[srtr8ty]

yes i have a pitbull/english mastiff mix he is 12 weeks old and is 15 inches to his shoulders and weighs 18 lbs ...how much should he weigh and how many times should i feed him in a day he looks healthy but i seen web sites were he should weigh more what do u think?

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by srtr8ty

yes i have a pitbull/english mastiff mix he is 12 weeks old and is 15 inches to his shoulders and weighs 18 lbs ...how much should he weigh and how many times should i feed him in a day he looks healthy but i seen web sites were he should weigh more what do u think?

Being that there is variations, there is no way to tell how much he should weigh.
If you do not see his ribs or his hip bones sticking out, than he is proper weight based on the size you are giving. Keeping in mind also, you have a puppy. There is no specific growth rates for puppies only averages which in most cases are not truly accurate.

[Todd]

I agree with Yogi. Just go based on body condition. With larger breeds like mastiff you don't want the pup too heavy or it will place extra stress of the joints during the growth period and could cause all kinds of bone and joint problems. i'd recommend evaluating his body condition by not being able to see the ribs (last rib or too barely visible is fine) but easily be able to feel them on the surface with not much fat covering. Easily feel them but don't see them.

http://www.purina.com/dogs/health/pu...yCondChart.pdf

Here's a link to a puppy weight chart but remember these are just guidelines and may not apply exactly to your dog because there are other factors. This is a good backbone resource though;

Puppy Weight Chart

Puppy Weight Chart

Here's actually a mastiff weight chart I found;

Mastiff Puppy Healthy Weight

As fort the pit bull part there are large variants in pit height so there isn't an accurate chart at all for them. Do you know the size of the pit?

[Yogi]

Todd, you may want to beg out on the puppy weight charts. Neither has ever been deemed even near accurate and basically it is internet garbage. According to the second one my Miniature Pinschers which at birth were 8 & 9 oz should reach approx 8 1/2 lbs when fully matured based on the other erroneous chart, which also is not even close to accurate. Fact is, these 2 pups when fully matured and that will not be til they are approx 18 mo's to 2 years not 9 to 10 months (that is the age common for sexual maturity, not fully maturity) will be in the area of 11 1/2 to 13 1/2 lbs. This junk is actually a copy of information that was published years ago and even the majority of vets and breeders do not recognize it since it simply is so outdated and common sense from those like myself who have had dogs for many years and bred proved these charts incorrect years ago. Simply put, there is no way to determine a puppies growth let alone how big it will be when it is in fact "mature". Much of the genes inherited come from the grandparents not necessarily the parent. I have seen the litter from 2 large breed dogs and the pups were not close to the size of the parents when they were adult. But on one side, the sire was in fact smaller than the offspring that came from litter which produced the large one. Fact is, it is a best guess and that really is all. The same way you cannot determine in many breeds what color coat or pattern, is the same when it comes to determining the adult size.
It is best to simply point out the facts, know one knows and until the pup is older can you even begin to guess. Outside of pointing to the sire and dam and stating, most likely about the size of them can you ever even be close to accurate.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Yogi

Todd, you may want to beg out on the puppy weight charts. Neither has ever been deemed even near accurate and basically it is internet garbage. According to the second one my Miniature Pinschers which at birth were 8 & 9 oz should reach approx 8 1/2 lbs when fully matured based on the other erroneous chart, which also is not even close to accurate. Fact is, these 2 pups when fully matured and that will not be til they are approx 18 mo's to 2 years not 9 to 10 months (that is the age common for sexual maturity, not fully maturity) will be in the area of 11 1/2 to 13 1/2 lbs. This junk is actually a copy of information that was published years ago and even the majority of vets and breeders do not recognize it since it simply is so outdated and common sense from those like myself who have had dogs for many years and bred proved these charts incorrect years ago. Simply put, there is no way to determine a puppies growth let alone how big it will be when it is in fact "mature". Much of the genes inherited come from the grandparents not necessarily the parent. I have seen the litter from 2 large breed dogs and the pups were not close to the size of the parents when they were adult. But on one side, the sire was in fact smaller than the offspring that came from litter which produced the large one. Fact is, it is a best guess and that really is all. The same way you cannot determine in many breeds what color coat or pattern, is the same when it comes to determining the adult size.
It is best to simply point out the facts, know one knows and until the pup is older can you even begin to guess. Outside of pointing to the sire and dam and stating, most likely about the size of them can you ever even be close to accurate.

Yes I agree. As I said, don't take the puppy weight charts literal. They are merely a broad marking point. All individual dogs are different.