What makes a dwarf a dwarf? Can they survive and thrive as well as other puppies? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more. Yes, it's perfectly fine to pick up the little ones from the litter, provided they are healthy and receive the necessary care after birth. The personality of the dwarf dog is as closely linked to the human personality as any other dog. There is no clear evidence that the smallest of the litter is prioritized to build a certain personality.
Being the smallest in the litter should not affect your training capacity. As long as you show him the same patience, consistency and care as any other puppy, there's no reason he can't be trained with the same success as any average dog. The race of the dwarf is likely to have a greater impact on how easy or difficult it is to train them. By definition, a dwarf is any puppy that is below the average (or below the healthy level) of that breed.
What makes a puppy the smallest in the litter often comes down to developmental disadvantages in the womb and a case of survival of the fittest once born. However, at home, with careful breeders, the smallest of the litter can not only survive, but also thrive and develop into the best possible pet. Researching the personality traits of a dwarf dog is probably a good indication of what type of personality your dwarf dog will have. By definition, a dwarf puppy will be one (or more) of the litter whose weight is abnormally low, below the healthy level of that specific breed.
Welcoming an adorable pet puppy into your home is always an exciting time, and as you choose from the litter, you're probably wondering which one is the “smallest” of the group. Talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate weight gain expected of your dog breed and check all puppies for signs of malnutrition. However, if the breeder has a good reputation and is responsible, he will give you a detailed explanation of the type of care that was given to the dwarf after his birth. Although the dwarves in the litter start out smaller than the rest, this does not necessarily mean that they remain small.
As long as your little one in the litter is healthy and progressing well in terms of size, weight and general well-being, there will be no problem in the ability to train your dog. If you choose the smallest of the litter, you should expect to pay the same price as any of the other puppies. If the size (weight) of a dwarf falls below more than 25% of where it should be (for the breed), the chances of dying increase greatly. Normally, the 'dwarf' in the litter is considered the smallest and weakest of his siblings, but being the smallest puppy does not automatically make him the dwarf.
