I have a Cocker Spaniel puppy which is 9 weeks old and her weight is 8 lb but it should be 10.6lb. What should I do?

Specifically what kind of cocker do you have: there are several variations, some big some small. If you tell us specifically what kind of cocker you have, then we can give you a better idea of what this pup should be weighing. If the pup is the smaller breed then your weight is way off and at nine weeks should not be 8 lbs.(could you mean actually kilos in weight?). Please advise.

Tick

No, it's a cocker spaniel puppy, female. She was born in August 16, 2011. I bought her from a breeder. She is one of the 9 litters and that is why she is smaller than usual, so is her sisters. She eats Purina Puppy chow 3 times a day, 1/4 of the cup. I give her Nutri-Cal once a day like vet said, I put boiled carrots in her food,some peanut butter, apple and good treats, she has her exercise regularly, she has 2 shots and that the reason why she can't socialize with other dogs.
She is so happy puppy, she runs a lot on my backyard but still too small to have a harness or collar.
So, I got concern that maybe she needs some kind of vitamins.
It my first dog and I don't know if I am doing everything correctly. I know she was born in August 2011, I saw her mother (beautiful dog).

You didn't answer my question at all. Thank for nothing

I was tempted not to answer this after the last reply but... *sigh*

What makes you think the pup is 2lb underweight? Is it because the average weight for a pup of this breed should be 10.6lb? If that is the case then your pup may not actually be underweight at all. Even dogs and puppies of the same breed can vary greatly in weight and size, it may just be that yours is on the smaller end of the scale.

I have 2 Miniature Poodles here who differ greatly in size. One (as an adult) is 13 inches tall and 8kg, the other is 16 inches tall and over 11kg.

If you think the pup is 2lb underweight because it physically looks underweight then we need to look at a few factors. Is the puppy being fed a good quality food? Has the puppy been wormed regularly (every 2 weeks from the age of 2 weeks by the breeder)? Is the puppy a picky eater?

You didn't answer my question at all. thank for nothing

You were disappointed with my answer ! I asked questions so I could give you a better answer my dear, that is all, but Shazzy has helped out, so you will be happy now.

Tick

Some puppies grow slower than others. Don't expect your dog to grow at the rate that a book says it should. If she has good weight, healthy coat and eats good, I wouldn't worry about her weight. Now, if she has a dull coat, skinny (can see ribs and hip bones), then be worried.

Now, let me educate you on food. Puppy chow is awful. It has poor ingredience and is nothing but filler. If you find a food that is better balanced nutritonally, such as Taste of the Wild, Wellness, Pro Plan puppy, you won't have to supplement with the Nutrical. Nutrical is an added supplement for dogs that are not getting adequate vitamins in their diet. If you switch to a better grade food, you won't have to use supplements and vitamins. Over doing it with vitamins, or supplementing vitamins when you're not suppose to, can lead to health problems in the long run. Healthy dogs and puppys do not need added supplements when eating a balanced diet.

As for the fresh veggies and fruits, great idea! But use them as treats. Don't give everything all at one feeding time. When it comes to training, your dog may not be interested in the treats given OR may be too full to even take a treat. Plus, I go back on my balanced diet thing again.. If feeding a good food, you won't have to do it as much.. although I like to give my dogs carrots :)

Your puppy has had two shots, that's great! However, you need to socialize her now. If you wait another month, you may miss the window for her to greet dogs approriately. Just avoid dog parks and places that have heavy dog traffic. Right now would be a great time to enroll in puppy classes.

Just relax and have fun with your puppy. She may just be a small puppy. That is not rare or unheard of. Most of the "runts" get just as big as the rest of the litter. The mother may be known to have small puppies... The father she was bred to may throw small dogs. Maybe the mother wasn't producing enough milk for growing puppies and now they are a little delayed on their growth. There can be a lot of reasons your puppy is only 8lbs instead of 10.6lbs...