How Many Puppies Do Most Dogs Have?
Perhaps you have a pregnant dog and need to become prepared for the litter of cuties that is to come. Logically, it would be nice to see inside her belly and know how many puppies are on the way. Until that day, here is how you can make an educated guess based on a few different factors.
How Many Puppies Do Dogs Have on Average?
The number of puppies that your dog will give birth to depends upon her health as a whole, as well as her age and breed. With that being said, the average number of puppies that doggie moms give birth to is between five and six.
Keep in mind that just because this is the average, doesn’t mean this is what your dog is going to have. Some dogs have one puppy, while others give birth to 20. For this reason, you can always take your pregnant dog to the vet for a more professional estimation.
Aspects Which Influence the Size of a Litter
One of the strongest factors that have the biggest effect on how many puppies your dog is going to have is your dog’s breed. Simply put, the larger the dog, the more puppies she is likely going to have. A tiny Chihuahua is likely to give birth to a handful of puppies, whereas a German Shepherd will probably have 8 or more pups.
The actual size of the mother makes a difference as well. This refers to the build of the animal as opposed to the weight. Let’s say that two dogs share the same breed and are both pregnant. One is larger than the other. The larger dog is likely to give birth to more puppies than the other.
The age of the dog may also play a role in how many puppies she will have. Although dogs are able to breed for their entire lifetime, when they are early adults, they are the most fertile. This period of time is between when they are 2 and 5 years old.
The physical well-being of the dog is also a factor. Healthy dogs produce healthier puppies and are more likely to produce larger litters. Diet is also believed to be an influencing factor in how many puppies a dog’s litter will yield.
How Long Do Dogs Carry Their Puppies?
It can be difficult to judge exactly when your dog became pregnant. However, if you are able to roughly estimate, it may be helpful to know that a dog’s pregnancy generally lasts between 58 to 68 days. All of the factors mentioned above will play into the exact number of days that your dog will carry her litter. On average, a dog will give birth to her litter around 2 months after becoming pregnant.
How Many Puppies Could a Female Potentially Give Birth to in Her Lifetime?
If you went without spaying your female dog throughout her entire lifetime, she could potentially produce two litters of pups per year. This could begin at 1 year old and stop when she turns 8 years old. This means she would give birth to 14 litters of puppies throughout her life.
Producing this many litters would likely compromise the health of your dog.
Dog Pregnancy Signs
Do you suspect that your dog might be pregnant? Wait for 3-4 weeks until these signs appear, and secure your appointment at your veterinarian’s office. Signs of canine pregnancy may include:
- One month after conception, you may notice a mucousy vaginal discharge coming from your dog.
- Her teats may begin to engorge and change color after a month has passed.
- Symptoms of “morning sickness” might appear, which may include vomiting, appetite changes, inactivity, and changes in behavior.
- Your dog may begin gaining weight.
Takeaway
If you would describe your dog to be of average size and weight, she may give birth to five or six puppies. However, if you have a big, strong, healthy dog, you might need to get ready for more than that. To satisfy your curiosity and make sure your dog has a healthy pregnancy, be sure to take her for a visit to your veterinarian.