What is the average first litter size of a 9 lb mini dachshund?

[Hefner413]

Hi, My miniature 9 lb mini doxie just had her first litter of pups yesterday. There were 2 in the litter - one 8 oz and the other 4 oz. The 8 oz pup is doing great - gaining wt and is quite healthy. The 4 oz failed to thrive tho despice bottle feeding and passed on this morning. ANYway, I was wondering - was this a small litter of a new mom? I think the larger pup got most of the nourishment and didn't leave the runt much. I've been reading that the average litter size is 4-6 pups. Will mom always have around 2 or do first time moms only have a couple and then more thereafter? Sorry to ask so many Q's. I'm new to this as is my doxie. Funny tho - despite all my efforts to prepare doing all I could for the pups arrival - my doxie took care of everything herself and had an amazingly easy labor.

Well - so anyone know what the average size of the first litter is and any ideas of what I may expect in the future?
Thanks!

[Dax]

The breed standard says that the average is 4.

http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dachshund/dachshund.aspx

Was this the first litter? Sometimes the first litter is smaller.

Ariel was one of four with the average litter size for a rotti being 9 pups.

[Hefner413]

Yeah, it was her first litter - so I'm hoping this is why it was below average. Also, do you think that the average would be less for MINI's?

[Dax]

I'm not sure. If you are still in contact with the breeder you got her from, that would be a wonderful resource.

[sheplovr]

Do NOT count on average of litters I have learned from this..........can be small litter, medium or large, so just prepare and should of had an ultra scan done and the u have a good idea of how many to prepare, good luck............

[barnjess]

How old is she, they say a first litter can be small, but i have never found that and the breed adverage is just that adverage

[Hefner413]

She's 2 yrs old. Would that also make a difference?

[barnjess]

Originally Posted by Hefner413

She's 2 yrs old. Would that also make a difference?

Not really, only if she was very young that may have an effect on the litter size, as an example JRT's have an adverage litter size of 4-6, jessika was one of 13 and she had 8 pups in her first litter! What about her, what size litter is she from? and what about the sire and dam?

[Hefner413]

Originally Posted by barnjess

Not really, only if she was very young that may have an effect on the litter size, as an example JRT's have an adverage litter size of 4-6, jessika was one of 13 and she had 8 pups in her first litter! What about her, what size litter is she from? and what about the sire and dam?

I'm not sure about the sire and dam - I'm not in touch with the breeders anymore - I moved last year. If I remember right, she was from a litter of 4. Wow - Jessica being one of 13 and having 8 in her first litter? I bet you were busy! Just wondering - when you have such a large litter like that with a smaller breed of dog, is there more of a worry of having small pups that fail to thrive, like the smaller 4oz that mine had? I've also heard that when there is such a large litter, that even though the pups are small, they kinda have to work a bit harder to move around in the womb, so they are stronger at birth.

[Moo]

Contact your breeder. I would base your number of puppies on your breeder's number of puppies.