In addition, temperament was affected by litter size and season of birth. One possible interpretation of this would be that it might be possible to affect the adult behavior of dogs by adjusting litter size and times of birth, but current data do not allow this conclusion. I think it's common knowledge that there are large and small litters. What I don't think is commonly known is how the size of the little one can affect a puppy's development, temperament, and socialization.
If you want to be blessed with a large litter, make sure you keep your prey in optimal shape. Also, make sure that the selected male is in good health. However, good looks and a good temper are not the only factors to consider when breeding. It is also important to look at the mother's reproductive history by looking at the size of the previous litter, milk production and rearing capacity, all of which are heritable traits.
According to the American Kennel Club, dog mothers give birth to larger litters in spring and smaller litters in summer. However, saying that the only dog (Johnny-Litter of 4 males), that I kept from that litter is very attached to me, but, if he has something on his mind, you still fall last. This study found that litter size was influenced by breed size, mating method, and dog age. Things like diet, breed type, and mother and father's health will definitely influence litter size, but no one knows to what extent.
If a female is not raised until after age 5, she may have smaller litters on a permanent basis in terms of puppy count. A healthier, thinner female is more likely to have a larger litter than those who are overweight. I haven't raised any litter that I would really consider large, but in the litters I've raised I've seen a lot of individual variation within the litter. If you have a commercial breeder or BYB whose dogs do not live in the house and the puppies withdraw from their mother at too young an age, then litter size doesn't matter.
However, keep in mind that some small breeds can still produce large litters; the Pekingese, for example, can produce up to 10 puppies in a litter. Rather, you are in control of several factors responsible for the size of the dog litter, but you may not know it. A younger stallion is more likely to produce high-quality sperm, which in return can result in a larger litter size.
