids, called animal control, dawg and puppy rescue, walking, walking, crying, hollering, praying. About three in the afternoon, I called my vet to tell them I wouldn't be in to make a payment on the dawg's last porcupine adventure. The receptionist asked me to please hold. When she got back on the line, she told me that I wouldn't believe what just happened. Just as I was telling her my tale of woe, a lady walked in the door, she had Dee Dee, standing right there. Found her and brought into see if she was microchipped! Turns out she was. I got Dee Dee when she was barely six months old (19 months today!). She was apparently chipped as a pup, so a total bonus was to transfer a chip. Thank you Homeagain! Thank you, angel lady. Thank you All Creatures Vet! Thank you God.

[Dee Dee Ro]

Boy dawgs will find a way, girl dawgs will find a way, whether or not it is your intention. Wait if you want, but please, at the risk of sounding like Bob Barker, "Please spay and neuter your pets." Too many dawgs without enough people to love them all. Dee Dee was a day away from being put "to sleep" when she rescued me. I waited until Dee Dee was 16 months old, but I had some tense times the couple of heats I went through with her. Read all the pros and cons. Dee Dee is 100% healthy, vet says no <> cancer risk by waiting and she looks absolutely every bit a Pyr as a Pyr can look. I do wish spaying would have taken a little bit of the stubborn out of her, but then again, that would be taking the Pyr out of her!

[Sam and Lucy's Mom]

I had Lucy spayed between 5 and 6 months. I didn't want to take the chance of a dog jumping our 5+ ft fence and making puppies. There are quite a few unwanted pyrs in the shelters and rescues in our area. I know how difficult raising a pyr is and they are soo cute and fluffy when they are babies that I can see how an unsuspecting person would fall for that and be in over their heads quickly. Not worth the risk for me. If her coat changes or what ever..it doesn't matter she is still my Luc.

[KathyCS]

Bear is "intact", 8 months old and a lean 100 pounds. He still has some filling out to do, but I think he is pretty much on track size wise. As for fixing, I have read what everyone here has to say and we had the talk with our vet. He basically said there are pros and cons and they are about 50/50, so as an owner we would need to look at both sides and make that decision ourselves. He's not pushing it either way. We don't plan on breeding Bear, but Gracie is fixed and they are in a yard with a 6 foot privacy fence and to date he has shown no desire to try and make an escape. He's not aggressive and pretty much a mild mannered fellow so I guess I am leaning toward leaving him as he is unless something changes. The percentages of benefits of pros versus cons didn't appear to be able to bowl me over either way. I'd look at one side and say yes we should do it then look at the other and say no maybe we shouldn't. Since I could get no clear cut view in my mind I just decided to wait for now.

[Dee Dee Ro]

Got a little worried about the Dee Dee after she got spayed at 16 months. She went through one of her gawky tall and skinny all legs thing, lost her winter coat at the same time and is growing into her big girl coat. Now, at the end of July, her coat is phenomenal, she's filling out and is at peak health. She could easily clear the railing around the porch, but doesn't. At that age Rin-Tin-Tin could clear a six foot cyclone fence like a gazelle. Thank Gawd, the girl pup has no interest (so far) in reaching such heights of achievement, though she easily could. She can do an all four feet airborne "boing" as high as my shoulders.

[Espinay]

Regarding weights. I must admit to not really paying much attention to a dogs weight. Weights can be very deceptive and really dont tell you much as every individual is different and will grow at different rates. There are too many variables - the dogs lines, the individual genes it inherited( which can vary even between littermates), how the dog is raised, what it is fed etc etc etc. What I do pay attention to is how a dog looks and how it feels. If the dog looks in good health and is a good lean weight (I need to be able to feel the ribs under a light cover) then the dog is the 'right weight' for that dog regardless of what the scales say or what someone else says it 'should' be based on some generalist view of the breed.

Pups can grow at different rates. Growing slow is a good thing as it puts less stress and strain on growing bones and joints. You do NOT want to rush growth. The dog will get to the size it was genetically designed to reach. When it comes to food, general consensus among knowledgeable Pyr breeders and large breed nutritionists is that they should be taken off puppy food fairly early (or even put straight onto adult food). By 6 months at least they should be eating adult food.

Regarding the comment on health issues - there most certainly are health issues to be aware of in Pyrs. Like most large breeds they are subject to a range of bone and joint issues including hip and elbow dysplasia, patella luxation and OCD. OCD in particular can be caused through too rapid growth. (more info on these and other health issues on my webpage).

