How Many Puppies Can A Rottweiler Have? – Vom Hause Stan

There are various factors that affect the litter size of a Rottweiler. How many puppies your dog will give will depend on those. But don’t worry, as we will discuss all that later in this blog post. There are other questions related to Rottweiler litters, such as how long they stay pregnant, what will be the first litter size, how you will know if your dog is pregnant, etc. People usually have such previously mentioned doubts about Rottweiler litter. If you also have concerns regarding your Rotties pregnancy, let Vom Hause Stan answer all of them.

At What Age Can A Female Rottweiler Get Pregnant?

A female Rottweiler can experience a heat cycle at the age of 6 months. Most Rotties have puppies when they turn one-year-old start experiencing more of these heat signs.

Planning pregnancies for your dog becomes way easier when you know when these heat signs can appear. Many confused the first sign of heat as the best time to get pregnant. However, we suggest you wait for the second stage since that’s the best time for a Rottweiler to get pregnant. 

If you don’t already know, being in heat is a well-known reproductive term in dogs. Experts have named this state “Canine Estrus,” which refers to when canines experience such signs. There are four stages in it, including:

• The Beginning, A.K.A. The Proestrus Stage: This is the starting stage when a female experiences a heat cycle. You may see your dog acting strange or being too frisky or flirty. But remember, although your dog may act like that, it will still avoid any male contact during such time. The signs of this first stage are a swollen vagina and blood dripping from the private area of your dog. This state usually lasts for a week or even less sometimes. Avoid getting your Rottweiler pregnant during this stage. It’s a complete no, even if there is the use of artificial insemination.
• The Second Stage, A.K.A. The Estrus Stage: If you are planning pregnancies for your Rottie, this stage will be ideal. Even experts recommend the second stage as the best stage to get pregnant. Also, your dog will accept a male without resisting. The period this stage lasts is a week or less. The best time to get your dog pregnant. 
• The Third Stage, A.K.A. The Diestrus Stage: With the arrival of this stage, your dog will experience heat in much lower amounts. Also, your dog will not accept any advances from males when they are in this stage. If your dog is pregnant, it will stay in the Diestrus stage for the entire time they are pregnant. In case your dog is not pregnant, this stage will last 80 days or so.
• The Fourth Stage, A.K.A. The Anestrus Stage: The time between the dog’s heat cycle is referred to as the Anestrus stage. During this time, males will not feel any attraction to your Rottweiler.

Note: An average female Rottweiler goes through heat cycles every six months. The cycle stages last around three weeks. This estimation is based on the majority and may not be exact for your Rottie. Reproductive health is a big factor that can cause fluctuations in the cycles.

Coming To The Main Concern… How Many Puppies Can A Rottweiler Have?

Spoiler Alert!! The average estimation is said to be eight puppies in a litter of a Rottweiler.

Rottweilers are a strong breed, and it’s not surprising that they can give birth to such a big litter. On average, the litter size of a Rottie can be from six to 12 puppies. Furthermore, this size can often increase above your expectations. While talking about such big numbers, you must also know that it’s completely normal for a Rottweiler to give birth to only two puppies. This is a normal case for first-time Rottie mothers. 

The largest known litter for a Rottweiler to this date is 18 puppies. If your Rottweiler is under the age of six, then its giving birth to a smaller litter is much higher. The litter size can decrease even more if your dog has never given birth to a litter before the age of four. 

The smallest record of a Rottweiler giving birth to a litter is one. Usually, the size of the first litter is small. Also, how many puppies a dog will give birth to directly depends upon the breed size. Since Rotties come in medium to large dog categories, their litter size is often big. 

Also Read:- German Rottweiler Cost

What Are The Factors That Affect The Litter Size Of A Rottweiler?

Curious about how many puppies your Rottweiler will give birth to? You can learn from these factors that affect the size of a Rottweiler litter:

1. Age Of The Rottweiler

Age is one of the first factors that affect how many puppies your Rottweiler will give birth to. Check here to see how different ages can cause these changes:

• A female Rottweiler gives birth to a smaller litter when they are under the age of six or seven. 
• If the Rottie doesn’t have any history of pregnancy before the age of four or five, then the size of the litter will be smaller.
• A female Rottweiler between the age of two and five will give birth to a larger litter.

The chances of a larger litter also increase if the male Rottweiler is below the age of five. As the male ages, their sperm count also decreases, so a young adult is prioritized as a mating partner over older ones. 

Note: Sires’s (male Rottweilers) age doesn’t influence the litter size much compared to the dames (female Rottweilers) age.

3. Health Of The Rottweiler

Other than other factors, health is one of the major factors affecting the Rottweiler litter size. A female Rottie with perfect health will give birth to more puppies with perfect health conditions. 

In contrast, a Rottweiler that is not healthy will give birth to fewer puppies comparatively. Also, there is no guarantee that the puppies will have good health conditions.

Furthermore, remember that male health also plays a major role in the birth of a larger litter. Therefore, you must consider the health of both females and males when you proceed with breeding.

3. Inbreeding

It is one of the most common practices among Rottweilers. Inbreeding (breeding a male father and female daughter) in Rottweilers can lead to smaller litters. However, it is not a highly recommended breeding method.

Inbreeding also affects puppy mortality, life expectancy, genetic disorders, and fertility.

4. Diet Of The Rottweiler

Diet is also an important factor that affects the female Rottie litter size. Having all the essential nutrients inside the body at the time of birth can increase the chances of getting a healthy litter.

