puppy growth

Question
Hi Trish!  I have been searching for a puppy for awhile and thought I was getting new little companion, yet had a terrible experience with a bad breeder... so my search is still going on.  My question is if you have any links or information you can give on a pomeranian puppies growth.  I found a breeder who has puppies she thinks will grow to around 6 lbs.  How do breeders make this estimate?  The puppy was born 9/10/05 and at a little over 5 weeks on 10/18/05 she weighs 1.12 lbs.  Is this average?  The dam weighs 6lbs, and the Sire 4.8.  I have read that no one can guarentee the mature weight, yet a lot of breeders still give estimates.  Any insight?  Thanks!

Answer
There is NO gaurantee on how big your pup will get.  When this arctic breed originated they were easily 30+ pound dogs and then they have been selectively bred down to the current standard.  Inbreeding is a componant to the smaller size so the more often a certain dog has the same ancestors in its pedigree, the more likely you are to get offspring with more consistancy in adult size (to THAT dog).
I use the Pat Hastings Puppy Puzzle method of evaluating as well as going on how the parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives have grown to estimate adult size.  A rule of thumb is that you triple the 8 week weight and double the 12 week weight.  But, even that is no gaurantee if it is an outcross (no relatives in the pedigree) breeding.  But you can be relatively sure that at 8 weeks you can usually triple and that is close to what your puppy will be grown.  If you know the grandparents size, that would help.  My best guess is that you will probably get an adult weight of around 8-9 lbs unless your puppy only gains 4 ounces over the next 3 weeks... unlikely.
Be sure of what you want and what you are paying for.  Your best bet is to buy a Pom from someone who shows since they will be breeding for themselves primarily which also means they will be better about selecting sires and dams they would keep pups from themselves to show and represent their breed and kennel.

Best of luck!
email me if you have any other questions.
-Trish
www.geminipoms.com