In relation to the comment on Dwarfism, as this is a recessive gene a parent can most definitely be a carrier and not show any indication of the condition. If both parents are carriers some or all of the litter may be affected. I recommend reading this page here to learn more about the condition: http://sonic.net/~cdlcruz/dwarfs/index.html

Regarding de***ing, it is correct that a Pyr de***ed early will show changes such as increased growth of the long bones and will often be 'finer' than those de***ed later. This is more apparent in early de***ing but can be seen in dogs a bit older too. Pyrs do mature quite late and continue growing. 6 months has always been the average recommended age to de*** a dog regardless of breed - it doesnt take into account different breed growth rates. I personally prefer to leave any de***ing till a bit later (12 months or so) to allow the hormones to assist with growth. If someone is able to handle an entire animal then this is a good option. An alternative that many breeders are currently investigating is vasectomy/tubal ligation for pets. It prevents breeding, though the hormones are still produced (bitches will still have seasons and dogs will still act male and want to mate though neither will be able to reproduce). This is more a compromise from a breeders point of view though (pets can not be used for breeding but can be allowed to grow properly). It should never be considered a licence for owners to be lazy about how they manage their dogs (e.g. 'let em mate, they cant do anything'). I will note that in the US (and to a certain extent here in Australia) there seems to be more of a stigma about owning entire animals than there is is a lot of countries. There is nothing at all wrong with owning an entire animal as a pet providing you manage it responsibly. De***ing is definitely a good and responsible option but remember that it is largely hyped up as the thing to do in order to help prevent problems from those who are less than responsible. For those who manage their dogs responsibly, whether they are entire or not is really for the most part a non-issue.

[Mis]

I am an new owner of Pyr. I have had my pup for about 12 weeks. I am worried that he isn't growing like he is suppose to.

He is exactly 4 months 1 week and 4 days old and weights only 36lbs. There is another Pyr pup at my vet that is only 5 days older and is extremely bigger in overall size and weight.

Can any experienced Pyr owners tell me if there is something wrong or if he is just a runt. Some of the vet techs said he just hasn't hit his growth spurt yet.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I got my Pyr 3 years ago, we believe he is about 5-6 years old now. I have been told he has all the markings of a pure bred PYR, except for his size. He is only 87 lbs and stands (when on all fours) 2.5 ft - from floor to shoulder blade. So I am told he is prob the runt of the litter. I will tell you this runt or not he is an amazing dog!

[Sam and Lucy's Mom]

I went to a dog charity event a few months ago and saw about 5 great pyrs and mixes. There were some huge ones and some smaller ones. One of the shortest ones I saw was considerably overweight and the biggest one I saw wasn't. I agree with Espinay on the other variables. It's the same in any breed. Lucy is almost 8 months old and around 80 lbs. I keep her nice and lean because I understand about issues they have with too much weight. Even so..by the way she has grown..and even keeping her weight down..she is still going to be a big girl. She only eats 4 cups a day of food and then treats and yogurt. My mini schnauzer hovers around 18-20 lbs depending on the season and he is very healthy and not fat at all. The average for his breed is 16 lbs and I've seen many that are about 12 lbs. He also has longer legs than some I've seen. As long as your pup is eating regularly and isn't too bony..I wouldn't worry about weight.

[FarmMama]

I'm aware that the last post previous to this was approximately 8 months ago but I thought I'd throw my two cents in just in case someone googled like I did.

I have a 4.5 month-old GP son named Titus (aka "Titey Whitey", aka "Titer Tot) and he is my first Great Pyr (Great?? Pfft.. he's AMAZING!). I'm one of those super researchers because I have to get an A+ in being a mama and having healthy chilrens (2 and 4 legged) and here's what I've discovered...

...say your Pyr is 5 months, you add a zero to the age of your Pyr (or decimal if adding a half month), the weight should be okay if its around 50 so don't stress unless he/she appears or acts unhealthy. A 6 month-old should be around 60, 7.5mo around 75. My little big man is 45lbs at 4.5 months and he's super healthy, on the low side of a medium activity level, and eats 2 cups of 4Health Puppy Food 3x a day (7am 1pm & 7pm) check the 4Health out, I love it. No scratching, solid waste is solid, not too much solid around the yard either. I'm going to switch him to the 4Health Adult Chicken when he's around 6-8 months old.

