Is the first litter of puppies the best?

According to some dog breeding experts, you should stay away from the first litter of a prey. Vaccines are extremely important to a puppy's health and, of course, help build immunity against all the nasty diseases puppies may be susceptible to, such as canine distemper and canine parvovirus, just to name a couple.

Is the first litter of puppies the best?

According to some dog breeding experts, you should stay away from the first litter of a prey. Vaccines are extremely important to a puppy's health and, of course, help build immunity against all the nasty diseases puppies may be susceptible to, such as canine distemper and canine parvovirus, just to name a couple. Dogs can receive their first vaccine between 6 and 8 weeks of age and the second 2 to 3 weeks after the first. The vet will tell you what the best deadlines are for your puppies.

If you haven't vaccinated your puppy before selling it, you'll need to make sure to inform new puppy owners beforehand. It's common for the breeder to give puppies the first vaccine and the owner the second, but clarity is key. Take your new puppy to the vet for a “pre-purchase exam” as soon as possible. Even though you've already paid the landlord, this is called a “pre-purchase” because most reputable breeders and adoption organizations allow a probationary period (often 72 hours) before the deal is finalized.

It's a good idea to schedule an appointment with the vet the same day you pick up your puppy to quickly identify any existing problems. Socializing your puppies is a vital part of their development and will prepare them very well to be safe additions to their new homes. Just because my dog, who is a Jack Russell Chihuahua and Boston Terrier, gave birth on his own to a litter of 12 puppies but only 11 survived. Smaller breeds tend to have smaller litters of puppies, while dogs of larger breeds are likely to have more.

We have a mastiff pitbull mix that got pregnant with a Newfoundland and had 16 puppies this time 12 that survived and the last time had 15 puppies all survived the same mother same father both times fathers as mothers of 3 years like four or five. But understand that this is a statistical correlation, not a way to predict the number of puppies your individual dog will have. Most of the time, evolutionary pressures result in the litter size most appropriate to a species' life history and survival strategy. If they are about the same size, cubs generally end up around the size of their mother and males generally end up closer to the size of the male father.

Puppies that have grown up upright in the middle of a busy home have an easier time interacting with people than those in barns. There are several different things that can influence the size of a dog's litter, and we detail some of the most important ones below. When choosing the best puppy in a litter, you should always pay attention to the health of the mother and father rather than the number of litters. However, the number of puppies a given dog mom will have depends on a variety of things, including their breed, age, and general health status.

You need to visit the breeder and spend time with the litter of puppies if you want a canine companion that best suits your needs or those of your family. That said, there are many dog owners who have had massive success picking puppies from the first litter. That's why Shih Tzu, Pomeranians and Chihuahuas have litters that usually range from one to four puppies, while Cane Corsos, Great Danes and other giant breeds usually give birth to eight or more puppies. So, while Pomeranian litters are likely to be much smaller than those of a wolf dog, Pomerania will have the opportunity to produce many more litters throughout its life.

Calvin Holmer
Calvin Holmer

An owner of three great dogs and an avid learner. Experienced with training dogs of all sizes and personalities (including the stubborn small ones!)