A homeowner answered a knock on the door to find the pups abandoned in an orange bucket in Halebourne Lane, Chobham, Surrey, on December 14.
RSPCA officials believe the dogs, lurchers aged around five weeks old, may have been bred to be sold as Christmas presents but dumped when they became ill.
The animals had parvovirus, a potentially deadly virus common among puppy-farmed dogs. They were named after some of Santa's reindeers - Cupid, Dasher, Blitzen, Rudolf, Prancer and Dancer.
Most Popular
-
1
M6, M61 and M55 delays in Preston due to Blackpool Air Show and Lake District holiday traffic
-
2
Lanes reopen after car crash on M6 brings Preston motorway traffic to a halt with severe delays expected
-
3
Driver caught 'snoring merrily away' on the M6 near Bamber Bridge with full-beam headlights and engine running
-
4
Thunderstorms and heavy downpours of rain predicted to hit Lancashire as Met Office issues yellow weather warning
-
5
Two Preston men arrested after serious assault near Harris Museum
One pup - Dasher - died of the virus a few days after being found, but the rest of the litter are said to have come along in "leaps and bounds" at RSPCA Millbrook.
Deputy manager Liz Wood said the puppies now appeared to be out of the "danger zone". She said: "They were so lucky they were found, as if they had been there too much longer, they would have all died.
"They have some skin and eye infections, but are responding well to treatment so we are hoping they will go on to make a full recovery."