The determination of growth performance and some morphological characteristics effective on development curves of German Shepherd puppies during the suckling period

Abstract

This study was carried out to establish the body weight, survival rate and some body measurements in German Shepherd puppies during the suckling period. The Puppies were each weighed every seven days, and measured at ten different body sites every fourteen the day until weaning. The mean live weight of each puppy was measured as 776 g in the I(st) week, 1750 g in the 4(th) week and 2614 g in the 8(th) week. The survival rate for the puppies was calculated at 95.2% and 83%, respectively at the end of the 4(th) and 8(th) week. Some of the body measurements of the puppies at the age when they were removed from suckling (52(nd) day) such as head length, head girth, body length, shoulder height, car length, chest girth, rump height, front wrist girth, tail length and back wrist girth were found to be 14.76, 24.03, 22.97, 25.16, 5.93, 30.64, 24.16, 6.62, 15.51 and 5.99 cm, respectively.