Should we be concerned about having the smallest labrador puppy in the litter. Our bitch is lots smaller than the other boys & girls, although she is putting on weight and is still only just 4 weeks old. Is this likely to have health implications in later life?? Help!!

Our Golden Retriever was the smallest in the litter, she is still small for a Retriever even as an adult. She's approaching her 14th Birthday later this year, and is still a wonderful healthy dog.
Personally, I would not be put off having the smallest in the litter, if the dog picked me, as happened in our case. Perhaps I've just been very lucky?! :) :)

Liberty

Hi Guest. Not necessarily. I've known a small puppy catch up many times in the past. Sometimes a breeder may mate their bitch several times to the stud dog. For example, when we mated my friends Flatcoat bitch we took her to the dog 3 times over a 4 day period. Add to that the fact that the sperm is viable for several days and you can see that it is possible for some eggs to be inseminated several days after others. In other words one or more puppies in a litter COULD be born several days premature!

Some questions for you to think about. Is the puppy feeding well? Is it healthy, no discharge from eyes or nose? Are it's motions the same as the rest of the puppies? (All pupies of this age tend to be loose due to their diet so dont expect firm motions) And lastly, is the puppy active? (Allowing for the fact that 4 week old puppies spend most of the time sleeping or eating!)

If the answer to these questions is yes and there is no obvious deformity then the chances are the puppy will catch up.

Regards John

Don't worry about taking the smallest pup. From my last litter I had a bitch who was about half the size of her monster brother. I saw her a couple of weeks ago, she is the same height as the other bitches in that litter and looks wonderful, infact I wish I'd kept her [$ punted Curtis!!!!!!!!!!! ])