A question about a runt cane corso

[kczibere]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and i have an important question!
I am getting a Cane Corso x American Bulldog (3 parts corso x 1 part American bulldog)female puppy when she is 8 or 9 weeks old. My concern is that she is the runt of the litter and is exactly half the size of all the other puppies. I'm pretty sure she has been vet checked and come back healthy. When i went to see her at 4 weeks old, she was only a fraction smaller than the others, but now the gap is larger between her and all the other puppies. At 6 weeks old she still wants to nurse, and only eats some soaked kibble once in a while..besides that she sleeps more.
When i go and visit them, all the puppies run up to me to see except her. She is very submissive and is gentle: which i do need from the puppy as i do have another female senior dog in my home. I understand that she might just be distant and unresponsive because the other puppies are all dominant over her, and that because she is roughly two weeks behind in growth she tires easily.
Is there a way i can know if she is only small cause shes not getting the right nutrients so that when i bring her home she will be of average size? or if shes sick in some way?

Note: she and one of the males were tied with size at birth and she was born second last, but that boy has passed her in growth.

[canecorsonancy]

Welcome on board.
I had a runt like that once, that still did not eat any solid food, not even soaked kibble, when 5 weeks of age. He started the same size as the others, but than got behind. When he finally started to eat solid food and meat, he slowly caught up. When about 10 weeks of age, he was hardly any smaller than the others and eventually did end up the same size. But that is only 1 indivual puppy. Usually I have them all about the same size. In your case, she still has to start eating solid food and there is no way of telling when she will do that. When she is 8-9 weeks of age, she really should eat solid food and you should see that she slowly catches up. If so, there is probably nothing wrong. But do make sure she is properly checked by a vet. Also when you have her at your home, have her checked by your vet for a second opinion. I worried sick about my little runt and it ended up being nothing to worry about. But that does not mean it is like that in all cases.

[Empirestatecanecorso.com]

 kczibere Wrote:

"I am getting a Cane Corso x American Bulldog (3 parts corso x 1 part American bulldog)female puppy.Is there a way i can know if she is only small cause shes not getting the right nutrients so that when i bring her home she will be of average size? or if shes sick in some way? "

Hello the first thing that should have been said is that the pure Corso already has enough crippling  genetic health issues and mix breeding  can magnify these issues plus then some when you start haphazardlymixing breeds. The American bulldog in the last 15 years has had some pretty bad hip problems and  dont know if you know it but the Corso is past the 50 th percentile in hip problems as well so this puppy could be very expensive down the road.

My question would be why the breeder allowed this breeding to occur and did he plan this. I for one have known persons to produce so called bandogges responsibly like "Donovan Pinchers" a mix of Dutch Shepherps  and Pinschers etc.  so dont think I am against mixing of breeds.

In any event my girls father was at first the runt of the litter and ended up producing a whole array of working stock and eventually his price tag was 20,000 US Dollars so size isnt everything. Good luck to you and hope to see pics of your pup when you do get her.   

[seanovoz]

a middle pup in our litter sleepd alot up till 6 weeks but he was putting all his effort in growing verry solid in the 2 weeks following! i have hade a lot of runts (x breed pups etc) and they never stayed the smallest fron the litter when mature