[pyrnet] Re: pyrnet-l-digest.20021214

[Rhonda Collins <rhonda@castlepublishing.com>]

>
>Hello,
>
>Say, I have a question folks.  Most of you know Romy, our 18month old male
>Pyr.  Well, we just took him to the vet for a rabies booster and of course he
>got weighed.  He was 86lbs.
>
>Now he has been that weight since 9months about, although he is grown visibly
>in height (he is now about 28.5" at the withers), width, and length.  I am
>amazed that while he is doubtless larger, he is not heavier.  I am beginning
>to think he must be like one of those hollow chocolate eater bunnies (white
>chocolate of course).
>
>Seriously though, he is on a blend of Natural Balance and Nutro Natural
>Choice with some healthy yogurt added (real "yoghurt" at 11% fat).  His coat
>is great, he has good flesh, and is a very happy and active pyr (daily walks
>and plenty of romping around in the backyard with our 3yr old son, Dusty).
>
>Is growth and filling out at this rate normal.  We have been told that he
>will not reach full size until nearly 4 yrs (based on his breeding line's
>history)...I am just wondering.
>
>Any advise?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Keith, Soo, Dusty, and Romy

I was concerned about Newman, too, as he wasn't gaining weight, and was, in 
fact, losing. Turned out he had re-aquired hookworms, which he'd had when 
we bought him at 8 weeks. But even after being re-wormed, he still didn't 
start gaining weight until months later. Now, he's doing okay and is eating 
well and is up to 120 lbs (he's now 20 months). Since we bought him from a 
"backyard breeder" and don't know his line's growth rate, we're kind of 
winging it. His mother seemed small to me...maybe about the size of a 
good-sized Golden Retriever, but his father was IMMENSE, or seemed so to 
me. As I recall (having seen him only that one time, and not being able to 
compare the two dogs now) he seemed at least half again as big as Newman is 
now...which means he probably weighed at least 170-180 lbs. Are there some 
lines that are slow to mature? I remember someone saying that males 
generally reach their full height and weight by 2 1/2 years. In any case, 
I'm not "concerned" about him any longer: he's eating well, is healthy and 
happy, not fat. He seems to be neither lean nor fat, but just perfect, 
weight-wise, with just a thin layer of muscle over the ribcage and 
virtually no fat that I can tell.

Rhonda