How Many Puppies Do Australian Kelpies Have? Calculator for Predicting Australian Kelpie Litter Size

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Australian Kelpie Birth

Average Litter Size of Australian Kelpie

Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 2 different Australian Kelpie birth litters.

From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Australian Kelpies can have is 4 puppies. Also, the Australian Kelpie can have as few as 3 puppies per litter and as many as 6 puppies per litter.

See how the litter size of the Australian Kelpie compares to that of other dog breeds below:

The average litter size of the Australian Kelpie (in green) compared to the litter sizes of other dog breeds (in red)
Dog Breed Average Litter Size
German Longhaired Pointer Average Litter Size 7.8
Golden Retriever Average Litter Size 7.5
German Wirehaired Pointer Average Litter Size 7.3
Newfoundland Average Litter Size 6.5
Brittany Average Litter Size 6.4
Jagdterrier Average Litter Size 6.4
Irish Terrier Average Litter Size 6.3
Samoyed Average Litter Size 6.2
Akita Average Litter Size 6.0
Scottish Terrier Average Litter Size 5.7
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Average Litter Size 5.6
Greenland Dog Average Litter Size 5.6
Beagle Average Litter Size 5.5
Bulldog Average Litter Size 5.4
Lhasa Apso Average Litter Size 4.9
Australian Kelpie Average Litter Size 4.5
Pug Average Litter Size 4.2
Puli Average Litter Size 4.0
Papillon Average Litter Size 3.3
Lakeland Terrier Average Litter Size 2.0

Read this article to learn about how many puppies dogs have.

Calculator to Predict How Many Puppies Australian Kelpie Will Have

Australian Kelpie Litter Size Predictor

Your Australian Kelpie`s Current Age:




Method of Pregnancy

Number of Puppies to Expect:

According to the result of the research carried out by researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, the number of puppies a Australian Kelpie will have depends on the following main factors:

  • The size of the breed (most important factor): Giant dog breeds tend to have a bigger litter size, while smaller breeds give birth to a smaller number of puppies
  • The method of mating: Natural mating results in a larger litter size than artificial insemination.
  • The age of the female dog: Check out the chart below to see how many puppies a female Australian Kelpie is likely to have at different ages.

According to research, the following factors do not affect litter size:

  • The time of the year of the litter was born (season of birth): Although, from the study, litters born in the Spring seem to be larger than litters from other seasons, however, the difference was not of significance.
  • The number of times a female dog has given birth in the past (known as parity): The age of the female dog is more important to the extent that it makes parity insignificant.

Based on the important factors that affect litter size, the researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science developed formulas for predicting the litter size of dogs.

We have developed the Australian Kelpie litter size calculator above based on their formulas. Use the calculator to predict how many puppies a Australian Kelpie will have based on the age, and method of pregnancy for a Australian Kelpie

The calculator tells you how many puppies your Australian Kelpie will have if your Australian Kelpie gets pregnant today. The calculator assumes that the length of pregnancy will be two months.

Note that we are NOT in any way encouraging you to breed your Australian Kelpie. Dog breeding requires expertise. If you want to be breeding dogs, get the necessary training. Also, work closely with a veterinarian when breeding a dog.

The table below shows the average litter size to expect from a Australian Kelpie at different ages. This table applies to a Australian Kelpie that conceives through natural mating.

Age (Years) Average Litter Size Litter Size Range
2 6 puppies 5 to 7 puppies
3 6 puppies 4 to 8 puppies
4 6 puppies 4 to 8 puppies
5 6 puppies 4 to 8 puppies
6 6 puppies 3 to 8 puppies
7 5 puppies 3 to 8 puppies
8 5 puppies 2 to 8 puppies
9 5 puppies 1 to 8 puppies

How Much is a Australian Kelpie Puppy

How Much Australian Kelpies Cost

The average price of a Australian Kelpie puppy is $500. The price of a Australian Kelpie puppy ranges from $500 to $500.

Since the Australian Kelpie has an average litter size of 4, therefore a Australian Kelpie litter birth is worth $2000.

To learn more about the price of Australian Kelpie puppy, check our review on how much Australian Kelpie puppy cost, and Australian Kelpie buying advice.

How Much Australian Kelpies Cost

How Long is a Australian Kelpie Pregnant?

Australian Kelpies are pregnant for 63 days on average (2 months) after conception. However, this is an average value. The length of pregnancy in Australian Kelpies can range from 58-68 days.

However, note that it is difficult to know the exact day that your Australian Kelpie conceives because conception may not happen at the same time that mating happens.

Sperm can live inside a female Australian Kelpie for several days after mating before conception occurs.

How to Ensure a Successful Pregnancy in Australian Kelpie

To ensure that your Australian Kelpie successfully gets pregnant and deliver its puppies, here at the things you can do:

  • Feed your Australian Kelpie well: A good diet will ensure that your Australian Kelpie has the nutrients and the energy it needs to get pregnant and maintain the pregnancy.
  • Make sure your Australian Kelpie is in good health: Ensure you take your Australian Kelpie to the Vet care regularly for checkups, make sure your Australian Kelpie gets regular exercise. Also, make sure that your is not overweight or underweight.

Conclusion on Australian Kelpie Litter Size

Australian Kelpies can have 4 puppies per litter birth on average. The number of puppies that a Australian Kelpie will have depends on factors such as the age of the Australian Kelpie and the method of pregnancy (natural or artificial insemination).

Breeding Australian Kelpies the right way requires expertise and should be done after sufficient training.

Also, you should work closely with a veterinarian when breeding a Australian Kelpie. There are a lot of nuances involved in breeding a dog, which we do not have the time or the space to discuss here.

However, working with a veterinarian will ensure that your Australian Kelpie gets the right treatment necessary to make healthy puppies.

The litter size research study that we used for this article was conducted on Australian Kelpies in Norway. However, the authors of the research believe that the results can be generalized to other countries that have similar dog management systems as Norway.