Hi Norma, I honestly can't answer your question but I can tell you that mine is a pituitary dwarf. I would think genetic and heridetary are the same thing but I could be wrong. she weighs about 9 lbs. I really don't think she has all her marbles, and not because of the house training, but that is another story. She is just plain nuts, don't get me wrong, I love her dearly. But if she was full size she would probably not live in my house. She comes from high drive working line German dogs. If I hadn't gotten sick for a few years I might have just done some schutzhund type training with her. But as it is she is a crazy "pet" that people think I am nuts when I say she is pure GSD. Denise Puglisi Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania --- gsdramey@xxxxxxx wrote: From: "Norma Ramey" <gsdramey@xxxxxxx> To: <ladyaramis1@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <lfossland@xxxxxxx>, <KensLandscape@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: dwarf Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 07:36:40 -0600 Lee, I'm always wanting to learn, even tho I'm an old 57 backwards kid. You say here that there are 2 "main" types of dwarfism You name one as -- pituitary ---- being "hereditary" and go on to say that another type, "non-proportional" is "genetic"!!! I had no idea they were different; I always felt something that was inherited was -- inherited from genes!! What other way is there?? I'm lost. Also you had mentioned your dog was "retarded" because it took quite a while for him to be housebroken, I'd say just as in the other growth factors you mentioned, slow maturing. Not that the dog was mentally ill, just slow in developing, since you say he did learn (here's a pun, -- perhaps the slowness could be due to the "Trainer" --- just kidding here, couldn't resist it) Norma no L ----- Original Message ----- From: "LEE SMITH" <ladyaramis1@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <lfossland@xxxxxxx>; <KensLandscape@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 9:02 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: dwarf I had a dwarf GSD that I considered my own little angel. There are two main types of dwarfism -- pituitary, when is heriditary and non-proportaional dwarfism, which is genetic. _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================