I’ve just picked up my Berner pup and he’s very small compared to the breed standard, though he is perfectly healthy. Do you think he’ll eventually catch up? He’s 2 months old and only weighs 3kg (just over 6 and a half lbs).
I saw both the mum and dad and they were a normal size, even if they weren't massive.
Thanks!
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
Good evening, I’ve had my Bernese pup for a week now. He went from 6 lbs 3 oz to 6 lbs 13 oz, but he’s lost some weight today. I’m getting a bit worried. He’s eating, playing and doing his business as usual. What do you all think? Thanks.
Hi there. I got Kanawha on 22nd November at 2 months old; he was 5 lbs 11 oz then and was 1 stone 4 lbs this morning. The parents aren’t huge (about 6 stone 4 lbs) and the vet told me there was no need to worry. Where did you get him from?
Evening all, I’ve had my Bouvier for a week now. He went from about 6 lbs 3 oz up to 6 lbs 13 oz, but today he’s lost a bit of weight. I’m getting a bit worried. He’s still eating and playing, and his toilet habits are normal. What do you all think? Thanks.
Kanawha has been home for a fortnight now and he’s already put on about 4 lbs. We’ve got a vet appointment on the 22nd, but apparently there’s nothing to worry about according to the vet, as he looks after the parents too.
It’s true that 3 kg (roughly 6.6 lbs) sounds a bit light for a Bernese Mountain Dog. Mine was 8 kg (about 17.6 lbs) at 9 weeks, and now at 3 years old he weighs 47 kg (around 7 stone 6 lbs), which isn't even that big of a build. If yours is in great shape, eating well and gaining weight steadily but not excessively, he'll likely catch up eventually. He probably won't end up being a massive Berner, but that doesn't matter at all as long as he stays healthy.
Weights can be so surprising... Padja, that little chunky monkey, weighed about 20lbs at two and a half or three months old. Now she’s nearly fully grown, she only weighs about 4 stone.
When I first got her, I couldn't carry her for very long even though she was only two and a half months old. She weighed an absolute ton, the little spud!
Growth charts and wither height for a breed are only ever a guide... just an average.
Estimates for adult size depend entirely on the individual puppy and their own development.
The way they look, how their shape changes—my parents’ Bernese, Belka, only really started filling out in the back and chest at around 13 months. And she didn't reach her full adult size until she was about 3 and a half.
So for a male, you're looking at between 3 and 4 years.
He’s got plenty of time to put on weight, depending on his appetite, his food, and his puppy temperament.
Why did the mum have to have a C-section?
Whatever you do, don't be tempted to try and make him put on more weight to 'catch up'.
It’s really bad for them. In this breed, dysplasia and cruciate ligament ruptures are quite common, so keep a close eye on any limping, even if it’s intermittent. No rough jumping.
As for dysplasia, which can be hereditary...
Dogs aren't born with dysplasia; they develop it.
Just be careful with his growth, his activity levels as a puppy/junior, and his diet.
I don’t entirely agree with you, Caroline Eg.
Harry weighed about 9 lbs 4 oz when I got him at two and a half months old (so he was definitely under 6 lbs 10 oz at two months), and he wasn't much of an eater when he was a pup. His healthy weight now is 4 stone 6 lbs and he’s 65cm tall.
I can’t remember exactly what my Bernese Mountain Dog weighed when we first got him, but he wasn't very big at all, and he ended up at a healthy adult weight of 7 stone 1 lb and 68cm tall.
Depending on the breed, weight gain can happen at different stages. He might just be on the smaller side, but he could still be "normal"—you’ll just have to see how he develops over the next few weeks.
