How many puppies can a dog have in one litter?

Our beloved friends come in all shapes and sizes but that comes with one lingering question, how many puppies can a dog have in a single litter? This question can depend on many factors that we will discuss. When I think of one of America’s favorite dogs the first thing that comes to mind is the Golden Retriever. These stunning dogs can be recognized by most but we really never think about how many siblings they have.

For the lovely Golden Retriever, their litters can range anywhere from four to twelve puppies. Not only does the size of the dam factor into the litter count but it’s known that age is also a determining factor. The older the mom, the smaller the litter count. Not only is this a fact for Golden Retriever puppies but it’s also applicable to all other breeds.

Let’s take a look at another well known breed, the French Bulldog. These perky eared pups are statistically known for much smaller litters with the largest known litter only having seven puppies! The average for this breed is only three puppies. Frenchies also cannot deliver natural birth, they mandatorily have to be born through c-section because of the breeds slim hips. All of these factors weigh in on the astronomical price of how much French Bulldogs cost.

Overall, there are many contributing factors to the size of a litter of puppies. Of these the largest being the age of the mom and size of the breed. There is no certain fact, though. While a Bernese Mountain Dog can yield a litter of 15, it’s truly a coin flip in the end and she could also have a litter of 1.