Litter Size

[Valentine]

Is it true that if the bitch came from a large litter that she will have a large litter herself? This particular bitch came from a litter of 15...Just curious.

[targonrotts]

not necessarily, but i think there can be a genetic influence to it too.
if the timing is right, the male is fertile, and there are no bacterial/hormonal problems, it's a strong possibility to have an equally large or close to it litter, but it is not a rule.
when i started breeding years ago, i had 2 litters of 13. after that, litters were in the 6-7 range. i also tend to breed my dog's later in life...maybe that has played a part in my smaller litters...but the truth, i rather a litter of 5-7 pups anyday than 13! lots of work!

[frontierrots]

the average litter size for the breed is 7, but yes there is a good bit of truth to the bitches from larger litters "tend" to have larger litters. Not always but often. That is simply because a % of bitches in a litter will inherit their dam's tendency to release a larger # of eggs upon ovulation that's all. Nothing mysterious.

Howeever I am perfectly happy with litters of 4-7 that's just the right size for me to care for without getting overwhelmed with poo!!

[Anton]

Originally Posted by frontierrots

Howeever I am perfectly happy with litters of 4-7 that's just the right size for me to care for without getting overwhelmed with poo!!

Can I hear an AMEN ?!?!?!

[GypsysMom]

Gypsy came from a litter of 16 and her "aunt" had 15 now thats way to many for me to handle so she is getting fixed

[Sharon Marples]

Originally Posted by Anton

Can I hear an AMEN ?!?!?!

AMEN!!!!!

I just LOVE our litters of 4 or 5!

While we have the facilities and time to deal with the larger litters, I am so glad that most of my girls produce in the 4 - 7 pup size of litters. It is so much easier on the dam and certainly makes things a lot easier for us too!

We have found over the years that most of our girls will produce a litter of 6-9 for their first litters and thereafter, in the 3-6 range. pretty much the same as what their dams have done.

[frontierrots]

My late Molly's dam, Starr had med/sm litters. Her sister Angelica had med-lg litters

So I had hopes that Molly would be more like her dam

Oh and did I mention I prefer girl pups over boy pups and was generally successful in that regard? LOL I hate screening homes for males!

Molly's first litter was 5- and more girls than boys COOL

second litter was 6 girls- fantastic

I then made the mistake of telling her that 1 last litter and I was spaying her LOL LOL LOL

She produced a litter of TEN of which EIGHT were boys! I nearly fainted because all the boys were born first.............

[rottcrazed]

Can I scream AMEN AMEN AMEN????!!!!

Oh, I think I just did ....

I have had 2 litters of 10, and talk about POOP!

Jewel's mom had a missed breeding (no puppies) her first try, 9 puppies her second (Jewel's litter) and 6 her third (she was 5 y/o at the time).

I think age can play a part, especially if the bitch has not been bred at all until later on in the game.

I am hoping Jewel passes this on to her kids, but only time will tell.

Jewel's maternal grandmother was notorious for 3-4 pup litters, so you really never know.

I would LOVE to have a 5 or 6 pup litter, just to see what that is like .....

Kristi

[Valentine]

i see. This is the bitch that was bred at 10 months old...so thats why i was asking. The BYBer thinks shes going to have lots of puppies because the other BYBer her got the bitch from had 15 puppies....so

[rottcrazed]

Well, breeding a puppy, or immature dog, especially a large breed of dog, may also affect litter size.

Because this is a BYB, no doubt there will be 15 puppies, since they will all end up in shelters or bred again and again ....

Kristi

[Sharon Marples]

Originally Posted by rottcrazed

Well, breeding a puppy, or immature dog, especially a large breed of dog, may also affect litter size.

Because this is a BYB, no doubt there will be 15 puppies, since they will all end up in shelters or bred again and again ....

Kristi

Or, because the bitch is only 10 months old, she will savage them at birth or totally ignore and push them away and not want them at all..... What a JERK this guy is! I feel so sorry for that puppy having to go through this at her age.

[frontierrots]

agreed. Cripes, at 2 1/2 Bea was not really mentally mature enough for a litter. (she wanted to work darnit and those kids were tying her down!!!)

I can't imagine breeding her at under a year. Even Annie (who is much more laid back than Bea ever was) at 17 months is NOT mature enough for babies yet.