Large Breed Puppy Growth Rate

[Black Gold]

I've been posting about my Dogo X "HORNET" and his growth and progress over the last few months.  I keep a folder on each dog and I compared growth rates by age vs. weight.

He weighed:

37 pounds @ 12 weeks

57 pounds @ 20 weeks

82 pounds @ 30 weeks

No matter how you do the math it equals 2.5 pounds of increase per week.  I know the percentage of gain per week is decreasing when compared to overall body weight but 2.5 pounds per week is holding solid.  How long can I expect this gain?  Is this in-line with anyone else who keeps records of their large breed dogs?
Just wanna compare notes with others....trying to gain data to support feeding 100% RAW and curious if anyone else has kept or keeps simmilar data.......any help would be appreciated.

[dabutcher]

i've kept similar data Cody.  But, i think to get a decent test study you'd have to have similar breed and possibly gender to get an accurate comparison.  I know Leah (dogoxab) has not grown at that rate.  Cindy on the other hand (as much data as i was able to compile for her) was close to that same rate at 1.8lbs per week.  I've also been keeping this to try and get an idea of what i'm looking at for future pups of these breeds.  The only dogs i've raised from pups before are Labs, so i'm just trying to find a way to make sure they stay up to par in their growth cycles with limited experience dealing with these different dog breeds. 

To me Hornet seems like a freak (i don't mean that in a bad way either).  that dog has definitely grown like a weed.  It'd definitely be nice to know if in fact RAW diet does promote more growth in your dogs.

[Black Gold]

That's the kind of comparison I'm trying to make, but it's really hard to base things on one dod...especially a cross.....guess I can just keep documenting and see where we are in 6 months....

[dabutcher]

That's the kind of comparison I'm trying to make, but it's really hard to base things on one dod...especially a cross.....guess I can just keep documenting and see where we are in 6 months....

i think you could get a somewhat accurate prediciton between Cindy and her littermate that you kept.  Or from one of the other littermates of those dogs.  Same cross and i know you kept a female from that litter as well.  I know for sure they got the same preventative care; ie worming, heart worm, and flea meds. 

i think the best way to tell would be if you could get a couple dogs from the same litters.  and run comparisons yourself. Having both pups in your care, if money and space were no object of course.

[olde sarge]

Cody, my Bully/Dane female whom I have been told was the smallest of the litter at 3 months has averaged 1.4 lb/week for the 3 months I have had her but seems to br slacking off slightly this month. May be the intense heat we have had, will know better in a couple of months. Was hoping for 100 lbs but now may be lucky at 85 lbs I am guessing. I'm glad you brought this up . We can all learn from it.
                                   John

[Black Gold]

Sarge,

I began every-other-day 4-wheeler runs with the pack.  I ride the 4-wheeler and they run behind me. (medium paced)  Anywhere from 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile at a time depending on the temperature.  Pushed it a mile this morning because it was cool and I got up right at dawn. 

Krystal (UglyDog) got to take a look at Hornet yesterday and said that he was a little heavy so I'm beginning to cut back on his food, but with beginning this exercise program I will have to monitor it to see what his metabolism does when combined with the increase in exercise.  He has been getting a little over 2 pounds of RAW a day... (5 chicken backs)....cutting it down to three for a while to see how he does.  As Krystal put it, dont want to get too much weight on his joints before they are fully developed. 
The exercise is moderate and hopefully will SLOWLY build stamina and muscle size without pushing it for what are still puppies.