How Many Puppies Do Irish Terriers Have? Calculator for Predicting Irish Terrier Litter Size

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Irish Terrier Birth

Average Litter Size of Irish Terrier

Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 3 different Irish Terrier birth litters.

From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Irish Terriers can have is 6 puppies. Also, the Irish Terrier can have as few as 5 puppies per litter and as many as 8 puppies per litter.

See how the litter size of the Irish Terrier compares to that of other dog breeds below:

The average litter size of the Irish Terrier (in green) compared to the litter sizes of other dog breeds (in red)
Dog Breed Average Litter Size
Spanish Greyhound Average Litter Size 10.0
Briard Average Litter Size 7.3
Irish Setter Average Litter Size 7.1
Giant Schnauzer Average Litter Size 7.0
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Average Litter Size 6.6
Irish Terrier Average Litter Size 6.3
Kooikerhondje Average Litter Size 5.6
Bull Terrier Average Litter Size 5.5
Lancashire Heeler Average Litter Size 5.5
Keeshond Average Litter Size 5.5
Bulldog Average Litter Size 5.4
Pyrenean Mastiff Average Litter Size 5.0
Bichon Frise Average Litter Size 4.6
Jack Russell Terrier Average Litter Size 4.4
Chinese Crested Average Litter Size 4.3
Affenpinscher Average Litter Size 4.1
Japanese Spitz Average Litter Size 3.9
West Highland White Terrier Average Litter Size 3.7
Italian Greyhound Average Litter Size 3.3
Norwich Terrier Average Litter Size 2.6

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

Calculator to Predict How Many Puppies Irish Terrier Will Have

Irish Terrier Litter Size Predictor

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

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

How Big Will a Irish Terrier Puppy Get?

A Irish Terrier puppy will grow up to weigh around 25 to 27 pounds. Furthermore, a Irish Terrier puppy will grow up to be 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder.

Learn more about Irish Terrier weight and how big Irish Terriers grow here

Irish Terrier Growth Chart

How Much is a Irish Terrier Puppy

How Much Irish Terriers Cost

The average price of a Irish Terrier puppy is $1730. The price of a Irish Terrier puppy ranges from $1700 to $1700.

Since the Irish Terrier has an average litter size of 6, therefore a Irish Terrier litter birth is worth $10380.

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

How Much Irish Terriers Cost

How Long is a Irish Terrier Pregnant?

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

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

Sperm can live inside a female Irish Terrier for several days after mating before conception occurs.

Irish Terrier Birth

How to Ensure a Successful Pregnancy in Irish Terrier

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

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

Conclusion on Irish Terrier Litter Size

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

Breeding Irish Terriers the right way requires expertise and should be done after sufficient training.

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

The litter size research study that we used for this article was conducted on Irish Terriers 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.