My Kandy weighed a good solid, broad four and a half pounds when I got her. She had already had two litters. Each litter have five puppies. I bred her twice before she was spayed and each one of my litters had five. Her sister, Frankie (5lbs) had also been bred twice and had five puppies each time. I have bred her once and she had five for me. Now she is pregnant again and I am expecting five altho the ultrasound didn't show that many. neither did Kandy's but out popped five. Their sister which I don't have also has five each time. The breeder I bought these girls from told me that yes it is in the genetics. She had been to seminars about it and studied it over the years being a show breeder. How ever many littermates your girl has is likely to be how many will be in her litters. it has worked each time for me. Also if the mama and other female relatives are free whelpers, they will be too. This last time, I had to have a section due to the size of a turned sideways puppy. So when you are looking to buy a female to add to your breeding program, ask if mama and relatives are free whelpers and what is the average litter size, |