Fülszöveg
T
¦ his encyclopaedia provides a fundamental advance in knowledge of the dog, inso-
far as for the first time it integrates the differences induced by the extreme diversity
of "sizes/weights" in the canine species.
Indeed, according to their size/weight, one notes a number of differences between
small (1 to 10 kg), medium (10 to 25 kg), large (25 to 45 kg), and giant breeds (45 to
90 and over).
Here are a few differences among the most characteristic ones:
- The weight and number of puppies at birth are different: a small breed bitch will give
birth to 1 to 3 puppies, each weighing nearly 5% of the weight of the bitch, while a
large breed bitch will have litters of 8 to 12 puppies, each weighing only 1% of their
mother's weight.
- The weight of the digestive tract of a large breed dog accounts for only 2.7% of its
total weight, as against 7% in a small breed dog, which results in a sharp disparity in
their digestive performance (capacity and sensitivity).
- Range...
Tovább
Fülszöveg
T
¦ his encyclopaedia provides a fundamental advance in knowledge of the dog, inso-
far as for the first time it integrates the differences induced by the extreme diversity
of "sizes/weights" in the canine species.
Indeed, according to their size/weight, one notes a number of differences between
small (1 to 10 kg), medium (10 to 25 kg), large (25 to 45 kg), and giant breeds (45 to
90 and over).
Here are a few differences among the most characteristic ones:
- The weight and number of puppies at birth are different: a small breed bitch will give
birth to 1 to 3 puppies, each weighing nearly 5% of the weight of the bitch, while a
large breed bitch will have litters of 8 to 12 puppies, each weighing only 1% of their
mother's weight.
- The weight of the digestive tract of a large breed dog accounts for only 2.7% of its
total weight, as against 7% in a small breed dog, which results in a sharp disparity in
their digestive performance (capacity and sensitivity).
- Range and length of growth: at adulthood, the small breed puppy will have multi-
plied its birth weight twenty times, as against about fifty times for a medium breed
puppy, and eighty times for a large breed puppy. The small breed puppy reaches adul-
thood at 8 months of age, while the large breed puppy has to wait from 18 to 24
months.
- The average life expectancy varies from 15 years for small breeds to 13 years for
medium breeds and 10/11 years for large breeds.
- Their metabolism is different: thus, for instance, the energy requirements of a 50-kg
dog are not five times, but three and a half times higher than those of a 10-kg dog.
- Their disposition also differs with size: large breed dogs are generally calmer than
small breed dogs, but contrary to the latter, they need more living space.
These differences between small, medium, large and giant breeds have consequences
as regards health, feeding and the nature of man/dog relations.
Carried out under the supervision of Professor Dominique GRANDJEAN and of Doctor
Jean-Pierre VAISSAIRE, this encyclopaedia is the fruit of a close collaboration with
many specialists, researchers of the European and American veterinary schools, and
nutritionists of the ROYAL CANIN Research Center in Saint-Nolff (France).
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