How Many Puppies Do Border Collies Have? Calculator for Predicting Border Collie Litter Size

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Border Collie Birth

Average Litter Size of Border Collie

Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 323 different Border Collie birth litters.

From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Border Collies can have is 6 puppies. Also, the Border Collie can have as few as 1 puppies per litter and as many as 16 puppies per litter.

See how the litter size of the Border Collie compares to that of other dog breeds below:

The average litter size of the Border Collie (in green) compared to the litter sizes of other dog breeds (in red)
Dog Breed Average Litter Size
Rhodesian Ridgeback Average Litter Size 8.9
German Shorthaired Pointer Average Litter Size 8.3
Gordon Setter Average Litter Size 7.6
Briard Average Litter Size 7.3
Large Munsterlander Average Litter Size 7.0
Alaskan Malamute Average Litter Size 6.9
Hamiltonstovare Average Litter Size 6.5
Groenendael Belgian Shepherd Average Litter Size 6.3
Border Collie Average Litter Size 6.0
Basset Fauve de Bretagne Average Litter Size 5.8
West Siberian Laika Average Litter Size 5.6
Collie Average Litter Size 5.2
Dandie Dinmont Terrier Average Litter Size 5.0
Mudi Average Litter Size 5.0
Cesky Terrier Average Litter Size 5.0
Miniature Schnauzer Average Litter Size 4.7
Icelandic Sheepdog Average Litter Size 4.5
Cirneco dell`Etna Average Litter Size 4.5
Dachshund, Mini Average Litter Size 4.4
Smooth Fox Terrier Average Litter Size 4.3

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

Calculator to Predict How Many Puppies Border Collie Will Have

Border Collie Litter Size Predictor

Your Border Collie`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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie litter size calculator above based on their formulas. Use the calculator to predict how many puppies a Border Collie will have based on the age, and method of pregnancy for a Border Collie

The calculator tells you how many puppies your Border Collie will have if your Border Collie 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 Border Collie. 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 Border Collie at different ages. This table applies to a Border Collie 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
Border Collie Birth

How Much Does the Border Collie Puppy Weigh at Birth?

Veterinarian researchers did a study to find out how much Border Collie puppies weigh at birth. These researchers weighed 83 Border Collie puppies at birth.

Based on the study of the weight of 83 Border Collie puppies, the average weight of the Border Collie at birth is 350 grams (12.3 ounces). The birth weight of the Border Collie puppy typically ranges from 300 grams (10.6 ounces) to 378 grams (13.3 ounces).

16 ounces equal one pound.

The factors that affect the weight of a Border Collie puppy at birth include the size, weight, and age of the mother.

Importantly, research has also shown that female dogs that give birth at ages between 2 and 8 years give birth to puppies that are heavier than puppies birthed by younger or older female dogs.

How Big Will a Border Collie Puppy Get?

A Border Collie puppy will grow up to weigh around 30 to 45 pounds. Furthermore, a Border Collie puppy will grow up to be 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder.

Learn more about Border Collie weight and how big Border Collies grow here

Border Collie Growth Chart

How Much is a Border Collie Puppy

How Much Border Collies Cost

The average price of a Border Collie puppy is $1100. The price of a Border Collie puppy ranges from $650 to $1500.

Since the Border Collie has an average litter size of 6, therefore a Border Collie litter birth is worth $6600.

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

How Much Border Collies Cost

How Long is a Border Collie Pregnant?

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

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

Sperm can live inside a female Border Collie for several days after mating before conception occurs.

Border Collie Birth

How to Ensure a Successful Pregnancy in Border Collie

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

  • Feed your Border Collie well: A good diet will ensure that your Border Collie has the nutrients and the energy it needs to get pregnant and maintain the pregnancy.
  • Make sure your Border Collie is in good health: Ensure you take your Border Collie to the Vet care regularly for checkups, make sure your Border Collie gets regular exercise. Also, make sure that your is not overweight or underweight.
  • To learn how to check if your Border Collie is overweight or underweight, check out this resource.

Conclusion on Border Collie Litter Size

Border Collies can have 6 puppies per litter birth on average. The number of puppies that a Border Collie will have depends on factors such as the age of the Border Collie and the method of pregnancy (natural or artificial insemination).

Breeding Border Collies the right way requires expertise and should be done after sufficient training.

Also, you should work closely with a veterinarian when breeding a Border Collie. 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 Border Collie gets the right treatment necessary to make healthy puppies.

The litter size research study that we used for this article was conducted on Border Collies 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.