i am not planning breeding my bitch until next year but got athinking, how many pups is she likly to have, she is from a litter of 5..all large healthy pups.havent picked a sire yet so unsure of litter sizes he pulls etc, is it more determined by him/her??? any info would be fab, just so i can prepare myself and my husband (as you can imagin from a man who is not from a not doggy family and is still eh...rather unexcited about the idea!!! ;) he will be supportive hwen he sees their lttle faces!!!!)

info great!

Numbers are dependant on the bitch as she produces the eggs and of those fertilised only a certain number space out and embed in the uterine horns so that they can grow to full term.

This is an English Springer, yes?

The book of the bitch stats page says average number born 7 - 8 born and 5 - 6 registered (I expect the difference is stillbirths/losses), and gives weight 9 - 14oz.

You will have time now to get the Hips scored, DNA health tests, adn eye tests.  These will set you back about £400.

I think it is a Cocker :-)  The recommended health screening is detailed on the club web site.

Emmebear, have you read the thread at the top of this section regarding breeding from a bitch?  You may find it helpful in your research.

she is a working cocker....i am starting to look into all tyhe health tests inthe new year, thank you for all your help x

thank you for that info, i have thought and looked into all that. as i have always said she is my main priority. i adore my dogs, as you can see from my other posts i am having very mother hen/nesting behaviour from my 3 yr old beautiful girl, and puppies have always have been on the cards for her.

i also have had inquires for three/four pups from her due to her talents in the field and her beauty, which has eased my mind re pup sales...i also want to bring on a baby Em next year!!

my fathers best friend is one of the directors in the K.C so we will get her the best of the best of sires!

> I think it is a Cocker :-) 

Ah then according to the book of the bitch it is 4 - 6 pups, with pups weighing 6oz.

I know someone who had two litters from her first bitch with 4 pups each time.  Just mated her daughter to the same sire she used for first bitches 2nd mating and had 9!!!!!

Don't think it gentic at all really.

> with pups weighing 6oz

My poor girl's all weighed at least 10 oz with the largest 13 oz!  

My Inca (show type cocker) came from a litter of 5, she had her first litter in July and had 9 healthy pups, weighing from 7oz - 11oz

It is so hard to predict - My first American Cocker bitch had a litter of 6(only litter), one of her daughters had 2 litters, 5 in each, but her sister only had 1 litter - 1 pup!.  With pugs we have had even more bizarre results - Doris had a litter of 7, followed by 1 of 2 and a single pup.  One of her daughters had 3 litters of 4/5 each time, but another had 2 pups first time, then a single pup.  Mabel's first litter was 3, 2nd litter 4 and final litter 5 (but only 3 survivors).  Mildred, from the first litter, had a litter of 5 (only 1 survived), then mated to same dog as Mabel's last litter a litter of 6, and has just had her final litter - of 1!  Her Daughter (the survivor from first litter)again mated to the same dog as Mum and grandma, has a litter of 4.  I could not even begin to work out the mathematical probabilities from that lot!

I understand the solids generally weigh less but not sure why.

cher (Cocker) is from a litter of 5, her sister had 5 and cher has just had a litter on Sat  of 7 weight 6oz to 110z 5 girls and 2 boys ,girls being the lightest  and heaviest

My terrier was one of six pups but both her litters to different studs she had three pups. Only one boy out of the six.