Is it possible for more than one male dog to impregnate the same female dog?

Question

Meaning that puppies from the same litter can have different fathers.

Answer 1

Yes it is very possible and happens quite often. Because all the puppies don't come from the same egg, the mother drops many eggs at once unlike humans, therefore, if the female comes in contact with more than one male while she's in season she can have more than one father for her puppies even if the puppies are born within the same littter, if you think that this may be the case then you'll need to do a DNA test on the puppies if you plan to register them with AKC.

Answer 2

Yes. This is because dog's heat period is long and it ovulates not all at the same time (meaning the eggs that is passed out by the female from the ovary comes out on different days during the ovulation period which is on the average about 9 days) and during this time it accepts male. So any sperm that would met the egg in the uterus has the possibility of fertilization which will then become the puppy. After the ovulation period, it will not accept male anymore. If there are many males that mated, pups will have different fathers.

Answer 3

Yes, this is well known. Each puppy could theoretically have a different father. Each pup has its own placenta. Dogs are very different from women. Cats are this way too, as kittens in the same litter can have different fathers.

In some litters it is very evident. In many, there may have only been one breeding so there's one father. Animals in heat are not allowed to run loose so much any more

Answer 4

Dee a is correct; Jack, sorry to say, is wrong.
I spent mega-bucks trying to get my champion golden retriever pregnant with a champion stud. No-go for three seasons. Then the brat escapes, before we even know she is in heat, runs off for 4 days (she NEVER ran off before-- or since) and came home looking very guilty and quite pregnant.
She had long gorgeous light blonde fur-- ended up with three short-haired brown puppies, two black long-haired, and one black and white spotted puppy.
That's part of the reason puppies often are very different in size as well--- different fathers AND different gestational ages. They have a short pregnancy--- only about 90 days--- so a couple days makes quite a big difference in the puppies. The oldest one will be more developed than the youngest.

Answer 5

yes it is possible!
in fact i have a dog from a litter impregnated by different males

Answer 6

yes they can. and in some cases the litters can even be different ages. a female is still in heat even after she has mated so she continues to attact suitors even if she has already been impregnated for the duration of her fertilitiy period. although in cases of "fence jumper" preganancies, the dogs could have a variety of breed backgrounds and the different traits may all come from one sire depending on the emergence of dominant and recessive characteristics. and I know you didn't ask, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have your dog fixed and encourage your neighbor to do the same. your pups were lucky to find homes (especially being large breed mixes). many aren't so fortunate. if you are super interested in finding out and have some money to waste, there is a program that claims to use DNA to find your mutt's purerbed origens.

Answer 7

Yes, DNA studies show that it happens.


Dual-Sired Litter.
UKC has a special form and application procedure for registering a litter when a ***** has been bred, intentionally or accidentally, to two sires.< http://mail.ukcdogs.com/ukcweb.nsf/WEBPAGES/RegistrationRegister

However, AKC requires DNA testing, to prove which male is the sire of each puppy.

Answer 8

YES YES YES! It's true, that's why sometimes you'll have one white dog and one brown dog and one black dog all in the same litter!

Also true with cats

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

yes