I have my name down with a breeder for a labrador puppy. Have visited the parents and liked what I saw. However, only two puppies were born and I was wondering if this was anything to be concerned about as labrador litters are generally quite large? Is there a particular reason why a bitch has a very small litter? Both puppies appear to be healthy and thiving.

Hi adsfjw, It is quite the norm for Labradors to have litters which are quite large, around 8 -11, however there are some bitches which tend to produce smaller litters,  My Emma for example has had 3 litters, 1 x6, 1x4 and her last litter produced three. All very healthy and thriving. I kept a bitch from the last litter for myself for the showring and at 5months is doing extremely well.  I have also known a Lab who has produced a litter of 9, to produce a singleton in the following litter, and then carry on to have a litter of 8.

Mistiming the mating, using an old dog with low sperm count (though generally sperm can only fertilise the number of available eggs.

Pups may die anytime from conception to birth for any variety of reasons.

My last four litters have been small.  I mated a 6 year old bitch who had not had a litter for a couple of years early in her cycle 11th to 15th day (previously whelped average litters from day 15 to 17 matings) using a young unproven dog.  I suspect in her case with ehr going over her time that in fact she stood before she had ovulated and with several days of mating (to prove the male) there justr ween't enough viable sperm by the time she did.  She whelped 4 and we lost one.

Teh next small litter was due to puppy losses in a bitch who had her first litter of 9, 3 years earlier, this time she carried 8, but 2 were still born, oen was laid on, and another was weak and failed to thrive so was PTS.  Her next and last litter she appeared to come in season, and the dog wasn't interested in her until about day 16, so we just had one mating and brought her home.  Her season was prolonged going about 10 dsays longer, and she whelped 5 days late.  When she was palpated at day 28 by a vet who is very good at it, he said they didn't feel like 4 week fetuses but more like younger.  So in her case again I think she was actually mated to early and there were just enough semen to get a small litter of four.

Her daughter wa very unco-operative the first time we tried mating ehr and next time we did premte tests.  they idicated that she ovulated on day 12, so fertilizable ova would be from day 14 to 16.  She still wouldn't stand and got mated late on day 17, more by luck than anything.  She had 4 pups, so again probably just caught a few live eggs.  This year we tried her again and no way woudl she accept mating :(

If the breeder was getting nothing but small litters from all their bitches then there could also be suspicion of canine herpes virus, especially if they had fading puppy syndrome in past litters.  Also if the line is very inbred then after a while one side effect can be small litters.

I always seem to have small litters (well, not me personally :D) which I'm quite happy about. One bitch had 3 litters: 4, 1, 1. 3 became champions & I didn't have to worry about finding lots of homes. Breed average is 4 & I've had one litter of 6, rest have been 1, 3, 4 (3 litters), 5. I've only ever lost 1 puppy (pts at 6 days), I'd rather have small litters than bigger litters where puppies die. Worse case scenario is a 8 dog puppies Think one problem in our breed is the distance bitch owners have to travel.

Yews I must add here that I ahve actually prefered my litters of 3 and four pups, as they are less work, and more time can be spent playign wtih them :D  My litter of 9 were very good as uppies go, but the cleaning up after them was never ending!!!

Then of courtse the most stressful part is finding homes, and dealing with new owners, so fewr of those equals a happier breeder.  I would sooner have two litters (not at the same time of course) of four than a litter of 8 :D

Although I dont have labradors I do have dallies and they tend to have large litters but one of my friends has had a litter of 12 from one of her bitches then followed by a litter of two from the same bitch. Got to say though I imagine a small litter would be lovely.  My ideal would be one perfect liver bitch so no one to vet, hardly any pooh to clear up and no stampede for attention - heaven! 

Brainless,

Couldn't agree more.:-)

My first litter was 6 , all survived which is quite big for a westie, ( kept 1 puppy from this)  I was near ill by the time they got to 4 weeks and weaning started.   I remember saying everyday "never again".

Next litters were a litter of 4, ( kept one from this) then a litter of 3 ( kept 1 from this) and then a litter of 2 (one died and kept the singleton)    Mines are getting smaller everytime.ROFLOL   :-))  But for sure the smaller litters are so much more easier to manage , for us and the mothers :-) I think they also come on so well.

To be honest quality wise and rightly so the quality of my puppies have gotten better and better , I would never swap my last two
litters which totalled 4 puppies for 20 puppies.  3 out of 4 were in my opinion show quality puppies, my litter of 6 in my opinion only 1 was.