boxer puppy weight

Question
I just sold a female boxer who at 8 weeks was about 4 lbs. yes small but healthy. The whole litter was small because they were born 2 weeks early but they all got a clean bill of health. Is it true that her size will be normal as she matures? I was told that she is on the right street and just to assume her to be 2 weeks younger then she is. my biggest of the litter was 5 lbs at 6 weeks and the runt was 1 lb 13ozs. everyone else was around 4 lbs.  

Answer
Hi Lori,
Your story is amazing to me as in more than forty years I have not known of a litter surviving if born that early, your litter being born two weeks early and surviving is a miracle. Usually if the litter is born on or before day fifty-seven they do not survive, so congratulations on pulling this litter through. The probability of the litter reaching average weight at maturity is quite possible and will depend on a number of factors including diet, health, environment and genetics. If the sire and dam are average weight and the grandparents then the pups should be just lacking in time as you have described and may take a little longer to reach their full potential when given the proper diet and exercise. Two weeks is a big difference in the growing canine puppy as the gestation period is only sixty-three days (for our readers who do not know this). This litter may not reach full maturity at two years of age but more like two and half to three years old. Please keep in touch with me on the puppies as I'd like to detail their progress in the Boxer Behavior Journal if possible. Thank you for your question.

Angela Donald
Canine Behavior Consultant
http://www.hitowerboxers.com