Can anyone experienced tell me:-  does it really matter if you have a puppy that is the runt of the litter,  I know they are sometimes slightly smaller in size but does it acutally matter?  I have heard people say dont choose the runt, but surely there is a runt in every litter and they are perfectly well all there lives?   anyway im rather confused, can anyone help on this for me please?  and thanks.

Not all litters have runts, and the smallest puppy isn't necessarily a runt. True runts are both small and weedy and unhealthy, but you can get small, perfectly healthy puppies as well.

Very true, Jeangenie, when we chose Amber at 4 weeks she was 4/5 the size of the rest of the litter, who were incidentally all blue roans while she was an orange roan, but she seemed in perfect health and well formed and in proportion.  When we collected her at 8 weeks she was still quite a bit smaller but by the time we met her sister in the ring at about 11 months they were just about the same and she was often amongst the bigger of the bitches in the ring.

Maisie was slightly smaller than the rest of the litter. Now at 7 months she has grown up big and strong plus she is perfectly healthy.

You often have a 'little' one, in the wild this pup would die as the bigger pups push them out of the way but a good breeder will ensure that this pup gets plenty of milk and feed seperate when weaning. They generally more or less catch up by the time they leave and has been said they invariably grow to be the same as their siblings.

I think it depend on what you mean.If you mean the runt as in a small sickly puppy then it would be wiser to avoid it.
If you mean the smallest pup but one that is healthy then there is no problem.
Archer

Agree with the above answers.  i have often had 1 or 2 substantially smaller pups in a litter, butt hey have been perfect, developed normally, and usually end up average size.  However a "runt" is small, weedy and often has numerous defects.  I have reared and kept 2 of these pups myself.  Both have been dearly loved pets, but I am always aware of the problems they had/have, and the potential for trouble.  Titch was my Am. Cocker who was tiny at birth and very weak.  Almost died, had to be hand reared, and at 6 weeks was still half size of rest.  At adulthood he was a stocky little chap, but only the height of an average to small bitch in the breed.  He had a very happy, healthy life, till I suddenly and tragically lost him (kidney failure) aged 5,  his early problems may well have played a part in his short life span.  Puglet is my tiny pug, a singleton, her Mum rejected her.  She was tiny and very strange looking.  Again hand reared, and much less than half the average size for a pug until 6 months.  She is now a littel more than half size. She has what my vet call multiple birth defects, including very strange legs and joints, a fontanelle which did not close for months, and a tendency to hyperventilate and pass out when excited.  However,  she loves life, is always the center of attention, and I count every day with her as a bonus.  She is now over 3 years old - we never thought she would make a year!  However, she is probably one of the most expensive Pugs in the UK, the cost of all her vet bills as a baby, and then her hydro therapy which builds up extra muscle in her little legs.  You have to realise with a runt you are taking on potential herat ache and heart break (as well as big vet bills!)
bye
Gwen

My Golden, Bree was the smallest of the litter, possibly considered the runt. She will (fingers crossed) celebrate her 15th birthday next month :D

liberty