In conclusion, my research has let me to this: good food, decent exercise, 10lbs/mo weight gain, regular wormer and you'll be just fine!

*the weight is not absolute, just a loose guideline for fellow PanicMongers like myself

[rokamill]

I have read some of the posts regarding age, size and weight and I am more worried now. We got our girl from the pound. They estimate she's about 1 1/2yrs old but only weighs @ 60lbs!!! The vet says she only needs to gain another 10lbs but I think he's incorrect. When I put her paws on my shoulders she's taller than me. I'm 5'6".

[TexasKat]

Pyrs tend to be longer than they are tall (feet from the ground) so it's not unusual for them to be able to be "short" and still able to hug you around the shoulders.

More important than her weight is her general body condition. Does she have a 'waist"? Is it possible to feel her ribs (but not TOO pronounced)? What is her appetite like? How is her energy level?

Many Pyrs only eat as much as they are actually 'hungry' for and don't overeat. What are your girl's eating habits. Does she eat everything you can give her and still want more? Does she leave some? Does she snack throughout the day?

70 lbs is not too small for a Pyr to weigh -- you'd really rather have them lighter than heavier since overweight Pyrs can suffer from several orthopedic problems, but it's much more important that her weight 'fit' her body.

[rokamill]

Thank you Texaskat. Your dogs are gorgeous by the way.
I feed her 3 times a day. Sometimes she'll eat everything and give me a "that's all look" and sometimes she'll leave some or even half the food. She eats all her treats.
She does have a waist. I'll upload a picture that shows her from the side.
Her energy level is high and always wants to play.
I suppose since all the information on her is conjecture, I should wait a bit. She was picked up as a stray. We've only had her for about a month...although it seems a lot longer :D.
Still, when I rub her chest it feels a bit bony. But maybe I'm looking at the wrong things.

[TexasKat]

She actually sounds like she's doing pretty well. Spayed females always seem to gain a little more weight than what they should, and Gypsy's no exception. I'd like to see her lose 10 pounds LOL!

If she's eating well (and a good quality food) --- occasionally leaving some to come back to later and her other 'body' indicators are okay, she's likely fine. Pyrs always weigh less than they look like they should because of all the hair.

Take it one step at a time. She'll probably gain the 10 pounds back simply because she's not 'shelter stressed' anymore. We LOVE pics and I can't wait to see one or two of your girl!

[Chicag0_Red]

Like TK said body condition is more important than "weight". rather than feeling the chest while she is stretched while hugging you or rolled over on her back, rub your hand along her sides about half way up and see how much pressure is required to feel the space between the ribs (not just a a bump). It should feel more like your fingers with your hand laid flat and your fingers together as opposed to a washboard. It is not that you don't want to be able to feel the ribs it is how obvious the gap is. 70 lbs is a good target weight for a small young female. She can then begin to fill in and fill out over the next couple of years.

As a side note 70 lbs of female Pyr is a Lot of Girlie PYR-ness

[Jewel]

As a side note 70 lbs of female Pyr is a Lot of Girlie PYR-ness

That's right! :D Bijou was 69 lbs at 19 months of age. Now at nearly 4, she's 74 lbs and I think she's just about done growing.

[Chicag0_Red]

Here is a link (from Great Pyr library) to a body-condition calculator while it is generic as far as breeds are concerned it offers a pretty good overview of how to judge body condition.

http://www.purina.com/dog/weight-and-exercise/bodycondition.aspx

[rokamill]

Thank you guys for the info. And yes, although I worry that she may be under weight, there are times when I'm grateful that she is not bigger LOL.

[Terry]

We have never measured Emma but when she went for her check-up a couple weeks ago the vet said she is in great shape and at 2 years she weighs in at a slim trim 85lbs :)

Terry

[Tsunibear]

Hmm after reading all of your guys dogs weights, I am starting to feel that Missy needs to diet. Mind you I can feel in between her ribs and my vet says she is healthy and isn't overweight but, 120lbs seems like a rather large number. Especially for a female. Mind you Missy has lost over 5lbs but, still I am starting to think it should be more.

