Put a deposit down an a beautiful but tiny Pekingese puppy today, she was 4.6 ounces when she was born - is she a runt? Should I be worried about her health? She seemed healthy and appeared to come from a loving family, the mother seemed very happy and they told us she had been for vet checks.

ALSO! She is completely bald on her belly, when none of her brothers and sisters are. She is only 5 weeks old. Do I have any cause to be concerned?

Have you researched the breeder? Is she a reputable breeder, or a backyard breeder (someone that decided to have a litter of pups just because she wanted to)?

What sort of genetic testing has the "breeder" done on the parents of these puppies? Have her dogs been shown? What sort of care have the puppies received since birth?

It's easy to be fooled when getting a puppy. A backyard breeder may care about his/her pets, but they don't do the research before breeding. They don't test for genetic defects that may be passed on to the puppies. They don't know that not every dog is breeding stalk.

If I had to guess, based on your post, and your concerns, I'd bet that you haven't found an actual breeder, but a backyard breeder instead.

I would be concerned, and I'd do more research on this breeder. Ask questions. Ask what genetic testing this "breeder" has done before breeding. Ask what awards her breeding dogs have won before he/she decided to breed.

She is registered on the accredited breeder list for the Kennel Club and shows her Pekingeses so I believe the breeder is reputable.

I am concerned about the puppy having no hair on her belly though. Does the hair sometimes grow in later?

I have to say that I'm not that knowledgeable about the pekingese breed.

If you trust this breeder then talk to her about your concerns. If she's accredited, a reputable breeder, than she'll be more than happy to answer your questions and address your concerns.

If you trust her, trust her credentials, then, as a reputable breeder, there's no way she would sell a pup that isn't at standard for the breed.

So it comes down to how much you trust that she is what she claims to be. Talk to her. If you have concerns than you shouldn't just let it go.

If you decide to get this pup, please post pictures. We'd love to see the precious little pup. :)

No hair on the belly seems pretty normal to me. Most puppies will have bald bellies until they are much older. Some dogs will never grow hair on their belly. With long haired dogs, no hair on the belly is actually a good thing as far as sanitation. Long haired dogs will pee and poop on their long hair.

Just because dogs are born small, doesn't mean that she is going to remain the smallest dog in the litter. It all depends on the mothers size, the fathers size and how big the litter is.

Purchasing a puppy and expecting it to be healthy from day one is a HUGE gamble. We all hope that our dogs we buy or obtain are healthy, but there is really no guarantee.

Buy some books on this breed and read them. Find people who own this breed and ask them questions. Establish your own vet first before you bring her home. If you feel concerned now, take her in to your vet and have them look at her.

If you are a first time dog owner, you should also buy books and read articles on the internet about how to care for a puppy. Search around for a good dog trainer to start as soon as you can. Training your dog can be a lot of fun and there are a lot of things out there for people who want to do things with their dogs, such as obedience, agility (since your dog is registered) showmanship, breed ring... Lots of things! Even if your dog is just intended to be a pet, you can certify your pooch to be a service dog and take her all over the place.