Recently did a post re: slow maturers and just wanted to ask - if you had a slow maturer would you expect the rest of the litter to be the same ?? Or is it just purely down to genetics and there could be just the one from the litter ??

depends on the breeding, if its line bred then chances are most would be the same, if an outcross then they could all be different!!!! but give me a slow maturer everytime, :D

I have a slow maturer, as he was my first dog to ahve from a pup I was quite worried that he wasnt growing as he should be, so I went to his breeder and she said something which is very true, they may take longer to "get there" but they will last longer than the fast ones!
My boy is line bred and two of his litter mates are the same,
Vikki

you might have to wait a bit to do some winning as the forward pups will have more appeal in the puppy classs to most judges, -but when theyve turned into a sack of potatoes the slow ones are about ready, and have a much longer shelf life :D

Hi Lel,

You know Sal's breeding, and that I was concerned like you about "slow maturing" but after going to the show the other week and seeing both her litter sisters I'm pleased to say Sal is about the same development wise as them both. Thank the Lord I thought it was just mine.

Why do you ask?

Karen

What exactly are you talking about? Slow maturing in appearance or slow maturing mentally?

Appearance can be to a certain extent controlled by feed and exercise

Mental age is possibly more a "Born in" state although environment could possibly affect it to a small extent.

Just my thoughts, John

Hi John

( Lel please correct me if I'm wrong).

I have a Stafford and so does Lel, and it seems there is a "divide" might be too strong a word for it but I hope you understand what I mean. In the way pups look.

In my case Sal is almost 9 months old now.
And when I entered her in a local open show against other Stafford pups she "looked" like a pup the others in my opinion looked like mini adults I admit some were 11 months old but some were only a month or so older than Sal. But I'm pleased to say my pup looks and behave like a pup, which is what she is after all.
Also having seen my bitches litter sisters they look the same and so do quite a few other Staffords of similar age to Sal but different breeders look the same so I have given up thinking about it now.

You have labs I beleive would you expect a 8 month old Lab pup to look like an adult?

Mentally she is fine in fact I sometimes think she has been on this planet before she seems to know what I want her to do before I say it. Or maybe she just reads my mind ;)

Karen

In labs I find my friends pups are in the ring winning at 6 mths but by 18 mths alot have gone on to pet homes whereas mine are just coming out at 18 mths. My labs tend to look finished at about 3 yrs old and that is when I really get them in the ring

This is true Nicolla. It is not just staffies. The differences in Goldens is amazing, Flatcoats too! And so many of the early developers blow out by 2 years old

Best wishes, John

I know that I know but sometimes it's hard to remember when you see other peoples pups.

But I must say I'm enjoying her puppyhood as much as she is hiding in long grass etc.

Karen

Gus just adores running in long grass :) He looks like a giant rabbit jumping through it (especially with his big ears :) )