I think my dog is a freak...

[Truff135]

So I have a 3 year-old Pekingese female named Truffles. I have gotten a lot of remarks lately about her size. When I got her weighed at the vet, she was somewhere in the range of 22-26 lbs (I can't remember - terrible memory). I was reading up on the breed again lately and was sort of shocked to discover that the typical Pekingese is only about 14 lbs. Now, I did research the breed before I bought her, I guess I just didn't really notice her size as I don't have other Pekingese to compare her to. I have the papers that say she is a purebred Pekingese. Are large Pekingese common or did I just get my own little freak of nature? I love her to death but sometimes I do wish she was smaller (she is not fat - she gets regular exercise and no table scraps), especially when I have to pick her up to take her places and stuff. I'm not overly concerned about it, I'm mostly just curious and I guess I am a little worried that she may not be purebred after all (I bought her from a Petland if that helps ).
Thanks

 

[Lorgakor]

I don't think that they are common really, but they do occur. Any weight over 14lbs would be grounds for disqualification from the AKC though. But if it isn't a show dog then that isn't really an issue.

 

[halfwaynowhere]

the AKC standard for chihuahuas is 6 lbs max, and I'm sure you've seen 15 pound chihuahuas that people claim to be purebred. I say its normal. Its not the standard, and it makes your dog pet quality, but hey, there's just more of her to love!

 

[Truff135]

...there's just more of her to love!

Funny, that's EXACTLY what my husband said!
She's too much of a goofball to be a show dog, anyway.
Thanks guys!

 

[Mushroom Spore]

I am a little worried that she may not be purebred after all (I bought her from a Petland if that helps ).

I'm pretty sure Petland only deals in "puppy mill" puppies - which are not bred to any kind of breed standard or screened for genetic defects or hereditary health problems. In fact, puppy mill puppies are kinda infamous for being ticking timebombs, healthwise, because mills will breed anything they can sell and they'll breed it over and over again. :8o

So...mostly I think the concern is to keep a close eye on your dog for any defects the breed is prone to when bred carelessly (good breeders simply will not breed dogs with these problems in their background, but they run wild in mills and backyard breeders), cause there can be some really nasty ones that pop up suddenly. We're talking dogs dying young levels of problems.

 

[LittleGiRLy]

Petland... interesting! my cousin bought a sheltie puppy from them a couple years ago, and now he's double the size of a normal sheltie! Their vet is dumbfounded! Normal weight for them is in the early to mid twenties, and he weighs 45lbs. Like your dog, he's not fat at all!! just .... BIG! Its rather funny watching him walk around in the dog park with the other shelties... compared to him, they look like puppies

 

[Truff135]

I'm pretty sure Petland only deals in "puppy mill" puppies - which are not bred to any kind of breed standard or screened for genetic defects or hereditary health problems. In fact, puppy mill puppies are kinda infamous for being ticking timebombs, healthwise, because mills will breed anything they can sell and they'll breed it over and over again. :8o

So...mostly I think the concern is to keep a close eye on your dog for any defects the breed is prone to when bred carelessly (good breeders simply will not breed dogs with these problems in their background, but they run wild in mills and backyard breeders), cause there can be some really nasty ones that pop up suddenly. We're talking dogs dying young levels of problems.

I actually had heard about puppy mills prior to buying her, and made sure to ask them before purchasing her. They assured me she was not from a puppy mill...though I suppose they could have been willing to tell me anything to make a big sale like that. But I can at least assure you that the minute anything appears wrong with her, her butt is off to the vet. Thanks for the info, though.

 

[mindlessvw]

my parents have a pomeranian(sp?) that is well over 20 lbs. the vet mentioned the original breed prior to people trying to make them smaller was slightly large...just a thought...

 

[Veneficus]

Some breeds of dogs, they're breeding them larger; although, for a smaller breed dog, I doubt a breeder would do that. If the dog was purchased at a petstore, then it could be anything (even a mix) because those types of dogs are not bred to standard. And petstores are known to lie and forge papers.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

I actually had heard about puppy mills prior to buying her, and made sure to ask them before purchasing her. They assured me she was not from a puppy mill...though I suppose they could have been willing to tell me anything to make a big sale like that.

They were willing, and they did. Unless they were hosting adoptions for a shelter (you'd know if they were), they were selling mill dogs. No good breeder ever puts their dogs in a pet store, because they actually care about only selling to good homes and keeping track of their animals, while pet stores will generally sell to the first person that puts money on the counter. So the only people supplying dogs to pet stores are the people who already see them as nothing but income.

Just something to keep in mind for the future - pet stores can't be trusted that easily. It's horrible that that's the way it is, but that's the way it is. (Same warning goes for small-time breeders, aka backyard breeders, because even well-meaning people breeding without doing genetic testing and knowing their animal's genetic history are just adding to the overpopulation problem AND producing more sick dogs. )

But I can at least assure you that the minute anything appears wrong with her, her butt is off to the vet.

Good. Hopefully you'll get lucky, but staying alert is the next best thing. I wish I knew more about dog health so I could suggest some things you can get checked *before* they become problems, but I'm sure there's information out there somewhere. Best of luck!

