[Maddie]

So you just take the average between the two?
(or 4 if you know the grandparents)

[Maureen]

no, I don't average the heights for predictions. I give the heights of the parents, allowing that heights in between the parents' heights can happen.

If someone insists that a heavier dog is a concern I point out that poodles are NOT pushy, or bulky in the way that Labs are, or can be. There is no way that Yankee tries to push around Sheba, for example, just because she is heavier.
_________________
~Maureen
LabradoodleRanch@aol.com
www.LabradoodleRanch.com

[Jac]

You know, my girls are siblings and are the same height...but Lexie is so boxy, like a Lab, and Bayley is very lean, like a Poodle...and Lexie weighs nearly 70 lbs! (She is a little on the heavy side, but not fat...truly it is all of her huge chest and square build.) Bayley is between 40-45 lbs.

So, a breeder can look at the pups and watch them grow for those 8-12 weeks and usually can predict what will happen...

In our last litter, the pups were all pretty uniform, but one little female (we called her Little Pink...she is now Harold and Lisa's Gracey) was always petite...not a runt...but smaller boned. Her face was small, and her body was like her mother's (Bayley)...the other females were a nice cross between both parents and they were larger but none have gotten too big...none are as big as Chase.

Still, I always knew that Little Pink (aka Gracey) would be small.
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jacque.bayley.lexie.chase.rosie.nitos.amelia.dupree.madison.sherwood.gerry www.backporchlabradoodles-jacque.blogspot.com www.backporchlabradoodles.com

[Maureen]

great example!
So, Jacque, do you use your girls as examples to show that predicting heights is more accurate than weights? I think we can look at the frame of our puppies and learn what a slighter, vs. athletic build is, but who would've guessed your girls would be so diverse in physiques?

Do you try to predict the weight range of your puppies as adults?

I just think the hybrid factor is hard to get right. So I'd rather not go there than be wrong! (or I'm just not good at it)
_________________
~Maureen
LabradoodleRanch@aol.com
www.LabradoodleRanch.com

[Jac]

Oh, no, I don't try to predict...although I do think that we have consistently gotten pups shorter than (or in the case of some males, the same as) Chase and taller than the mothers.

It is just the little ones, always female, that I know will be small. We had a couple of smaller girls in Lexie's litter too. And I don't judge so much by their weight but by their bone structure and shape.

And, yes, I can more easily predict the height...although I can usually see if the face is going to be boxy and that leads me to consider that the dog will get more square and heavy. (I actually love that!)
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jacque.bayley.lexie.chase.rosie.nitos.amelia.dupree.madison.sherwood.gerry www.backporchlabradoodles-jacque.blogspot.com www.backporchlabradoodles.com

[Maddie]

So you can have short fat dogs, that weigh alot, be the parents of minis.

On the other hand, I once saw a breeder's website with a photo of a 100lb. doodle. It was ONE BIG DOODLE! It was large in height and weight. Neither parent was anywhere near that big.

Go figure?

Maddie

[Maureen]

[Maddie]

Sorry Maureen,

It was sort of a half joke, meaning that its so hard to predict adult weight if you only know the weight of the parents, and not the height.

I apologize if you felt it was in bad taste.

But the second part (about the 100 lb. doodle) was true.

Maddie

[Maureen]

oh, no offense taken! I just didn't understand.

I get the comment about the 100 pounder. I had a litter of puppies from my Sheba and a short, squatty (English) Lab...and one of those boys is 27" tall! Who can know how those genes are going to come together, exactly? There's always one that just has to be different.

The truth is that there is a variance in the physiques of Labs, among each other, just like there's a difference in the heights of poodles.
_________________
~Maureen
LabradoodleRanch@aol.com
www.LabradoodleRanch.com

[Doodlesville]

and how the genes fall,,i have a mini litter rite now that at 9weeks old are all under 10lbs avg is 7lbs needless to say imma happy camper,,LOL
_________________
Nancy at Doodlesville(Virginia)
Aussiedoodles, Goldendoodles & Labradoodles
www.Doodlesville.net

[Maddie]

They are cuties Nancy

Congrats!

Maddie

[Linda]

Hi Maddie,
Linda has 2 beautiful cream puppies at a discount. I am sure she could give you more info if you are interested.
http://www.4pawspuppies.com/puppies.htm
How is the hunt going?

[Doodlesville]

They are soo precious ,,im tickled with how little they are and non are shedding thus far
_________________
Nancy at Doodlesville(Virginia)
Aussiedoodles, Goldendoodles & Labradoodles
www.Doodlesville.net

[Maddie]

Hi Linda,

Your pups are adorable, but I am looking for a female mini.

Maddie