The average number of puppies in a litter is six to eight, but some large breed dogs have been known to give birth to many, many more! Smaller breeds may have two to five puppies.
How many puppies can a dog have in their first birth?
A normal litter size can range from 1 to 12 puppies, with 5-6 puppies being average across all dogs.
Can a dog have 13 puppies?
Labrador Gives Birth to 13 Puppies, One of the Largest Lab Litters: 'They Were Just Flying Out' Beau the black Labrador deserves a mother of the year award. The Kent, England canine, who is a descendant of a Crufts Dog Show champion, recently gave birth to 13 puppies. This is one of the largest lab litters on record.
Can a dog have 12 puppies?
Most large breeds of dogs can feed 12 puppies quite well. But you will probably need to help the mother along by giving her extra food as long as the puppies are nursing. Most dams will need two to three times as much food as they consumed before becoming pregnant.
What determines how many puppies a dog will have?
The age of the dog when breeding plays a key part in litter size. The older the dam, the smaller the litter, especially in larger breeds. Dams bred from 2-5 years usually have the largest litters. Despite the age of the dam, the first 2 litters will generally be smaller than the ones afterwards.
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