Just a question I seen on another forum, probably stupid question but curious.
I know a female can be mated by more then 1 dog and pregnant by more then one dog at a time. How many different fathers can a bitch carry at once? I know definately 2 but what about 3 or more?
ttfn :)

A bitch will, in theory, be mated by as many dogs as are available while she will stand. How many she gets pregnant to is impossible to guess at, as not all her ova will be released at once, and sperm can live inside her for several days.

But you're right to think that not all puppies in a litter are necessarily by the same father.

So would it be possible for a litter to contain pure bred Cocker Spaniels and Cocker X Malamute puppies?

Fiona
x x x

Breeds just an example

yes I am sure it is.

I have witnessed this before when i was working at a kennels.
A Bull Terrier bitch was mated with a bull terrier for show reasons but the people who owned her also had a ridgeback, the bitch came in to us for whelping as the owners were inexperianced and the dog had 7 crosses and 2 bull terrier pups.
Weird i know but there you are.

Deary

Hi
I've heard of a Black lab being bred to another black lab and when the bitch whelped some of the pups were white and then grew spots!Guess who lived next door-you got it -a dalmation.I beleive DNA teste were done and proved some of the pups were pedigree lab and some X dally.
Archer

If a female can tie with a male about 5 times a day and is in standing heat 5 days thats 25 males that could impregnate her. So its a hit and miss on how many pups are buy what dogs.

Each pup whelped, can in theory have a different sire. 1 sperm and 1 egg = 1 puppy. Each sperm can come from a different dog.