Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Average Litter Size of Finnish Lapphund
- Calculator to Predict How Many Puppies Finnish Lapphund Will Have
- How Big Will a Finnish Lapphund Puppy Get?
- How Long is a Finnish Lapphund Pregnant?
- How to Ensure a Successful Pregnancy in Finnish Lapphund
- Conclusion on Finnish Lapphund Litter Size
Average Litter Size of Finnish Lapphund
Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 24 different Finnish Lapphund birth litters.
From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Finnish Lapphunds can have is 5 puppies. Also, the Finnish Lapphund can have as few as 2 puppies per litter and as many as 9 puppies per litter.
See how the litter size of the Finnish Lapphund compares to that of other dog breeds below:
Read this article to learn about how many puppies dogs have.
Calculator to Predict How Many Puppies Finnish Lapphund Will Have
Finnish Lapphund Litter Size Predictor
According to the result of the research carried out by researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, the number of puppies a Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund litter size calculator above based on their formulas. Use the calculator to predict how many puppies a Finnish Lapphund will have based on the age, and method of pregnancy for a Finnish Lapphund
The calculator tells you how many puppies your Finnish Lapphund will have if your Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund. 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 Finnish Lapphund at different ages. This table applies to a Finnish Lapphund 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 Big Will a Finnish Lapphund Puppy Get?
A Finnish Lapphund puppy will grow up to weigh around 33 to 53 pounds. Furthermore, a Finnish Lapphund puppy will grow up to be 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder.
Learn more about Finnish Lapphund weight and how big Finnish Lapphunds grow here
How Long is a Finnish Lapphund Pregnant?
Finnish Lapphunds are pregnant for 63 days on average (2 months) after conception. However, this is an average value. The length of pregnancy in Finnish Lapphunds can range from 58-68 days.
However, note that it is difficult to know the exact day that your Finnish Lapphund conceives because conception may not happen at the same time that mating happens.
Sperm can live inside a female Finnish Lapphund for several days after mating before conception occurs.
How to Ensure a Successful Pregnancy in Finnish Lapphund
To ensure that your Finnish Lapphund successfully gets pregnant and deliver its puppies, here at the things you can do:
- Feed your Finnish Lapphund well: A good diet will ensure that your Finnish Lapphund has the nutrients and the energy it needs to get pregnant and maintain the pregnancy.
- Make sure your Finnish Lapphund is in good health: Ensure you take your Finnish Lapphund to the Vet care regularly for checkups, make sure your Finnish Lapphund gets regular exercise. Also, make sure that your is not overweight or underweight.
To learn how to check if your Finnish Lapphund is overweight or underweight, check out this resource.
Conclusion on Finnish Lapphund Litter Size
Finnish Lapphunds can have 5 puppies per litter birth on average. The number of puppies that a Finnish Lapphund will have depends on factors such as the age of the Finnish Lapphund and the method of pregnancy (natural or artificial insemination).
Breeding Finnish Lapphunds the right way requires expertise and should be done after sufficient training.
Also, you should work closely with a veterinarian when breeding a Finnish Lapphund. 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 Finnish Lapphund gets the right treatment necessary to make healthy puppies.
The litter size research study that we used for this article was conducted on Finnish Lapphunds 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.