 

[Drachenjager]

T (Same warning goes for small-time breeders, aka backyard breeders, because even well-meaning people breeding without doing genetic testing and knowing their animal's genetic history are just adding to the overpopulation problem AND producing more sick dogs. )

You are very over generalizing. An i believe remarks like this show your ignorance.
Granted many just stick any male and female together. No question. But, There are some very good dogs bred by people with one or 2 in their home. I say that the AKC and the big dog shows are more a detriment to good dogs than "backyard" breeders. The reason I believe this is that this type of beeding has taken good hunting dogs and made them almost useless for hunting, but good for conformation shows.
Want a good working dog? Get one that came from the United Kennel Club , avoid AKC unless you want a pretty dog that cant smell lol

 

[Mushroom Spore]

You are very over generalizing. An i believe remarks like this show your ignorance.
Granted many just stick any male and female together. No question

I think you misread my post, although I probably could have been more specific about mentioning those small-time breeders that AREN'T "backyard breeders."

I was telling the OP that you can't just take a pet store's word that they're selling healthy animals that won't suddenly develop a crippling illness before the age of two, and that the SAME WARNING applies to small-time breeders. That is: don't trust at the drop of a hat, because plenty of people out there will lie to you if you don't do some research yourself on what they're really up to, and learn what signs to watch for. This includes breeders who have had their bloodlines tested for diseases (and know that their animals do not have parents/grandparents/etc with inheritable disorders), breeders who are very picky about finding good homes for their dogs, spay/neuter contracts, and so on.

Also, I said absolutely nothing about dog shows, I don't know where that came from at all.

 

[Drachenjager]

I think you misread my post, although I probably could have been more specific about mentioning those small-time breeders that AREN'T "backyard breeders."

I was telling the OP that you can't just take a pet store's word that they're selling healthy animals that won't suddenly develop a crippling illness before the age of two, and that the SAME WARNING applies to small-time breeders. That is: don't trust at the drop of a hat, because plenty of people out there will lie to you if you don't do some research yourself on what they're really up to, and learn what signs to watch for. This includes breeders who have had their bloodlines tested for diseases, breeders who are very picky about finding good homes for their dogs, spay/neuter contracts, and so on.

Also, I said absolutely nothing about dog shows, I don't know where that came from at all.

The comment about the dog shows was made to show an alternate version of the problem with "junk" dogs.Not a remark about your statement.

and Yes you are correct, pet shops suck more than anything that has ever sucked before , when it comes to cats and dogs they sell.
If it were illegal to sell dogs and cats in pet shops, puppy mills would die off.
hmmm write your congress-thief...i mean congress person...what ever is polo-tickally(intentional spelling) correct to call the liar that misrepresents us lol

 

[Lucara]

So far my parents have purchased 3 Japanese Chins and a Lasa Opsa from Petland. The chins are all normal but the Lasa has a bad underbite which obviously wouldnt have come from a first rate breeder. All overpriced mutts that they could have found in a shelter somewhere on death row..just my 2cents.

 

[STAR105.7]

well...mabey its a freak of nature, mabey its not pure breed....all that matters really, is that its a good dog, and you love her!...

 

[Rochelle]

Never, never, never buy a cat or dog from a petstore.
Mushroom Spore is absolutely correct.
Quality animals are NOT sold to petstores.

They are sold for profit; bred for profit and no one cares what happens with it after the sale......only the poor family who thought they were paying extra for a purebred animal. The whole point IMO of buying a papered animal is because you want to be sure of what you're getting.
This will never be the actual case when buying from a store. Their stock only comes from uncaring and volume oriented individuals.
Purchasing from these stores only supports the next order from the mill operator.
Please look into your girl's eyes and feel how much you love her and how far you'd go to protect her and keep her safe....
Now ask yourself what conditions her mother lives in at that same moment.

Breaks your heart, huh?

 

[Truff135]

Never, never, never buy a cat or dog from a petstore.
Mushroom Spore is absolutely correct.
Quality animals are NOT sold to petstores.

They are sold for profit; bred for profit and no one cares what happens with it after the sale......only the poor family who thought they were paying extra for a purebred animal. The whole point IMO of buying a papered animal is because you want to be sure of what you're getting.
This will never be the actual case when buying from a store. Their stock only comes from uncaring and volume oriented individuals.
Purchasing from these stores only supports the next order from the mill operator.
Please look into your girl's eyes and feel how much you love her and how far you'd go to protect her and keep her safe....
Now ask yourself what conditions her mother lives in at that same moment.

Breaks your heart, huh?

Wow, well that put a pooey spin on my slightly-silly post lol. Yeah, I realize that now but this was also a few years ago when I didn't know better. I couldn't find breeders in my area (I had been looking for a while and I really wanted one so...Petland was my only choice at that time). But yeah nowadays I don't even like buying crickets from pet stores, seems like everything in those places is neglected in some way, shape or form.
Sorry I wasn't educated enough back then, but I guess at least she's got a ridiculously spoiled life with me.

 

[sylverbullit]

Pet stores can sell a dog with papers as "purebread" as long as there is no less the 90% of one breed. Your dog could be 98% pekenese and 2% something else to cause the weight difference. That happened to me with a shit zu. I had papers for her but when I had her genetically tested she was part laso apso.