Here's why:
* Locking is a part of the mating process, not a direct indicator of litter size. Locking is when the male dog's penis becomes engorged and swells, preventing him from withdrawing for a period of time. This helps ensure sperm is deposited into the female's reproductive tract.
* Litter size is determined by the number of eggs the female releases and how many are successfully fertilized. The number of eggs a female dog releases varies significantly from dog to dog and breed to breed.
* Other factors that can influence litter size include the dog's age, health, and nutrition.
While locking is an important part of the breeding process, it's not a reliable predictor of how many puppies a dog will have.