In our border collie's last litter, the last puppy of five was born four hours after the rest. (She was actually born on the back seat of the car on the hard shoulder of the M1 on the way to the emergency vet at 3.30 am!). The poor sausage was so weak that my neice had to hold her onto a nipple all the way home, and her sucking reflex was almost non-existent. Once we were home, she was so much smaller and weaker than the other dogs (all boys) that she couldn't get to Evie's nipples, and consequently we spent most of the next 24 hours moving the boys out of the way and putting her back on a nipple. We thought we were going to have to hand rear her, and were even worried that we might lose her, but as she fed her sucking reflex improved and she began to grow stronger, until at the end of the first week she had caught up in strength and size with the boys. She is now happily bossing around her new owners and their 18 month old border collie - she has them all under her paw. So I would agree with your breeders when they say runts can grow up to be well-adjusted dogs.

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Until you've been hugged by a bergamasco you've never lived!!!