Dachshunds make great pets and fiercely loyal companions. Anyone who has ever owned one knows how tempting it is to have as many of these adorable critters as possible. The only thing more adorable than a puppy is a whole gaggle of pups. When you have a beautiful Dachshund pooch melting your heart and reminding you there’s good in the world, it’s natural you would consider breeding her.
On average, the standard-size Dachshund breed produces between 1-8 pups per litter. Therefore, 6-8 puppies in a litter is a bit less common than 1-5. With the average lifespan for the Dachshund being 11 years, it is possible for them to carry roughly 20 litters this size in a lifetime, although it is not advisable.
A female Dachshund can produce a very high number of puppies; however, a few things can potentially affect the number of pups per litter, per year, or per lifetime. A dachshund’s pregnancy requires additional care during her gestation period to provide the optimum development environment which is important to produce healthy puppies. With a little attention and proper care, dachshunds can survive pregnancy with very few complications.
For instance, to keep her breeding numbers ideal, you will want to keep the female in good health and observe any local laws on breeding. In addition, the Dachshund Breed Council has a code of ethics that you should strongly consider sticking to for your pet’s health while breeding her.
How Many Litters Can A Dog Have Legally?
In the United States, there is currently no legal restriction on the total number of litters a single dam can produce. In light of this, a responsible dog breeder will carefully assess what is healthy for the mother and her offspring.
In her lifespan, a female Dachshund can easily have ten, twelve, or even more litters. It’s unlikely that your dog will continue to be healthy and have this many healthy litters of puppies. The ideal course of action is generally thought to be to keep her number to four to six.
Do Standard Size & Miniature Dachshunds Have The Same Number of Pups?
No matter how big or what kind of coat they have, dachshunds can have the same number of puppies. Both the normal size and the miniature Dachshund can breed as early as 6 months old and have average lifespans of 12 to 14 years. A female dog does not typically undergo mating during her first heat or even during her first year.
A miniature dachshund is a small dog that grows to be around 17 inches height and weighs between 6 and 9 pounds. Although it varies from dog to dog, miniature dachshunds often have a few less puppies than full-size dachshunds (but there are still lots of them!). A regular Doxie typically has 4-5 puppies every litter, compared to 3–4 for the smaller type.
How Many Litters Can A Miniature Dachshund Have And What’s Their Average Size?
A small Doxie, if you try going twice a year, may conceivably become pregnant 7-8 or even more times, if we’re talking about maximums. These dogs can have up to three or four heat cycles per year, but it is obviously impossible for them to become pregnant so frequently. Even for seasoned breeders, having even two pregnancies a year is not recommended. Technically speaking, it is conceivable with ideal nutrition, care, and health, but it will put an excessive amount of stress on the mother. Therefore, the advised standard is one pregnancy each year.
How Many Puppies Are Usually In A First Litter?
As is the case with all dog breeds and, really, with most mammals, the first pregnancy tends to result in a smaller litter. So, if the average for a dachshund is 4-5 pups per litter, the standard for a first litter is more like 1-4. Single-pup pregnancies are often under-reported in the media and are mistakenly thought to be very rare occurrences but they actually happen much more frequently than 10+ pup pregnancies.
Is It A Problem If Your Dachshund Only Has One Puppy?
No, it’s not usually a problem. It’s not unusual for dachshunds to have just one pup, especially if they’re young. Of course, you should speak with your veterinarian, but this is true for any pregnancy or birth.
You should be aware that a “singleton puppy” pregnancy can have several negative effects. Most frequently, if your Doxie is expecting just one puppy, that could not be enough to release the necessary hormones to induce birth. Additionally, a solitary dog will frequently get so big within the mother that it becomes nearly impossible to give birth naturally.
In short – C-sections are often needed with single-puppy births. All that is manageable if you have a good vet, however, so don’t be too worried. Just make sure you’re working with an experienced professional.
How Frequently & When Should You Breed A Dachshund?
Like most other small breed dogs, the females of the Dachshund breed go into Estrus twice per year on average. Some Dachshunds may have up to three Estrus cycles per year, but it is considered unusual.
Many vets and breeders discourage owners like yourself from breeding their dogs during their first year. Vets have seen complications arise from early breeding that includes-
- Hormonal imbalance issues
- Mammary gland issues
- Reproductive organ cancer
- Death
You should begin breeding at roughly 18 months of age when your Dachshund reaches her third cycle of Estrus. Assuming that your furry friend is on a healthy diet, has regular exercise and veterinary care, you can reasonably expect that she’ll produce 4-7 puppies in each litter or 8-14 per year. Breed specialists recommend that you stick to breeding 5 or fewer times for the health of your animal.
Final Thoughts
Despite being little dogs, dachshunds can nonetheless give birth to a sizable number of puppies. It’s crucial to be ready for any deliveries and any difficulties because litter sizes range from four to eight pups.
Making sure that everyone has a positive experience depends greatly on your understanding of the process that your dachshund is going through.
