Breed data
Litter size by breed
Search more than 200 breeds for the typical litter size, range and C-section risk. Breeds with a full pregnancy guide are linked.
Updated October 2026 · Information only, not veterinary advice
Sort by214 breeds
| Breed | Size | Average litter | Range | C-section risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affenpinscher | toy | 2 | 1–4 | medium |
| Afghan Hound | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Airedale Terrier | medium | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Akita | large | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Alaskan Klee Kai | small | 3 | 1–5 | low |
| Alaskan Malamute | large | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| American Bulldog | large | 8 | 5–12 | medium |
| American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| American Foxhound | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| American Hairless Terrier | medium | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| American Leopard Hound | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| American Water Spaniel | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Anatolian Shepherd | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Appenzeller Sennenhund | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Aussiedoodle | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Australian Cattle Dog | medium | 5 | 3–8 | low |
| Australian Shepherd | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Australian Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Barbet | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Basenji | small | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Basset Fauve de Bretagne | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Basset Hound | medium | 6 | 4–9 | medium |
| Beagle | medium | 6 | 3–8 | low |
| Beauceron | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Bedlington Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Belgian Laekenois | large | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Belgian Malinois | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Belgian Sheepdog | large | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Belgian Tervuren | large | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Bernedoodle | giant | 8 | 5–11 | low |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Bichon Frise | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Biewer Terrier | toy | 3 | 1–4 | high |
| Black and Tan Coonhound | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Black Russian Terrier | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Bloodhound | large | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Bluetick Coonhound | large | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Boerboel | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Border Collie | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Border Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Borzoi | large | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Boston Terrier | small | 4 | 1–6 | very high (92.3%) |
| Boxador | large | 7 | 5–11 | low |
| Boxer | large | 6 | 4–9 | medium |
| Boykin Spaniel | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Briard | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Brittany | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Brussels Griffon | toy | 3 | 1–4 | high |
| Bull Terrier (Standard) | medium | 5 | 3–8 | medium |
| Bullmastiff | large | 7 | 4–10 | medium |
| Bullpug | small | 4 | 2–6 | very high (84%) |
| Cairn Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Canaan Dog | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Cane Corso | giant | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | small | 5 | 3–8 | medium |
| Carolina Dog | medium | 5 | 3–8 | low |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | small | 5 | 2–7 | medium |
| Cavapoo | small | 4 | 2–6 | medium |
| Central Asian Shepherd Dog | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Cesky Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Chesapeake Bay Retriever | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Chihuahua | toy | 3 | 1–5 | high |
| Chinese Crested | toy | 3 | 1–5 | low |
| Chinook | large | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Chiweenie | toy | 4 | 2–5 | medium |
| Chow Chow | medium | 5 | 3–7 | medium |
| Chug | small | 4 | 2–6 | high |
| Clumber Spaniel | medium | 5 | 3–8 | high (43.8%) |
| Cockapoo | small | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Cocker Spaniel | medium | 5 | 3–8 | low |
| Collie (Rough & Smooth) | large | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Curly-Coated Retriever | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Dachshund | small | 5 | 3–8 | medium |
| Dalmatian | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Dandie Dinmont Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | high (33.3%) |
| Doberman Pinscher | large | 8 | 5–11 | low |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | giant | 7 | 4–11 | high |
| Doxiepoo | small | 4 | 2–6 | medium |
| English Bulldog | medium | 4 | 3–5 | very high (86.1%) |
| English Foxhound | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| English Mastiff | giant | 8 | 4–14 | high (64.6%) |
| English Pointer | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| English Setter | large | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| English Springer Spaniel | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| English Toy Spaniel | toy | 3 | 1–4 | high |
| Entlebucher Mountain Dog | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Field Spaniel | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Finnish Lapphund | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Finnish Spitz | medium | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Flat-Coated Retriever | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Fox Terrier (Smooth) | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Fox Terrier (Wire) | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| French Bulldog | small | 3 | 1–5 | very high (81.3%) |
| Frenchton | small | 4 | 2–6 | very high (82%) |
| Gerberian Shepsky | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| German Pinscher | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| German Shepherd | large | 7 | 5–9 | low |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | large | 8 | 5–11 | low |
| German Wirehaired Pointer | large | 7 | 5–10 | medium (47.8%) |
| Giant Schnauzer | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Glen of Imaal Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | medium |
| Golden Retriever | large | 8 | 6–10 | low |
| Goldendoodle | large | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Gordon Setter | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Great Dane | giant | 9 | 6–15 | low |
| Great Pyrenees | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Greyhound | large | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Harrier | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Havanese | toy | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Irish Red and White Setter | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Irish Setter | large | 8 | 5–11 | low |
