The American Beagler Forum

Just wondering, Are runts of a litter typically any good? Do they have problems more than they're litter mates? I have a true runt who is half of his litter mates size. I breed 10" beagles and he looks like he is going to be smaller then all the rest. They are 6 weeks old and he is healthy but he is about the size of a Pepsi bottle while his mates are 2x that. Will this effect his growth and abilities, or could he be pretty good?

Chris

I have always heard that the runts that make it, turn out to be the best dog out of the litter. Not real sure if thats true or not can anyone correct me if wrong.

From my experience, the runts usually end up no different in ability than the others, but they do tend to be a little smaller at their adult size. Now, if you are talking about a runt that is small but also very sickly-they may tend to be sickly as adults as well.

My experience with the runts are that they usually make the best one out of the litter but I would not use them in my breeding program.I prefer a big strong healthy dog.Male or female.I think the runts genetic makeup is not as good as a bigger dog but it all depends on the size of dog you like in your kennel.

I use to take the runt females out of my litters,seemed they just made a better hound. Not real sure if they are or not. I still belive that a hound is what it is when its born we need to run them and let it out.

One of the members here bought the bluetick runt pup out of my Dolly's litter of ten, whelped in 2000. Before the owner got savvy about Interceptor and all that jazz (yes I preached on it), the dog contracted heartworms. The owner became a believer, the dog was treated and put on prevention. He started well and hunted well. When he was about 3 (I think), he was hit by an automobile and his pelvis was broken in several places. He dragged himself into a ravine and the owner found him. His pelvis was repaired and he mended... to become PPCH, BCH, HBCH, CH Cottontail Blues Skimmer. He is certainly a hardy little fart with a ton of heart.

I will most likely keep the runt male from Dolly's recent litter with Clem. He's healthy, well-proportioned, and a good natured little bluetick. I haven't really seen any exceptional problems with runts unless they are weakly. Dolly has had 37 pups in 4 litters (she has big litters - and always a runt or two) and has only lost 5 (right after birth) none of them were the runts, so if they're not up to par, they're just not up to par...in my experience, anyway.

Just for giggles, you might be able to pick my runt out in this recent video. ringtail has been asking me about big ol' Moe anyway, so here ya go, ringtail:

(it's an 8 meg file)
http://www.espomagazine.com/bev/tugowar.wmv

Nice video Bev.

I like the one w/ the white spotted ear and the runt.

I used to like runts but these days I look for the biggest, meanest SOB in the litter. Frank Reese got me to thinking about the meanest part and it made sense.

My grandpa always told me that the runts make the best hunting dogs. Don't know exactly how much truth there is, but I tend to favor them myselves, especially the females.

I think the runts genetic makeup is not as good as a bigger dog but it all depends on the size of dog you like in your kennel.

Seems to me his genetic makeup is going to be the same as the rest of the pups in the litter as long as they are all from the same momma and daddy. Could be wrong though.

Guys ,

I bought the "runt" from a good friend who thought she would be to small for his liking. She was the the first to open her eyes , the first of the litter to start ,and now she is bigger than all her littermates, Jeff now says he thinks he sold the wrong pup. We are very pleased with our runt and intend to start trialing her soon.

I'll keep the runt everytime , I think they make tuffer hounds , I think this because they have to fight for everything they get right from the word go.
Just my 2 cents (lol)!!!

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL RUNTS, BEAGLES ,POINTERS ,SETTERS.THEY ALL SEEM TO START AT A EARLY AGE .THAT JUST MY OPINION

I've always had good luck with the runt females out of litters also. I've always heard when you were the smallest on the block you had to be the toughest and meanest to make it .

The runt out of my last litter I kept for myself as I generally like 13" class dogs. Well the mother was 13 1'2" and the sire was 12", guess what the "Runt" turned out to be?????? 14" I had to sell him because he got way too big, this little guy had to fight for everything when he was born into a litter of 8. He is now the Lead dog for this older gentleman and is the head of his kennels breeding program. At 1 1/2 yrs of age he took over the lead position in the pack and hasn't reliquished it yet. So much for the 'Runt" theory.

I too agree that some of my best dogs have been runts. In any breed I have had. They are better fighters, smarter and have more heart. I think it is that fct they do have to work harder than the other pups. They also mature quicker, and usally house break easier. Don't know why though.