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April 2, 2016
Introduction
For this study, 700 large dog breeds born between November 1998 and June 2001 in
Norway or imported to Norwegian domestic environments, assisted with the description of the
main influencing factors of growth, as well as established reference data for other studies. These
Large breeds included the Leonberger, Labrador Retriever, Irish wolfhound, & the
Newfoundland. According to the American Kennel Club, both the Newfoundland & Leonberger
breeds are categorized as part of the Working Dog class. The Newfoundland is averaged to be
between 26-28 inches tall and 100-150 lbs. The Leonberger averages 28-31.5 inches tall (male)
or 25.5-29.5 inches tall (female) and weighs proportional to its overall size. The American
Kennel Club then sees the Labrador Retriever part of the Sporting class and the Irish wolfhound
as part of the Hound class. The average adult Labrador retriever is recorded be 22.5-24.5 inches
tall and 55-80 lbs., whereas the Irish Wolfhound is preferred to be at least 32 inches tall and 120
lbs. Previous to this study, little information on standard characteristics of growth in domestic
homes was available. Researchers investigated on whether or not Total Serum Alkaline
Phosphatase (ALP) data & the circumference measurements of a dogs distal radius & ulna were
at all influenced by the individual canine characteristics. These features would include; age, sex,
litter size, and birth weight. If information on a domestic dogs normal growth patterns werent
available, there wouldnt be a reference for others to determine connections with regular growth
to nutrition or health disorders. The principal objective of the current study was to describe
growth patterns in 4 dogs breeds raised in Norwegian domestic environments and the
Ashley Clark
April 2, 2016
concomitant changes in 2 growth-related clinical variables, total ALP and CDRU. The second
object was to investigate how independent variables like age, sex, litter number, and birth weight
affected these clinical variables.(C.Trangerud, J. Grondalen, A. Indrebo, A. Tverdal, E. Ropstad,
and L. Moe, 2015)
Ashley Clark
April 2, 2016
Results
Body weight significantly changed between litters and after the each dog hit 100 days of
age it increased at a rapid rate. They determined that the average maturity time was around day
351-413 of age, however, this duration varied between breeds. The Circumference of the distal
radius & ulna increased the first 90 days & then settled on day 180. They found males had a
greater circumference than females, as well as that age, breed, sex, and litter size affected the
results found. Finding that Newfoundlands had a more positive relationship with their bone
circumference growth was unexpected and that the ALP results had no effect on the animals age.
Discussion
The results acquired shared how characteristics of an animal do in fact influence the
measurements of CDRU 7& ALP. There was a lower number of Irish Wolfhounds included
within this study, so results from this breed may have shown lower or higher results, as there
wasnt an equal amount of data taken compared to the other 3 breeds. Also, not being able to
control the environment the animal lived in, may have also altered their calculations, as it wasnt
controlled across the board. Each dog lived within a different domestic home, which provided a
variety of lifestyles.
Ashley Clark
April 2, 2016
Citations
"Official Standard of the Irish Wolfhound." American Kennel Club. American Kennel
Club, 12 Sept. 1950. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.
<http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishWolfhound.pdf?
_ga=1.206317523.1147103401.1459614741>.
"Official Standard of the Newfoundland." American Kennel Club. American Kennel Club,
8 May 1990. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.
<http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Newfoundland.pdf?
_ga=1.8407029.1147103401.1459614741>.
"Official Standard for the Labrador Retriever." American Kennel Club. American Kennel
Club, 12 Feb. 1994. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.
<http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf?
_ga=1.13371639.1147103401.1459614741>.
"Official Standard of the Leonberger." American Kennel Club. American Kennel Club, 20
Oct. 2009. Web. 2 Apr. 2016. <http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Leonberger.pdf?
_ga=1.239758403.1147103401.1459614741>.
Trangerud, C., J. Grondalen, A. Indrebo, A. Tverdal, E. Ropstad, and L. Moe. "A
Longitudianl Study on Growth and Growth Variables in Dogs of Four Large Breeds Raised
in Domestic Environments." Journal of Animal Science (2015): 76-83. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.
<file:///C:/Users/amitterl/Documents/Downloads/jas-85-1-76 (2).pdf>.