brookcove
Posted : 2/25/2009 11:24:35 AM
Nope - the Rottie was the sire. He was BIG, too, apparently. Dams to some extent dictate the size of the whelps, then if they have the genetic potential to get huge, they'll grow rapidly after birth. Problems can definitely occur when they take so much from the mama during lactation.
Plus, I've noticed in observing known Beagle mixes, an "averaging" effect. Genetically, a Beagle isn't a small dog apparently, it's an average dog. The Border Collie does the same thing (working bred).