On the other hand, if the Rottweiler lacks the needed nutrients at the time of breeding, there is a high chance that the dog will not produce a larger litter.

5. Gene Pool Or Flow

Although the dog genes affect the litter size, you should know that it doesn’t have too much effect. A dog’s genes will only have a moderate effect on the litter size. 

As per Kennel Club, the dog genes only have 10% to 15% influence over the litter size. They also concluded in the case of small breeding groups and limited gene pools, the female Rottweilers usually have smaller litters. 

In the case of a small gene pool, the size of the litter will be much smaller. At the same time, a large gene pool can increase the chances of a larger litter.

6. Genetics

Another factor is genetics, which can also affect the size of the litter. In the case of a purebred Rottweiler, the chances of getting a large litter are much higher. The bloodlines can also affect the litter size, where one may give birth to more puppies compared to other bloodlines of Rottweilers. 

7. Weight

Females of heavy or recommended weight tend to give birth to litters of larger size. Rottweilers that are underweight give birth to small litter comparatively.

So to know how many puppies a rottweiler can have, you must consider all the factors mentioned above. 

How Many Puppies Can A Rottie Have In the First Litter?

The first litter of a female Rottweiler tends to be the smallest one. Well, this is true for most dog breeds. As mentioned before, the litter size of a Rottie is six to 12 puppies. As we are talking about the first litter, expect the litter to be as small as one to two puppies. A smaller litter also helps the mom dog to take care of the newborn puppies more effectively. Which, as a result, increases the survival rate of these puppies. 

It is generally recommended not to adopt a puppy from the first litter. This is because the breeders cannot offer a guarantee for that litter since there is no past litter to prove their health status. As the Rottie gives birth to the third litter, it becomes easier to guarantee the puppies’ health. 

Things you should know about the litter of a Rottweiler:

• The first litter is the smallest, and you cannot guarantee their health.
• You may see more Rotties in the second litter with better health status than the previous litter.
• A Rottie gives the max birth during the third and fourth litters. Adopting a Rottweiler puppy from the last two litters is recommended since the breeder can provide you with their history. Furthermore, they tend to have fewer health issues than the previous litter.

In Total, How Many Times Can A Rottweiler Get Pregnant?

Suppose you want to stick with healthy breeding practices. In that case, the maximum limit to a Rottweiler having babies is only four litters. This limit is set by The Kennel Club, which used to be six litter back in 2012. 

Furthermore, The Kennel Club has strict guidelines for not registering puppies of a Rottweiler that has given birth to more than four litters. These guidelines also include that the Rottie must not give birth before the age of one year and after the age of eight. 

Breeding for more than four litters can be harmful to both Rottweilers as well as puppies. This may decrease the female Rottie lifespan, and puppies may also develop bad health.

It is said not to breed your Rottweiler even for a second time if it experiences complications and health issues during the first litter.

How Long Does A Rottweiler Stay Pregnant On Average?

On average, a Rottweiler stays pregnant for a period of 63 days. She might give delivery to the puppies up to a week, which can be before or after. Nonetheless, the official full-term pregnancy is said to be sixty-three days only. Suppose you see your Rottweiler not giving birth even after 65 days. In that case, you must visit a veterinarian to see if there are any complications causing the puppies’ late delivery.

How Will I Know That My Rottweiler Is Pregnant? Signs You Should Know

Usually, the female dogs start showing signs of pregnancy after two or four weeks of mating. During this time, the Rottweiler will show various signs, including:

• Mood swings
• Shakiness
• Too much panting
• Weight gain
• Less appetite or vomiting
• Contractions
• More cuddling and affectionate behavior
• Decrease in activities
• Restlessness
• Nesting behavior
• Increase in food cravings

There are also signs like dark and large nipples as there is more progress in pregnancy. You may even notice a lot of behavioral changes in your Rottweiler. Her tendency to show more protectiveness over the toys, food bowls, and treats will increase.

Are There Any Tricks To Increase The Litter Size Of The Rottie The Healthy Way?

Expecting a bigger litter from your Rottweiler? You can use these tricks to increase your Rottie litter size through healthy methods:

• Nutrition

Providing your Rottie with good nutrition is the most effective way to increase the size of the litter of a Rottweiler.

Expect a smaller litter if the female Rottweiler is overweight and not fed well. The better the health, the more the chance to yield a large litter.

• Season Or Time Of Breeding

Breeding during the best time of the year can increase the chances of getting a large litter. The Kennel Club says spring is the best time to breed your dog. It is a season that is known for producing the largest litter. There is no scientific evidence that proves this, but generally, animals give birth in the spring season.

So, whether you are a breeder or a simple Rottie owner, you can aim for the spring season to get a large litter. 

• Avoid Using Artificial Insemination

Artificial Insemination is highly popular among Rottweiler breeders. However, if you want a big litter for your dog, you must avoid this. This is because artificial insemination can cause your Rottie to produce smaller litters. 

Conclusion

So, we hope you got your answer for how many puppies a Rottie can have in the first litter. Make sure you consider the factors that can affect the litter size. If you find any complications, ensure to visit a veterinarian. 

Vom Hause Stan helps people add a paw companion to their family. We are trusted breeders with years of experience providing quality service to our customers. You can choose from our purebred Rottweiler litters in perfect health conditions. We also have training and boarding facilities to make your dog’s journey more fun and easy. 

If you want to bring a strong and loving companion to your home, you can contact us through: 

Email: VomHauseStan@yahoo.com 

Phone: (425) 329-9996