It’s possible for a female dog to have a maximum of three litters a year. Female dogs can go into heat around the age of six to 12 months and do not go into menopause. Assuming a dog lives to the average age of 11, a dog could have up to 30 litters.

For instance, the Pekingese, weighing in at just 7-14 pounds, may give birth to as many as 10 puppies. Big litters can be dangerous to the mother dog (dam) due to delivery problems, especially in smaller dogs. Some of the puppies may be delivered stillborn, and the dam may become exhausted during delivery.

An average litter consists of about five to six puppies, though this number may vary widely based on the breed of dog. Size of the breed is correlated with litter size. Miniature and small breeds average three to four puppies in each litter, with a maximum litter size of about 5–8.

There’s no way to say whether a dog will live longer because she’s been a mom. However, a number of health issues and risks are associated with pregnancy and delivery. So, technically, preventing a dog from having puppies will also eliminate those risks.

A quick answer to this complex question is that male dogs do not really recognize their puppies. However, it is difficult to conclude this fully. Male dogs are able to understand that a litter is now part of the household. They are also able to recognize that a litter belongs to a particular female.

As long as puppies are removed from eight weeks onwards and are given to owners gradually and not all in one go, she will soon be feeling herself. If a litter is removed from a mother all in one go this could greatly upset her due to the immediate change causing anxiety.

Puppies need to be able to feed off of their mother’s milk after birth. While pups can be fed by humans through bottles and formula, it’s always better for them to eat what their mother is providing. Some will even reject puppies or abandon the entire litter. In extreme cases, mothers will kill and eat puppies.