| Irish Terrier | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Irish Water Spaniel | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Irish Wolfhound | giant | 7 | 4–11 | low |
| Italian Greyhound | toy | 3 | 1–5 | low |
| Jack Russell Terrier | small | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Japanese Chin | toy | 3 | 1–4 | high |
| Keeshond | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Kerry Blue Terrier | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Komondor | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Kooikerhondje | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Kuvasz | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Labradoodle | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Labrador Retriever | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Lagotto Romagnolo | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Lakeland Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Leonberger | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Lhasa Apso | small | 4 | 2–6 | medium |
| Lowchen | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Maltese | toy | 3 | 1–5 | medium |
| Maltipoo | toy | 4 | 2–5 | medium |
| Manchester Terrier (Toy) | toy | 3 | 1–4 | low |
| Miniature Bull Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | high (52.4%) |
| Miniature Pinscher | toy | 3 | 1–5 | low |
| Miniature Schnauzer | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Morkie | toy | 3 | 1–4 | high |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | giant | 7 | 4–11 | high |
| Newfoundland | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Norfolk Terrier | small | 3 | 1–5 | high |
| Norwegian Buhund | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Norwegian Elkhound | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Norwich Terrier | small | 3 | 1–5 | high |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Old English Sheepdog | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Otterhound | large | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Papillon | toy | 3 | 1–5 | low |
| Parson Russell Terrier | small | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Peekapoo | toy | 3 | 1–5 | high |
| Pekingese | toy | 3 | 1–5 | high (40.5%) |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | small | 6 | 4–8 | medium |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Working) | medium | 6 | 3–8 | medium |
| Pharaoh Hound | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Pitbull / American Bully | medium | 6 | 5–10 | low |
| Plott Hound | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Pointer | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Pomeranian | toy | 2 | 1–4 | high |
| Pomsky | small | 4 | 2–6 | medium |
| Portuguese Podengo | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Portuguese Water Dog | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Pug | small | 4 | 2–6 | high |
| Puggle | small | 5 | 3–7 | medium |
| Pumi | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Pyrenean Shepherd | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Rat Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Redbone Coonhound | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | large | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Rottweiler | large | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Russian Toy | toy | 3 | 1–4 | medium |
| Saint Bernard | giant | 8 | 5–13 | medium (31.3%) |
| Saluki | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Samoyed | medium | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Schipperke | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Schnoodle | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| Scottish Deerhound | giant | 6 | 4–10 | low |
| Scottish Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | high (59.8%) |
| Sealyham Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | high |
| Shar-Pei | medium | 5 | 3–7 | medium |
| Sheepadoodle | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Shetland Sheepdog | small | 4 | 2–7 | low |
| Shih Tzu | small | 4 | 2–6 | medium |
| Shorkie | toy | 3 | 1–5 | medium |
| Siberian Husky | medium | 5 | 4–8 | low |
| Silky Terrier | toy | 3 | 2–5 | low |
| Skye Terrier | small | 5 | 3–7 | medium |
| Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | medium | 5 | 3–8 | low |
| Spanish Water Dog | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Spinone Italiano | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | small | 5 | 3–8 | medium |
| Standard Poodle | large | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Standard Schnauzer | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Sussex Spaniel | medium | 4 | 2–6 | high |
| Swedish Vallhund | medium | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Texas Heeler | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Tibetan Kyi Apso | giant | 7 | 4–10 | low |
| Tibetan Mastiff | large | 7 | 4–11 | medium |
| Tibetan Spaniel | small | 4 | 2–6 | medium |
| Tibetan Terrier | small | 5 | 3–7 | low |
| Tosa Inu | giant | 8 | 5–12 | low |
| Toy Fox Terrier | toy | 3 | 1–5 | low |
| Toy Poodle | toy | 3 | 1–4 | medium |
| Treeing Walker Coonhound | medium | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Vizsla | large | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Weimaraner | large | 7 | 5–10 | low |
| Welsh Springer Spaniel | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Welsh Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | low |
| West Highland White Terrier | small | 4 | 2–6 | medium |
| Whippet | medium | 5 | 3–8 | low |
| Whoodle | medium | 6 | 4–8 | low |
| Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | large | 6 | 4–9 | low |
| Yorkipoo | toy | 3 | 1–5 | high |
| Yorkshire Terrier | toy | 3 | 1–5 | high |
How to use this table
Averages describe breeds, not individual dogs. Use them to plan roughly, then confirm with an X-ray after day 50. A high C-section risk means you should talk to your vet early about a planned delivery.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Which dog breeds have the biggest litters?
Giant and large breeds such as Great Danes, Mastiffs and Saint Bernards tend to have the largest litters, often 8 or more puppies. Toy breeds usually have the smallest, about 3 to 4.
Which breeds most often need a C-section?
Flat-faced breeds with a narrow pelvis and large-headed puppies, such as Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs, have the highest rates. Evans and Adams (2010) reported more than 80% in several of them.
Where do these numbers come from?
Litter size figures follow the breed database used by our calculator, which draws on Borge et al. (2011). C-section figures cite Evans and Adams (2010). Averages vary between lines and kennels.
Keep reading
Related tools and guides
Sources
- Borge et al. (2011), Litter size at birth in purebred dogs: a retrospective study of 224 breeds, Theriogenology
- Evans & Adams (2010), Proportion of litters of purebred dogs born by caesarean section, Journal of Small Animal Practice
- O'Neill et al. (2021), French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders, Canine Medicine and Genetics