This blog post will answer the question “How many puppies can a chihuahua have?” Topics like the average litter size of other dog breeds will also be covered
How many puppies can a chihuahua have?
On average, a litter size of a chihuahua pregnancy can have around 3 puppies. The average range for litter size would be 1 to 3 but there have been chihuahuas too that have bigger litter sizes that reach up to 5 to 6 puppies. C-section is usually how chihuahua litters are delivered.
Chihuahuas are brachycephalic dogs. Brachycephalic dogs are dogs that have shortened heads, which means they have short noses and flat faces. Brachycephalic dogs also have smaller litters compared to other dog breeds. Chihuahuas are also relatively small dogs, which is another factor that can answer why they have smaller litter sizes than other dog breeds.
Compared to the German Shepherds, the chihuahua litter size would look small as German Shepherds can have 8 puppies on average and even the medium sized dogs like Beagles have an average of 6 puppies in one litter.
This is also why chihuahuas are expensive in pet stores. The small litter size makes chihuahuas slightly more rare than other dog breeds so they are more desirable, and are therefore more expensive.
How many puppies do Chihuahuas have the first time?
Younger chihuahuas are more likely to deliver a smaller litter. When they get older, their litters will become bigger and contain more puppies.
On average, the number of puppies the chihuahua can have the first time could be as low as 1 and as high as 3. It would be unusual to see a chihuahua deliver more than 3 puppies in their first time.
The peak of chihuahua litter size comes at their third and fourth times of being pregnant. After their fourth delivery, the litters tend to decrease in size again.
How many litters can a chihuahua have?
Most responsible dog breeders and owners will only allow their chihuahua to be pregnant at most 4 times and deliver litters 4 times as well. Pregnancies beyond 4 can put a lot of strain on the female chihuahua’s body. This could decrease their lifespan.
What are the average litter sizes of other dog breeds?
According to Doggysaurus, the following dog breeds have their average litter sizes indicated beside the dog breed’s name:
- Basset Hound: 5 puppies
- Beagle: 6 puppies
- Bernese Mountain Dog: 8 puppies
- Boston Terrier: 4 puppies
- British Bulldog: 4 puppies
- Chihuahua: 3 puppies
- Corgi: 7 puppies
- Dachshund: 3 puppies
- French Bulldog: 3 puppies
- German Shepherd Dog: 8 puppies
- Golden Retriever: 8 puppies
- Great Dane: 8 puppies
- Labrador: 7 puppies
- Miniature Schnauzer: 4 puppies
- Poodle: 5 puppies
- Pug: 5 puppies
- Rottweiler: 8 puppies
- Shih Tzu: 3 puppies
- Springer Spaniel: 7 puppies
- Yorkshire Terrier: 3 puppies
Conclusion
This blog post answered the question “How many puppies can a chihuahua have?” Topics like the average litter size of other dog breeds were also covered.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How many puppies can a chihuahua have?
How long is a chihuahua pregnant for?
The average dog is pregnant for about 63 days, and the day count is measured from the day they ovulate, or when they release their eggs, to the day that the puppies are finally born. Dogs are like people in that they are born for three trimesters with each trimester lasting for 21 days long.
Is it dangerous for chihuahuas to have puppies?
Yes. It is factual to say that a pregnancy for a Chihuahua can be risky. The higher the number of Chihuahua puppies given birth to also increases the chance of delivery by C-section. However, it does not always mean that if your Chihuahua is going through the worst complications, then the outcome is going to be terrible.
How can I tell if my chihuahuas are pregnant?
You can tell that a chihuahua is pregnant when you notice it has a decrease in activity. When the dog easily becomes exhausted or is spending more time napping, this may be an indication that she is pregnant. A change in appetite may also indicate pregnancy. For example, when your dog becomes hungry during odd hours, or does not eat its dog treats during the regular meal times, this could mean she is already carrying with it baby chihuahuas.
You can also tell that it is pregnant if its nipples become enlarged or discolored, or when you notice it is heavier, then this means it gained weight and could mean it is pregnant. If its abdomen is enlarged, then there may be a baby inside it.
Can a vet abort puppies?
Yes. But this only happens as a result of a request by the owner of the dog. The veterinarian will take steps to ensure that the dog is indeed pregnant before going through with the treatment. The spontaneous event of unplanned abortion is known as a miscarriage.
Can chihuahuas mate with bigger dogs?
Yes. Absolutely. Chihuahuas are known to be especially sexually aggressive, so hopefully your little dog has just a big mama. Obviously the pregnancy is easier if the dad is the smaller breed, like another chihuahua.
More about this can be read in this Quora query.
References
- Flowers, Amy. “Dog Pregnancy Symptoms and Prenatal Checkups.” WebMD, WebMD, 23 Oct. 2020, pets.webmd.com/dogs/signs-dog-pregnant.
- “Chihuahua Pregnancy.” A Detailed Care Guidelines, www.petchidog.com/chihuahua-pregnancy.
- Jake.byrnes. “6 Signs Of Pregnancy In Dogs.” Noah’s Ark Veterinary Hospital, www.noahsarkvet.com/6-signs-of-pregnancy-in-dogs.
- Wag! “Abortion in Dogs.” Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost, Wag!, 17 Sept. 2020, wagwalking.com/condition/abortion.
- Aaron, Marc. “How Many Puppies Do Chihuahuas Have in a Litter Usually?” DoggySaurus, 18 May 2020, doggysaurus.com/how-many-puppies-chihuahuas-have-litter-size/#:~:text=How many puppies can a,be delivered by C-section.
