<P> A rule of thumb is that a mammal will produce half as many offspring as the number of teats on the mother . This rule is altered in domesticated animals since larger litters are often favoured for economic reasons and in dogs, particularly, the great range of sizes and shapes plays a role in how many healthy puppies a female can carry . A female dog usually has 10 teats, though this does not mean she can necessarily provide sufficient nutrition for 10 puppies in one litter . </P> <P> An average litter consists of about five to six puppies, though this number may vary widely based on the breed of dog . Size of the breed is correlated with litter size . Miniature and small breeds average three to four puppies in each litter, with a maximum litter size of about 5 - 8 . Large and giant breeds average 7 puppies per litter but can have a maximum litter size of about 15 . In one study, the Rhodesian Ridgeback had the highest average litter size with 8.9 pups per litter while the Pomeranian and Toy Poodle had the lowest with 2.4 pups per litter . </P> <P> The number of puppies also varies with the mother's age . In smaller breeds, both young and old age are associated with smaller litter size . In larger breeds, only old age is associated with smaller litter size . Use of artificial insemination is also associated with smaller litter size, with frozen semen having a stronger effect than fresh semen . </P> <P> The largest litter size to date was set by a Neapolitan Mastiff in Manea, Cambridgeshire, UK on November 29, 2004; the litter was 24 puppies . </P>

How many pups can wolves have in a litter