[Janet_P]

Here is a link (from Great Pyr library) to a body-condition calculator while it is generic as far as breeds are concerned it offers a pretty good overview of how to judge body condition.

http://www.purina.com/dog/weight-and-exercise/bodycondition.aspx

Thank you so much for posting this. I was actually coming on here today to ask what to do about this finicky eater. Some days he just doesn't eat. He's losing weight. I thought he was kind of thin before, now, I'm seeing his hip bones and I'm freaking out. Using the weight guide, he's between too thin and ideal.
We were offering him food at breakfast and dinner. For a while he ate both, then he started eating only breakfast and turning down the dinner. So we started just feeding him breakfast figuring he would be hungry enough by then to eat, but now he only eats a small amount at breakfast. Today I offered him a bit around noon just to see if he would eat it because he ate so little at breakfast and when I brushed him he was so bony. He ate about a cup and a half. The other thing I've noticed is that his first stool of the morning is very loose and mucousy and the rest of the day they are normal and solid. But he always has that loose one first thing. Any ideas?

[Chicag0_Red]

@ Tsuni given that Missy has some Berneese in her and they are a little thicker dog I wouldn't worry too much about it. Especially if the vet thinks her body condition is good.

@ Janet While it is not unusual for these guys to go on "grocery holidays" what you are describing sounds to me more like a potential medical issue. The first thing that pops to mind is a Gastro-Intestinal issue either parasites (worms, etc. ) or GI infection or even God forbid a tumor (don't mean to scare you). The only way to confirm or clear those concerns will require testing by your vet.

[Jewel]

Janet, I agree with Red. You may want to have your boy checked out by the vet. My first pyr often skipped breakfast and ate only at dinner time but she didn't lose weight because of it and so I didn't worry about her skipping meals.

[kimierose]

When Bella was at the vet the other day she weighed in at 15lbs at 7 weeks I was sure she was under weight. The vet said she was very healthy and not under weight. She isnt eating as much as I think she should usally around 3 cups a day. She is what I call a grazer she wont finish all her food at once eats about 80% of it and then goes back about a hr later and finishes it up.The breeder was feeding them cheap dog food mothers milk dried up when they were a lil over 4 weeks. Breeder started feeding them kibble softend up and was putting eggs in it. Bella was a lil picky when we got her I refused to feed her the cheap stuff I feed her Pedigree large breed puppy food this is what i have always fed my dogs and have always had healthy animals.

[Janet_P]

Janet, I agree with Red. You may want to have your boy checked out by the vet. My first pyr often skipped breakfast and ate only at dinner time but she didn't lose weight because of it and so I didn't worry about her skipping meals.

I was gave him two days to significantly improve or I would take him in to the vet. The runny morning stool tapered off and is gone now. He did start eating. The first day he ate really well, the second day he just ate ok. Yesterday he was just picking. Today I bought him a lamb based kibble and some cans of the same brand that are also lamb based. I'll transition him over a bit at a time, but this afternoon, I mixed about half a can of the food with the food he's been eating and he licked the bowl clean. I gave him a bit more later and ate every morsel. Of course he did! The stuff is like 1.80 a can! This is not a cheap dog. I'll mix half a can into his food just to make it taste good. But he's eating really well now. He has put a little bit of weight back on. Still on the thin side, but I believe he's turned around. I kind of have an idea what it might have been. I had taken him with us for a hike in the mountains about 2 weeks ago. We were near a river and the kids were wanting to get up close and put their hands in it. It was in a really fast running, clear water place and he leaned down and drank a little before I pulled him back. I read the other day that a lot of rivers contain cryptosporidium. It causes gastrointestinal symptoms. I called the vet to ask if there was any kind of treatment for it. They told me that the rivers in Nevada don't have it, but I thought..."How do you know?" We are very close to the California border and they have it there. I still think that's what it was. The article says it resolves itself, which it does seem to have done. So now he's mawing down on his new expensive dog food and he seems to be feeling much better.

[Dee Dee Ro]

I would tend to be more leery about the water out of a tap at home than I would be over fresh mountain water. My old grandpa dawg has been recently plagued with the runny, stinky poos. My caregiver found evidence of a baby moose carcass out behind the house-the sad ending to a long winter, so I imagine the dawgs got into the carcass. To help his digestive issues, I stir a couple tbs of plain yogurt into his kibble. I've also been putting rice into his food and a half a slice of bread. In two days, his poo has firmed up again and is appearing much more comfortable. The old guy, my Big Dawg Daddy has esophageal cancer, hardening of the heart wall and inoperable tumors spreading through his digestive track. I do my best to keep his food as bland as possible. Any new diet component should be introduced gradually, but sometimes we just can't help with some of the stuff they decide is a taste treat i.e, a moose gut pile.