Included in this month’s issue of AKC Family Dog magazine was a little snippet of information about breeding that many would find surprising… Puppies in a litter can have different fathers!
From the AKC familydog Magazine “Ask Dr. Kevin [Fitzgerald, DVM]” article:
“Females can breed with multiple males while in heat and can ovulate up to 20 ova. This, there can be numerous eggs available for fertilization. As a result, multiple fathers can be responsible in siring a litter. Furthermore, successful breedeings can be several days apart, which enables sibilngs in the same litter to be from different fathers.”
So, even when dogs are littermates, they could be only half siblings if the litter is multi-sired. This occurance also happens in cats and even humans, with fraternal twins having different fathers!
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://wagntails.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/author-image.png[/author_image] [author_info]About the Author Christine Fox, APDT, CTDI and a Pet Sitters International member, is the founder of Wag ‘N’ Tails Dog Activity Center with two locations in Michigan. She has been involved with many pet dog trainer certification initiatives, all based on learning techniques that involve humane practices and the latest in scientific research. Christine also raised a service dog for Paws With a Cause and plans to train her newest pup in therapy work. Through her work with dogs and their parents, Christine has developed many happy and healthy relationships with both humans and dogs in the community.[/author_info] [/author]
