Dams bred from years usually have the largest litters. Despite the age of the dam, the first 2 litters will generally be smaller than the ones afterwards. According to an article in Royal Canin, the 3rd and 4th pregnancies are generally the largest. The age of the male sire plays a part in litter size as well.
The most famous champions tend to be bred until the approximate age of 5. Genetic traits are mainly coat color, eye color, and size. Nutrition plays a big part in determining the number of pups in a litter. In addition to whether or not it is her first litter, the age of the mother labrador also affects the size of the litter.
Generally speaking, the older the mother, the smaller the litter size. This fact is a little confusing, though, when you also consider that first litters are smaller. It means that a 3-year-old labrador will have larger litters than a 5- or 6-year-old labrador. So, if two female labradors have their third litter at ages four and six, the four-year-old labrador is likely to have the larger litter of the two.
Believe it or not, the age of the father of the puppies can also impact the size of the litter. This is because of the viability of his sperm. When a female dog is in heat, her ovaries release several eggs that are ready for fertilization. However, if the male dog is older, his sperm tends to be less vigorous, meaning fewer will reach the eggs, and therefore fewer eggs will be fertilized, resulting in smaller litter size.
How did the mother dog become pregnant? Many labrador breeders and breeders for other types of dogs, as well prefer artificial insemination. It also takes the social interactions of the two dogs out of the equation. Some dog handlers and breeders hesitate to put their mama dogs in such a sensitive and potentially unpredictable situation. The bad news is that, while artificial insemination seems to be the more controlled and safe option, it usually yields fewer puppies.
It is believed that a Labrador in Scotland previously gave birth to a staggering 15 puppies, a record set in Last month, a Dalmatian gave birth to 18 puppies , double the average litter size for the breed. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? While the average is 8 puppies per litter, larger litters are often expected. A typical Golden Retriever litter can have anywhere from four to 12 puppies.
The range of puppies in Bulldog litters is a little easier to predict. Most Bulldog litters will be 3 or 4 puppies. Many Bulldogs will require veterinary assistance or a C-section, given that the puppies are often too large for the birth canal.
Typically, a Beagle will have anywhere from 1 to 10 puppies per litter. In Beagles, litter sizes tend to stay consistent in each mother. So if a Beagle has a large litter, her next litter will likely also be large and vice versa. Rottweiler litters can average from 6 to 12 puppies, and larger litters are often expected.
That said, it is totally normal for a first-time Rottweiler mother to have just two puppies.
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