It is estimated that around one in fifty puppies are stillborn or die in the first six weeks of life because they are too small. In all dog breeds, low birth weight steadily increases a puppy's chances of dying. The lower their weight, the more at risk they are. However, puppies born small are not necessarily carriers of birth defects.
Puppies with low birth weight can develop into normal, healthy dogs. Dwarves who survive until weaning are no more likely to have medical problems than their littermates. Over time and with proper nutrition, these puppies will catch up and be the same size (or at least reach their genetic potential). All newborn puppies depend on their mother completely, at least for the first 3 weeks to survive.
But the smallest of the litter is at a disadvantage and will need the breeder's help to survive. Depending on the number of puppies in the litter, it can be quite difficult for everyone to receive the same amount of care from their mother, especially during feeding hours. All puppies in the litter struggle to get their mother's nutrition, but stronger puppies are likely to drive away the dwarf, who is small and weak. Do dwarves, who are supposedly the weakest and most unhealthy, live longer than normal dogs? Well, in all honesty, not really.
Once the youngest in the litter overcome the critical stages, they generally recover fully and lead a normal, healthy life like any other dog. Usually, health checks are factored into the cost of puppies and should be the same for the dwarf. A dwarf puppy that is as active as its siblings and has no signs of illness, such as lethargy or unusual stools, is as healthy a beak as any of the other puppies in the litter. In most cases, if the dwarf in a litter reaches six or eight weeks, it will likely survive and will likely grow close to its full size, experts said.
However, if the dwarf's weight drops to less than 25% of what it should be for his race and age, this increases the risk of the dwarf dying. If you are going to choose a dwarf from the litter, the price of the dwarf should be the same as that of any other puppy in the litter. 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. In contrast, there are usually one or two puppies that seem a little smaller, weaker and less of a fighter, especially when it comes to mealtimes.
Unlike “litter selection”, the healthiest and strongest puppy in the litter, a dwarf litter puppy is the smallest puppy in the litter. In fact, a puppy discounted in price because he is a dwarf can be a very good bargain, either for the seasoned buyer with an eye on potential or for the beginning breeder looking for additions to a breeding program, but with a shortage of investment money. Since the average litter of puppies for all dogs is approximately six puppies, most litters will have one puppy that is smaller than the rest, and this puppy will generally be labeled the “dwarf”. By definition, a dwarf is any puppy that is below the average (or below the healthy level) of that breed.
